Sacro-iliac joint stabilizing implants and methods of implantation

Inventors

RECKLING, W. Carlton • Yerby, Scott A. • Sand, Paul M.

Assignees

SI Bone Inc

Abstract

Methods of implanting SI joint stabilization implants across a SI joint from a dorsal approach. The methods may include advancing an elongate implant positioning guide in a dorsal trajectory into an ilium of a subject, directly engaging a guide interface member of a SI joint stabilization implant with the positioning guide to restrict movement of the implant with respect to the positioning guide in at least one direction, and advancing the implant across the SI joint while guiding the implant with the positioning guide.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a method of positioning a sacroiliac ("SI") joint stabilization implant across an SI joint from a dorsal approach. The method uses an elongate implant positioning guide advanced in a dorsal trajectory into an ilium of a subject, and places an SI joint stabilization implant lumen about the positioning guide to restrict movement of the implant with respect to the positioning guide in at least one direction. The implant is then advanced across the SI joint while being guided by the positioning guide.

After the implant is positioned across the SI joint, the method removes the positioning guide from the ilium and from within the SI joint stabilization implant lumen. The described guidance can include anatomical positioning of the positioning guide into the ilium between the lateral cortical wall and the medial cortical wall, and can include radiographic teardrop view guidance for placing the positioning guide.

The invention further includes configurations in which a lumen of the implant is positioned about an ilium positioning guide and a second lumen is positioned about a sacrum positioning guide. In that arrangement, both positioning guides are advanced from a dorsal approach in their respective dorsal trajectories into the ilium and the sacrum, and the implant is advanced across the SI joint while guided by both positioning guides.

Additional described aspects include using a sharpened front section and advancing the implant into the SI joint by driving the sharpened front section through bone. The method can also include engaging a sharpened broach with the positioning guide to create a space, followed by removing the broach to allow dorsal access to the space, and optionally restricting implant migration toward the sacrum.

Claims Coverage

The document provides two independent claims that cover dorsal-approach positioning of an SI joint stabilization implant using elongate positioning guides advanced into the ilium and optionally into both the ilium and sacrum. Together, the inventive features emphasize guide-guided implant advancement, lumen engagement to restrict movement in at least one direction, and removal of the positioning guides after implant advancement.

The independent claims define dorsal-approach placement of an SI joint stabilization implant by advancing one or both elongate positioning guides into ilium and sacrum, positioning implant lumens about the guides to restrict movement in at least one direction, advancing the implant across the SI joint while guided by the positioning guides, and removing the guides afterward.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications