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Publication Number
US-11918265-B2
Publication Date
2024-03-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
An expandable laminoplasty device has a superior plate, an inferior plate, threaded or racked gear post having external threads or gear teeth, the post affixed to one of the superior plate or the inferior plate, and a gear nut or pinion gear, the gear has internal threads or external gear teeth configured to engage external threads or gear teeth of the post. The gear is held in one of the superior plate or inferior plate not affixed to the post and wherein the superior plate or inferior plate not affixed to the post has an end with a slot or channel to receive the post and a side opening to receive and hold the gear.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an expandable laminoplasty device for cervical laminoplasty, comprising a superior plate and an inferior plate. The superior plate and inferior plate are coupled to form an expandable device by a racked gear post and a pinion gear.
The racked gear post has a plurality of gear teeth and is affixed to one of the superior plate or the inferior plate, and the pinion gear has a plurality of gear teeth configured to engage the gear teeth of the racked gear post. The plate not affixed to the racked gear post has an end with a slot or channel to receive the racked gear post and a side opening to receive and hold the pinion gear.
Rotation of the pinion gear engages the gear teeth of the racked gear post thereby coupling the superior plate to the inferior plate and causing relative movement from contracted to expanded positions. Stopping the rotation of the pinion gear fixes an amount of linear expansion between the superior and inferior plates. The disclosed device includes a hooked end of the superior plate configured to engage a cut lamina, an inferior plate inner-surface portion configured to contact a cervical vertebra including a plurality of ridges, and fastener hole locations for fastening ends of both superior and inferior plates to a vertebra.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims: an expandable laminoplasty device claim and a method of performing a laminoplasty claim. Across the two independent claims, the main inventive features are the gear-coupled superior and inferior plates with a racked gear post and pinion gear, the slot or channel and side opening for constrained engagement, and stopping rotation to fix a linear expansion amount.
Racked gear post and pinion gear for expandable plate coupling
A racked gear post having a plurality of gear teeth affixed to one of the superior plate or the inferior plate, and a pinion gear having a plurality of gear teeth configured to engage the gear teeth of the racked gear post, the pinion gear held in one of the superior plate or inferior plate not affixed to the racked gear post.
Slot or channel and side opening for constrained gear engagement
The superior plate or inferior plate not affixed to the racked gear post has an end with a slot or channel to receive the racked gear post and a side opening to receive and hold the pinion gear.
Pinion rotation and stopping rotation to fix linear expansion
Rotation of the pinion gear engages the gear teeth of the racked gear post thereby coupling the superior plate to the inferior plate to form the expandable laminoplasty device, rotation of the pinion gear causes relative movement of the superior plate and inferior plate from contracted to expanded positions, wherein stopping the rotation of the pinion gear fixes an amount of linear expansion between the superior and inferior plates.
Positioning on cut lamina and lateral mass and gear-driven expansion to enlarge spinal canal opening
Positioning the expandable laminoplasty device in a contracted position on the vertebra with a hooked end of the superior plate on the cut lamina and the inferior plate on the lateral mass of the vertebra; fastening ends of both superior and inferior plates to the cut lamina and the lateral mass respectively using fasteners; and rotating the pinion gear to expand the expandable laminoplasty device to a location enlarging a spinal canal opening of the vertebra.
Overall claim coverage centers on coupling a superior plate and inferior plate using a racked gear post and a pinion gear, with constrained engagement via a slot or channel and a side opening. The claims further define that stopping pinion rotation fixes an amount of linear expansion, and the method claim specifies positioning, fastening, and rotating the pinion gear to enlarge a spinal canal opening.
Stated Advantages
Stopping the rotation of the pinion gear fixes an amount of linear expansion between the superior and inferior plates.
Documented Applications
A method of performing a laminoplasty comprising preparing a cervical vertebra, positioning an expandable laminoplasty device in a contracted position, fastening the superior and inferior plates using fasteners, and rotating the pinion gear to expand the device to enlarge a spinal canal opening of the vertebra.
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