Method of distracting vertebral bones
View Patent ↗A distraction method including inserting a spacer element into a space between bones to be distracted, removing the spacer element from the space, inserting a wider spacer element into the space, and removing the wider spacer element from the space.
1. A distraction method comprising:
distracting a space between vertebral bones by inserting a first spacer element into the space;
removing the first spacer element from the space;
distracting the space by inserting a wider second spacer element into the space after the removal of the first spacer element; and
removing the wider second spacer element from the space;
wherein the steps of distracting and removing are sequentially performed during a single surgical procedure and act to increase the distance between the vertebral bones.
2. The distraction method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the spacer elements has upper and lower surfaces that are substantially parallel.
3. The distraction method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the spacer elements is a tapered spacer element, the tapered spacer element being defined by upper and lower surfaces that are non-parallel such that the tapered spacer element comprises a wedge-shaped member.
4. A distraction method comprising:
distracting a space between vertebral bones by inserting a first spacer element into the space;
removing the first spacer element from the space;
distracting the space by inserting a wider second spacer element into the space after the removal of the first spacer element; and
removing the wider second spacer element from the space;
wherein the steps of distracting and removing are sequentially performed during a single surgical procedure;
wherein at least one of the spacer elements has upper and lower surfaces that are substantially parallel; and
wherein at least one of the spacer elements comprises a solid metal disc.
5. A distraction method comprising:
distracting a space between vertebral bones by inserting a first spacer element into the space;
removing the first spacer element from the space;
distracting the space by inserting a wider second spacer element into the space after the removal of the first spacer element; and
removing the wider second spacer element from the space;
wherein the steps of distracting and removing are sequentially performed during a single surgical procedure;
wherein at least one of the spacer elements is a tapered spacer element, the tapered spacer element being defined by upper and lower surfaces that are non-parallel such that the tapered spacer element comprises a wedge-shaped member; and
wherein at least one of the spacer elements comprises a solid metal disc.
6. A distraction method comprising:
distracting a space between vertebral bones by inserting a first spacer element into the space;
removing the first spacer element from the space;
distracting the space by inserting a wider second spacer element into the space after the removal of the first spacer element; and
removing the wider second spacer element from the space;
wherein the steps of distracting and removing are sequentially performed during a single surgical procedure;
wherein at least one of the spacer elements has upper and lower surfaces that are substantially parallel; and
wherein at least one of the spacer elements comprises a porous metal disc.
7. A distraction method comprising:
distracting a space between vertebral bones by inserting a first spacer element into the space;
removing the first spacer element from the space;
distracting the space by inserting a wider second spacer element into the space after the removal of the first spacer element; and
removing the wider second spacer element from the space;
wherein the steps of distracting and removing are sequentially performed during a single surgical procedure;
wherein at least one of the spacer elements is a tapered spacer element, the tapered spacer element being defined by upper and lower surfaces that are non-parallel such that the tapered spacer element comprises a wedge-shaped member; and
wherein at least one of the spacer elements comprises a porous metal disc.
8. The distraction method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein at least one of the spacer elements comprises a non-porous organic implantable material.
9. The distraction method as set forth in claim 3 , wherein at least one of the spacer elements comprises a non-porous organic implantable material.
10. The distraction method as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of the spacer elements comprises a porous organic implantable material.
11. The distraction method as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one of the spacer elements comprises a porous organic implantable material.