Granted Patent B2

US 8,246,660 · App. 11/092,273 · Granted Aug 21, 2012

Abstract

Claims (75)

1. An apparatus placed by an implantation tool for spacing a first section of a divided lamina apart from a second section of the divided lamina in connection with a laminoplasty procedure, comprising:

a first portion for attachment to the first section of the divided lamina, wherein the first portion includes at least one hole therethrough for receiving a first fastener driven into the first section of the divided lamina;

a second portion for attachment to the second section of the divided lamina, wherein the second portion includes at least one hole therethrough for receiving a second fastener driven into the second section of the divided lamina;

an intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions, wherein the intermediate portion connects the first and second portions such that the first and second portions are spaced apart from one another along a first axis and the first and second portions are offset from one another along a second axis which is generally perpendicular to the first axis;

an extension connected to the intermediate portion for engaging the first section of the divided lamina;

a receiving element for placement between the first and second section of the divided lamina, wherein the receiving element possesses a channel for receiving the extension; and

wherein the extension and the first portion extend away from the intermediate portion and substantially toward the same direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an aperture defined in the intermediate portion comprises an inner wall angled inward from a top part of the inner wall to a bottom part of the inner wall to contact a first part of the implantation tool; and wherein an end face of the first portion is angled inward from a top side of the first portion to a bottom side of the first portion to contact a second part of the implantation tool.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an aperture defined in the intermediate portion is operable to be engaged by an extension member protruding from a first part of the implantation tool.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an aperture defined in the intermediate portion extends through the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first fastener and the second fastener is a bone screw.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first fastener and the second fastener is a self-tapping bone screw.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a plurality of generally circular holes therethrough for receiving a respective plurality of fasteners driven into the first section of the divided lamina.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a plurality of generally circular holes therethrough for receiving a respective plurality of fasteners driven into the second section of the divided lamina.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of holes through the second portion are arranged in a generally linear pattern.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hole of the second portion is in the form of a slot.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the slot includes at least one detent.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiving element is a bone growth receiving element.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiving element is natural bone.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the extension extends from the intermediate portion from a position between the first portion and the second portion for forming a space for receiving at least part of the first section of the divided lamina.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the extension is configured to at least partially support the first section of the divided lamina when the first fastener is driven into the first section of the divided lamina.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a material selected from the group including; (a) titanium; and (b) titanium alloy.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a surface of the first portion adjacent the first section of the divided lamina and a surface of the second portion adjacent the second section of the divided lamina is textured.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the texture aids in maintaining position of the apparatus relative to at least one of the first section of the divided lamina and the second section of the divided lamina.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the texture is selected from the group including: (a) teeth; (b) grooves; and (c) ridges.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are disposed generally parallel to one another.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are disposed at an angle relative to one another.

22. A system for spacing a first section of a divided lamina apart from a second section of the divided lamina in connection with a laminoplasty procedure, comprising:

(i) a spacer including:

(a) a first portion for attachment to the first section of the divided lamina, wherein the first portion includes at least one hole therethrough for receiving a first fastener driven into the first section of the divided lamina;

(b) a second portion for attachment to the second section of the divided lamina, wherein the second portion includes at least one hole therethrough for receiving a second fastener driven into the second section of the divided lamina;

(c) an intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions, wherein the intermediate portion connects the first and second portions such that the first and second portions are spaced apart from one another along a first axis and the first and second portions are offset from one another along a second axis which is generally perpendicular to the first axis;

(d) an extension connected to the intermediate portion and extending in a direction towards the first portion for engaging the first section of the divided lamina;

(e) a receiving element for placement between the first and second section of the divided lamina, wherein the receiving element possesses a channel for receiving the extension;

(f) an implantation tool receiving hole;

(g) an end face of the first portion; and

(ii) an implantation tool having a scissors mechanism and being formed by a first elongated element and a second elongated element secured at a pivot, wherein the implantation tool includes:

(a) a first operator grip component at a first end of the first elongated element;

(b) a second operator grip component a first end of the second elongated element;

(c) a first implant coupling component at a second end of the first elongated element;

(d) a second implant coupling component at a second end of the second elongated element;

(e) wherein the first implant coupling component is configured to engage the implantation tool receiving hole in the spacer; and

(f) wherein the second implant coupling component is configured to engage the end face of the first portion of the spacer.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein at least one of: an inner wall of a tool receiving hole angled inward from a top part of the inner wall to a bottom part of the inner wall to contact the first implant coupling component of the implantation tool; and wherein an end face of the first portion is angled inward from a top side of the first portion to a bottom side of the first portion to contact the second implant coupling component of the implantation tool.

24. The system of claim 22 , wherein the spacer is removable coupled to the implantation tool by the clamping action of the first implant coupling component of the implantation tool disposed in an implantation tool receiving hole and the second implant coupling component of the implantation tool pressing against an end face of the first portion.

25. The system of claim 22 , wherein the first portion of the spacer comprises two side portions extending between the intermediate portion and the end face of the first portion, wherein the implantation tool includes a first downward extension protruding from at least one of the first implant coupling component of the implantation tool and the second implant coupling component of the implantation tool, wherein the implantation tool includes a second downward extension protruding from at least one of the first implant coupling component of the implantation tool and the second implant coupling component of the implantation tool, and wherein the first and second downward extensions are configured to abut the side portions of the spacer when the implantation tool receiving hole and end face of the spacer are engaged by the implantation tool.

26. The system of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first implant coupling component of the implantation tool and the second implant coupling component of the implantation tool is configured to permit the fastener to be driven into the first section of the divided lamina while the implantation tool is coupled to the spacer.

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein at least one of the first implant coupling component of the implantation tool and the second implant coupling component of the implantation tool has at least one hole therethrough to permit the fastener to be driven into the first section of the divided lamina while the implantation tool is coupled to the spacer.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the first implant coupling component of the implantation tool has at least one hole therethrough to permit the fastener to be driven into the first section of the divided lamina while the implantation tool is coupled to the spacer.

29. The system of claim 27 , wherein the second implant coupling component of the implantation tool has at least one hole therethrough to permit the fastener to be driven into the first section of the divided lamina while the implantation tool is coupled to the spacer.

30. A method for spacing a first section of a divided lamina apart from a second section of the divided lamina in connection with a laminoplasty procedure, comprising:

(i) providing a spacer including:

(a) a first portion for attachment to the first section of the divided lamina, wherein the first portion includes at least one hole therethrough for receiving a first fastener driven into the first section of the divided lamina;

(b) a second portion for attachment to the second section of the divided lamina, wherein the second portion includes at least one hole therethrough for receiving a second fastener driven into the second section of the divided lamina;

(c) an intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions, wherein the intermediate portion connects the first and second portions such that the first and second portions are spaced apart from one another along a first axis and the first and second portions are offset from one another along a second axis which is generally perpendicular to the first axis;

(d) an extension connected to the intermediate portion that extends in a direction towards the first portion for engaging the first section of the divided lamina;

(e) a receiving element for placement between the first and second section of the divided lamina, wherein the receiving element possesses a channel for receiving the extension;

(f) an implantation tool receiving hole;

(g) an end face of the first portion; and

(ii) providing an implantation tool having a scissors mechanism and being formed by a first elongated element and a second elongated element secured at a pivot, wherein the implantation tool includes;

(a) a first operator grip component at a first end of the first elongated element;

(b) a second operator grip component at a first end of the second elongated element;

(c) a first implant coupling component at a second end of the first elongated element; and

(d) a second implant coupling component at a second end of the second elongated element;

(e) wherein the first implant coupling component is configured to engage the implantation tool receiving hole in the spacer; and

(f) wherein the second implant coupling component is configured to engage the end face of the first portion of the spacer.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the steps are carried out in the order recited.

32. An apparatus placed by an implantation tool for spacing a first section of a divided lamina apart from a second section of the divided lamina in connection with a laminoplasty procedure, comprising:

a first portion for attachment to the first section of the divided lamina, wherein the first portion includes at least one hole therethrough for receiving fasteners driven into the first section of the divided lamina;

a second portion for attachment to the second section of the divided lamina, wherein the second portion includes at least one hole therethrough for receiving a second fastener driven into the second section of the divided lamina;

an intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions, wherein the intermediate portion connects the first and second portions such that the first and second portions are spaced apart from one another along a first axis and the first and second portions are offset from one another along a second axis which is generally perpendicular to the first axis;

an extension connected to the intermediate portion for engaging the first section of the divided lamina, the extension and the first portion extending away from the intermediate portion and substantially toward the same longitudinal direction;

a receiving element for placement between the first and second section of the divided lamina, wherein the receiving element possesses a channel for receiving the extension.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the receiving element is a bone growth receiving element.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the receiving element is natural bone.

Assignments (17)