METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS FOR USE IN VERTEBRAL TREATMENT
Embodiments of the invention include instruments, implants, and methods for surgically treating facet joints of vertebrae. An instrument may be advanced into one or more facet joints to one or both separate vertebrae and remove tissue from one or more articular processes. A stop on the instrument may be used to terminate advancement of the instrument by contacting a vertebra, and one or more implants may be placed into one or more facet joints.
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The present invention relates generally to the field of surgically treating one or more vertebrae. Treatment may include one or more manipulations, such as but not limited to, mobilizing, aligning, cutting, abrading, and preparing facet joints with instruments. Implants may be used in some embodiments to aid with or maintain the one or more manipulations. Some, but not all, treatments are specifically directed to manipulations of cervical vertebrae.
BACKGROUNDFacet joints and discs disposed between vertebral members permit motion between individual vertebral members. Each vertebra includes an anterior body and a posterior arch. The posterior arch includes two pedicles and two laminae that join together to form the spinous process. A transverse process is laterally positioned at the transition from the pedicles to the laminae. Both the spinous process and transverse processes provide for attachment of fibrous tissue, such as ligaments and muscle. Two inferior articular processes extend downward from the junction of the laminae and the transverse process. Further, two superior articular processes extend upward from the junction. The articular processes of adjacent vertebrae form the facet joints. The inferior articular process of one vertebra articulates with the superior articular process of the vertebra below. The facet joints are referred to as gliding joints because the articular surfaces glide over each other. As illustrated in
Vertebral manipulation and implants are often used in the surgical treatment of spinal disorders such as degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, curvature abnormalities, and trauma.
Spinal disc material is often detached and removed in association with spinal procedures such as discectomy, spinal fusion, and disc replacement. In these and other spinal procedures, facet joint or disc soft tissues have traditionally been detached and removed with grasping, clipping, cutting, and scraping instruments such as rongeurs, curettes, rasps, osteotomes, scrapers, burs, or sagittal saws. A shortcoming of many traditional instruments is a failure to provide limits to the movement and effective cutting zone of the instruments. Improved instruments and methods may increase patient safety and operational accuracy by incorporating limits to the movement and effective cutting zone of instruments.
Improved methods and instruments may also provide for one or more of instruments with leading edges configured to distract a space between bones into which they are inserted, and sizes and shapes that reflect the sizes and shapes of implants to be placed in a patient. Distraction instruments may be useful to properly space and align bones to be treated. Distraction instruments that also reflect the size and shape of implants to be placed in a patient provide for proper selection of implants without the need for an additional sizing instrument or template.
SUMMARYOne embodiment of the invention is a method of surgically treating vertebrae. The method may include separating vertebrae at one or more facet joints between the articular processes of the vertebrae, introducing an instrument into at least one of the one or more facet joints to remove tissue from one or more articular processes, and advancing the instrument until a stop on the instrument terminates advancement of the instrument by contacting a vertebra. The method may also include placing an implant into one or more facet joints.
Another embodiment of the invention is a method of surgically treating vertebrae. The method may include separating and removing tissue from vertebrae at one or more facet joints between articular processes of the vertebrae with a single instrument. The single instrument may be used to remove tissue from one or more articular processes by introducing the single instrument into one or more facet joints, and advancing the instrument until a stop on the instrument terminates advancement of the instrument by contacting a vertebra. The method may also include placing an implant into one or more facet joints.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is an instrument configured to remove tissue from a facet joint. Some embodiments include a body for use in controlling the placement of the instrument and a first cutting face coupled to the body and configured to be oriented toward a first articular process of the facet joint. Some embodiments include a stop that extends from the instrument such that the stop restricts advancement of the instrument into the facet joint at least in part by contacting a portion of a vertebra.
An embodiment of a method of surgically treating vertebrae is illustrated in
A separating action of the vertebrae V1, V2 is illustrated in
The first instrument 10 illustrated in
Other embodiments may employ an instrument with a cutting area, such as the first and second cutting faces 11, 12, on only one face of the instrument. Such an instrument may be useful to remove material or shape a selected one of the articular processes while continuing to guide and space relative to the other articular process.
In
The first instrument 10 of the illustrated embodiment is a single instrument used to both separate the vertebrae V1, V2 and to remove tissue from one or more of the articular processes. For some method embodiments, a set of two or more progressively larger instruments that both separate vertebrae and remove tissue from articular processes may be provided. A description of a single instrument is intended to describe one instrument that both separates and removes tissue and is not intended to limit supplying of instruments in a set. In some embodiments, separate instruments may be used to separate vertebrae and to remove tissue. Sets of separate instruments of differing size may be employed in some embodiments. One or both of separating and tissue removing instruments may also be sizing instruments for implants to be placed into one or more facet joints. By also making separating and tissue removing instruments sizing instruments, a proper size and location for an implant may be established without the need of placing separate sizing trials, templates, or other measuring devices. For example and without limitation, the first instrument 10 shown in
Some method embodiments include placing an implant into one or more of the facet joints FJ. Insertion of an implant 30 is shown in
A more detailed depiction of the first instrument 10 is provided in
A first cutting face 11 is illustrated in
The first instrument 10 illustrated in
As shown in
The self-distracting leading end 17 of the first instrument 10 is illustrated in
The first instrument 10 may also be used as a sizer to assist with the selection of an implant to be place in the facet joint from which tissue is removed. A set of two or more progressively larger instruments, such as the first instrument 10, may be provided. By making such instruments sizing instruments, a proper size and location for an implant may be established without providing separate sizing trials, templates, or other measuring devices. For example and without limitation, the first instrument 10 shown in
The second instrument 20, also described as a pusher instrument herein, is shown in
The implant 30 shown in
The implant may be of any effective size to be inserted between and space apart vertebrae at facet joints. For example and without limitation, the top and bottom surfaces 31, 32 may be approximate 8 mm by 8 mm. The implants 30 may come in a variety of heights, such as but not limited to, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, and 6 mm. Other effective sizes, shapes, and configurations are contemplated. An implant may include one or more openings partially or completely through the implant. In some embodiments, the implant 30 is made from allograft bone. The implant 30 may also be made from autograft, or xenograft bone, ceramics, shape-memory alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, cobalt chrome alloys, stainless steel, non-reinforced polymers, carbon-reinforced polymer composites, PEEK and PEEK composites, low density polyethylene, and combinations of these materials. A fill material may be introduced at a surgical site in combination with an implant. The fill material may be a paste, gel, liquid, suspension, granular mixture, or similar substance. Non-limiting examples of fill materials include bone paste, morselized allograft, autograft, or xenograft bone, ceramics, or various polymers. The fill material may be a material that hardens after implantation. Some fill materials which are not necessarily hardenable or curable may be used in association with the present invention. For example, the fill material may comprise beads or small particles or grains of material, some of which may, in aggregate, achieve a harder consistency as a result of interlocking or compaction. In some embodiments, the fill material may also include a bone growth promoting substance. Osteogenic or bone growth promoting substances may include, without limitation, autograft, allograft, xenograft, demineralized bone, synthetic and natural bone graft substitutes, such as bioceramics and polymers, and osteoinductive factors. A separate carrier to hold materials within or near the device may also be used. These carriers may include collagen-based carriers, bioceramic materials, such as BIOGLASS®, hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate compositions. The carrier material may be provided in the form of a sponge, a block, folded sheet, putty, paste, graft material or other suitable form. The osteogenic compositions may include an effective amount of a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), transforming growth factor 131, insulin-like growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, LIM mineralization protein (LMP), and combinations thereof or other therapeutic or infection resistant agents, separately or held within a suitable carrier material.
Embodiments of the instrument described herein may be constructed in whole or in part of biocompatible materials of various types. Examples of materials include, but are not limited to, shape-memory alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, cobalt chrome alloys, stainless steel, non-reinforced polymers, carbon-reinforced polymer composites, PEEK and PEEK composites, low density polyethylene, ceramics and combinations thereof.
Various method embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to particular instruments and implants. However, in some circumstances, each disclosed method embodiment may be applicable to each of the instruments and implants, or to some other instrument or implant operable as disclosed with regard to the various method embodiments.
Terms such as anterior, posterior, top, bottom, side, lateral, and the like have been used herein to note relative positions. However, such terms are not limited to specific coordinate orientations, but are used to describe relative positions referencing particular embodiments. Such terms are not generally limiting to the scope of the claims made herein.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail in the disclosure, the disclosure is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. All changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A first instrument comprising:
- a shaft comprising a proximal end and an opposite distal end;
- a handle coupled to the proximal end; and
- a core comprising opposite proximal and distal walls, the proximal wall being coupled to the distal end, the distal wall defining an implant interface, the core comprising opposite top and bottom walls each extending from the proximal wall to the distal wall, the core comprising a pusher stop extending outwardly from the top wall.
22. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the pusher stop extends substantially perpendicularly from the top wall.
23. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the pusher stop comprises opposite proximal and distal faces and a connecting wall extending from the proximal face to the distal face, the proximal face extending parallel to the distal face.
24. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the pusher stop comprises opposite proximal and distal faces and a connecting wall extending from the proximal face to the distal face, the distal face extending parallel to the distal wall.
25. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the pusher stop comprises opposite proximal and distal faces and a connecting wall extending from the proximal face to the distal face, the connecting wall including opposite first and second ends each extending from the top wall, the connecting wall being arcuate between the first end and the second end.
26. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the pusher stop comprises opposite proximal and distal faces, the distal face being a first distance from the distal wall, the proximal face being a second distance from the proximal wall, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
27. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the core comprises opposite first and second side walls each extending from the proximal wall to the distal wall and from the top wall to the bottom wall, the pusher stop being positioned equidistant between the side walls.
28. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the implant interface includes teeth.
29. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the implant interface includes teeth, the teeth being pyramid shaped.
30. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the implant interface includes teeth, the teeth extending continuously from the top wall to the bottom wall.
31. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the implant interface includes teeth, the core comprising opposite first and second side walls each extending from the proximal wall to the distal wall and from the top wall to the bottom wall, the teeth extending continuously from the first side wall to the second side wall.
32. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the implant interface includes teeth, the core comprising opposite first and second side walls each extending from the proximal wall to the distal wall and from the top wall to the bottom wall, the teeth extending continuously from the first side wall to the second side wall and continuously from the top wall to the bottom wall.
33. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the implant interface includes teeth, the core comprising opposite first and second side walls each extending from the proximal wall to the distal wall and from the top wall to the bottom wall, the side walls each defining a portion of at least one of the teeth.
34. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the shaft has a maximum diameter greater than a maximum diameter of the distal wall.
35. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the core comprises opposite first and second side walls each extending from the proximal wall to the distal wall and from the top wall to the bottom wall, the core having a width defined by a distance from the first side wall to the second side wall, the shaft having a diameter greater than the width.
36. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the shaft extends along a longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal wall extending at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
37. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the proximal wall has a first height defined by a first distance from the top wall to the bottom wall and the distal wall has a second height defined by a second distance from the top wall to the bottom wall, the second height being less than the first height.
38. The first instrument recited in claim 21, wherein the pusher stop has a first height defined by a distance from the top wall to a top portion of the pusher stop, the distal wall having a second height defined by a distance from the top wall to the bottom wall, the second height being less than the first height.
39. A first instrument comprising:
- a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and an opposite distal end;
- a handle coupled to the proximal end; and
- a core comprising opposite proximal and distal walls, the proximal wall being coupled directly to the distal end, the distal wall extending at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, the distal wall defining an implant interface, the implant interface including teeth, the core comprising opposite top and bottom walls each extending from the proximal wall to the distal wall, the core comprising opposite first and second side walls each extending from the proximal wall to the distal wall and from the top wall to the bottom wall, the core comprising a pusher stop extending outwardly from the top wall such that the pusher stop extends substantially perpendicular to the top wall,
- wherein the shaft has a maximum diameter greater than a maximum diameter of the distal wall,
- wherein the pusher stop comprises opposite proximal and distal faces and a connecting wall extending from the proximal face to the distal face, the distal face extending parallel to the distal wall.
40. A first instrument comprising:
- a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and an opposite distal end;
- a handle coupled to the proximal end; and
- a core comprising opposite proximal and distal walls, the proximal wall being coupled directly to the distal end, the distal wall extending at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, the distal wall defining an implant interface, the implant interface including teeth, the core comprising opposite top and bottom walls each extending from the proximal wall to the distal wall, the core comprising opposite first and second side walls each extending from the proximal wall to the distal wall and from the top wall to the bottom wall, the core comprising a pusher stop extending outwardly from the top wall such that the pusher stop extends substantially perpendicular to the top wall, the pusher stop being positioned equidistant between the side walls,
- wherein the pusher stop comprises opposite proximal and distal faces, the distal face being a first distance from the distal wall, the proximal face being a second distance from the proximal wall, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and
- wherein the core has a width defined by a distance from the first side wall to the second side wall, the shaft having a diameter greater than the width.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 1, 2020
Publication Date: Mar 18, 2021
Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC. (WARSAW, IN)
Inventors: GREG C. MARIK (COLLIERVILLE, TN), NEWTON H. METCALF, JR. (MEMPHIS, TN), DANISH SIDDIQUI (COLLIERVILLE, TN), VINCENT C. TRAYNELIS (CHICAGO, IL)
Application Number: 17/108,233