Lateral insertion method for spinous process spacer with deployable member
View Patent ↗A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a deployable second arm that converts between a first position for insertion and a second position for retention of the implant between adjacent spinous processes. A tool can be used to insert the spine distraction implant.
1. A method for implanting an apparatus between first and second adjacent spinous processes of a patient, the method comprising:
accessing a space between the spinous processes;
inserting between the spinous processes a body of the apparatus and first and second arms of the apparatus while the arms are in a low profile insertion position; and
after the body of the apparatus is inserted between the spinous processes and while the body extends through a sagittal plane that contains the adjacent spinous processes, deploying the first and second arms to larger profile retention positions extending from the body to a side of a first spinous processes and a side of a second spinous process respectively, wherein in the deployed position the first arm and the second arm are positioned away from each other.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second arms comprise a flexible material.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second arms comprise a material that has a springy quality.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second arms are urged into the insertion position by an element.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said element and said arms move relative to each other and to the body of the apparatus to allow said arms to be deployed to the retention position.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the insertion position of the arm is offset by about 90 degrees relative to the retention position of the arm.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the insertion position of the first and second arms is offset by about 90 degrees relative to the retention position of the arms.
8. A method for laterally implanting an apparatus between adjacent spinous processes the method comprising:
laterally accessing a space between the spinous processes;
inserting between the spinous processes at least one arm of the apparatus with the arm in an insertion position and wherein the insertion position is parallel to an axis through a space between the spinous processes and about perpendicular to a plane that contains the spinous processes; and
after the apparatus is inserted between the spinous processes, deploying the arm to a retention position disposed to a side of a spinous processes, wherein the retention position is in a plane that is about parallel to the plane that contains the spinous processes so that the arm inhibits lateral movement of the apparatus from between the spinous processes while the apparatus limits spinal extension between the spinal processes without preventing spinal flexion between the spinous processes.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein:
said inserting step includes inserting first and second arms laterally between the spinous processes, wherein said arms are in an insertion position during the insertion step; and
after the apparatus is inserted between the spinous processes, deploying the first and second arms so that the first arm is adjacent to a first spinous process and a second arm is adjacent to a second spinous process.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein said arm comprises a flexible material.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein said arm comprises a material that has a springy quality.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the arm is urged into the insertion position by an element of the apparatus.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said element and said arm move relative to each other to allow said arm to be deployed to the retention position.
14. A method for implanting an apparatus between first and second adjacent spinous processes of a patient, the method comprising:
accessing a space between the spinous processes;
inserting between the spinous processes a body of the apparatus and first and second arms of the apparatus while the arms are in a low profile insertion position; and
after the body of the apparatus is inserted between the spinous processes, deploying the first and second arms to larger profile retention positions extending from the body to a side of a first spinous processes and a side of a second spinous process respectively, wherein in the deployed position the first arm and the second arm are positioned away from each other;
wherein compression of the body between the processes limits spinal extension, and wherein the apparatus allows spinal flexion between the processes.