Spine distraction implant and method
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 spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
1. A method, comprising:
inserting a cannula from a lateral side of adjacent spinous processes such that at least a first portion of the cannula fits directly between adjacent spinous processes;
inserting an implant through the cannula from the lateral side while the first portion of the cannula is disposed directly between the adjacent spinous processes such that at least a portion of the implant is disposed between the adjacent spinous processes; wherein the inserting includes pushing the implant through the cannula via an insertion tool while a distal end face of the insertion tool abuts a proximal end portion of the implant;
removing the cannula after the inserting the implant such that at least a portion of the implant remains disposed between the adjacent spinous processes; and wherein the implant is configured to limit extension of a spinal column including the adjacent spinous processes and configured to allow flexion of the spinal column.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant has a plurality of indentations configured to position the implant relative to the adjacent spinous processes.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cannula defines a longitudinally curved path between an incision in skin laterally spaced from the spine and a space between the adjacent spinous processes.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cannula is a first cannula from a plurality of cannulas, the method further comprising:
inserting a second cannula from the plurality of cannulas from a lateral side of adjacent spinous processes such that at least a first portion of the cannula is disposed directly between adjacent spinous processes;
wherein the inserting the first cannula comprises inserting the first cannula over the second cannula;
the second cannula having a cross-sectional size smaller than a cross-sectional size of the first cannula.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant such that at least the portion of the implant is disposed within a space between the adjacent spinous processes, the space bounded by a first spinous process, a second spinous process adjacent the first spinous process, and a supraspinous ligament coupled to the adjacent spinous processes.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant has a rib that substantially circumscribes an outer surface of the implant, the rib configured to indicate a position of the implant relative to the adjacent spinous processes.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the implant substantially corresponds to a shape of the cannula.
8. A method of inserting a spinal implant, comprising:
inserting a cannula from a lateral side of adjacent spinous processes such that a distal opening of the cannula is disposed adjacent to and facing an interspinous space directly between adjacent spinous processes; the opening being smaller than the interspinous space;
inserting an implant through the cannula from the lateral side while the distal opening is disposed adjacent to and facing the interspinous space such that at least a portion of the implant is disposed between the adjacent spinous processes; wherein the inserting includes pushing the implant through the cannula via an insertion tool while a distal end face of the insertion tool abuts a proximal end portion of the implant;
removing the cannula after the inserting the implant such that at least a portion of the implant remains disposed between the adjacent spinous processes; and wherein the implant is configured to limit extension of a spinal column including the adjacent spinous processes and configured to allow flexion of the spinal column.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the implant has a plurality of indentations configured to position the implant relative to the adjacent spinous processes.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the cannula defines a longitudinally curved path between an incision in skin laterally spaced from the spine and the interspinous space.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein the cannula is a first cannula from a plurality of cannulas, the method further comprising:
inserting a second cannula from the plurality of cannulas from a lateral side of adjacent spinous processes such that a distal opening of the second cannula is disposed adjacent to and facing the interspinous space;
wherein the inserting the first cannula comprises inserting the first cannula over the second cannula;
the second cannula having a cross-sectional size smaller than a cross-sectional size of the first cannula.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the implant has a rib that substantially circumscribes an outer surface of the implant, the rib configured to indicate a position of the implant relative to the adjacent spinous processes.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein a shape of the implant substantially corresponds to a shape of the cannula.