Interspinous spacer
Inventors
Altarac, Moti • Tebbe, Shawn • Reglos, Joey Camia • Cheng, Yang • Kadaba, Murali P. • Kim, Daniel H.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11986221-B2
Publication Date
2024-05-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
An implantable spacer for placement between adjacent spinous processes in a spinal motion segment is provided. The spacer includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and passageway. A first arm and a second arm are connected to the body. Each arm has a pair of extensions and a saddle defining a U-shaped configuration for seating a spinous process therein. Each arm has a proximal earning surface and is capable of rotation with respect to the body. An actuator assembly is disposed inside the passageway and connected to the body. When advanced, a threaded shaft of the actuator assembly contacts the earning surfaces of arms to rotate them from an undeployed configuration to a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the distracted adjacent spinous processes are seated in the U-shaped portion of the arms.
Core Innovation
An implantable interspinous spacer includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and an internal passageway. The spacer has a superior rotatable arm and an inferior rotatable arm with U-shaped saddles and proximal earning surfaces configured to seat adjacent spinous processes.
An internal actuator assembly is coupled to the body and deploys the arms from an undeployed/closed configuration to a deployed configuration. Deployment is caused by movement of the actuator in a first direction that advances a threaded shaft so bearing surfaces contact earning surfaces to rotate the arms about pins or hinges, and the arm deployment includes motion toward engagement with adjacent vertebrae.
The body has a distal portion and a plurality of notches defined by the body, and the notches include a planar, proximal wall and an undercut region that provides an opening immediately distal to, and radially undercut relative to, the planar, proximal wall. The spacer deployment is integrated with an insertion instrument included in a kit, with an instrument shaft and a plurality of prongs extending from the distal end configured for engaging the spacer notches throughout deployment of the arms with the vertebrae.
The prongs are configured so at least a portion of each prong inserts into the distal undercut region of a notch, enabling the spacer to be deployed while supported by the prong-and-undercut relationship and enabling subsequent re-deployment by moving the actuator in an opposite direction.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim covers a spinal implant kit with a spacer and an insertion instrument, where actuator movement deploys first and second arms toward engagement with first and second vertebrae. The claim includes defined notch geometry with a planar proximal wall and an undercut region, and it requires a pronged insertion instrument whose prongs engage the spacer notches during deployment with prongs inserting into a distal undercut region.
Spinal implant kit with deployable first and second arms driven by an actuator
A kit comprising a spacer with a body, first and second arms attached to a distal portion, and an actuator coupled to the body, wherein movement of the actuator in a first direction causes the first arm to deploy toward engagement with a first vertebra and the second arm to deploy toward engagement with a second vertebra.
Notches with planar proximal wall and distal radially undercut undercut region
For each notch, the body defines a planar, proximal wall extending distally and radially inset relative to portions of the body immediately adjacent to, and in contact with, the planar, proximal wall, and an undercut region providing an opening immediately distal to, and radially undercut relative to, the planar, proximal wall.
Insertion instrument with prongs engaging notches throughout deployment
An insertion instrument comprising an instrument shaft with a plurality of prongs extending from a distal end portion, configured for engaging the notches defined in the body of the spacer throughout deployment of the first and second arms and engagement with the first and second vertebrae, respectively.
Prongs insert into distal undercut region during actuator-driven engagement
The insertion instrument further includes a drive element extending along the instrument shaft and configured to engage the spacer and move the actuator in the first direction, wherein at least a portion of each prong is configured for insertion into the distal undercut region of a one of the notches.
Across the independent claim, the inventive coverage centers on an actuator-driven spacer with deployable first and second arms, a specific notch geometry defined by a planar proximal wall and a distal radially undercut undercut region, and a pronged insertion instrument whose prongs engage the notches throughout deployment while inserting into the distal undercut region.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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