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 an implant in a first configuration along a curved path to a location that includes a space between adjacent spinous processes; and
changing, after the inserting, the implant from the first configuration to a second configuration, a shape of the implant in the second configuration being different from a shape of the implant in the first configuration.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the implant in the first configuration substantially corresponding to a cross-section area of the curved path.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section area of a portion of the implant in the second configuration is greater than a cross-sectional area of the curved path.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section area of a portion of the implant in the second configuration is greater than a cross-sectional area of the portion of the implant in the first configuration.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the implant is disposed within the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a central portion of the implant is disposed between a distal end of the implant and a proximal end of the implant, the central portion of the implant is disposed within the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a distal end portion of the implant is disposed outside the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the implant in the second configuration has a size greater than a size of the portion of the implant in the first configuration along a dimension parallel to a midline of a patient's body after the inserting and after the changing.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape; and
distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape;
distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,
a central portion of the implant in the second configuration has a dimension along a midline of a patient's body no greater than the distance.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape;
distracting, after the coupling and after the inserting, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,
a central portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension along a midline of the patient's body no greater than the distance.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant via an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape, the curved path substantially corresponding to the predefined curved shape of the insertion tool.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant in the second configuration is configured to limit extension of a spinal column including the adjacent spinous processes and configured to allow flexion of the spinal column.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant via an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape, a distal end portion of an insertion tool is coupled to the implant proximate of the distal end of the implant.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting includes moving a first portion of the implant to the space between the adjacent spinous processes from a first side of the adjacent spinous processes and a second portion of the implant to a position adjacent a second side of the adjacent spinous processes, the second side of the adjacent spinous processes being opposite the first side of the adjacent spinous process.
16 . A method, comprising:
coupling an implant in a first configuration to an insertion tool;
inserting, after the coupling, the implant via the insertion tool through an incision of skin to a location that includes a space between adjacent spinous processes of a patient's body; and
changing, after the inserting, the implant from the first configuration to a second configuration, a portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension parallel to a midline of a patient's body greater than a dimension of the portion of the implant in the first configuration.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the insertion tool has a predefined curved shape.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,
a central portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension along the midline no greater than the distance.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
distracting, after the coupling and after the inserting, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,
a central portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension along a midline of the patient's body no greater than the distance.
21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant along a curved path substantially corresponding to a predefined curved shape of the insertion tool.
22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the implant in the second configuration is configured to limit extension of a spinal column including the adjacent spinous processes and configured to allow flexion of the spinal column.
23 . The method of claim 16 , wherein a distal end portion of the insertion tool is coupled to the implant proximate of the distal end of the implant.
24 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the inserting includes moving a first portion of the implant to the space between the adjacent spinous processes from a first side of the adjacent spinous processes and a second portion of the implant to a position adjacent a second side of the adjacent spinous processes, the second side of the adjacent spinous processes being opposite the first side of the adjacent spinous process.
25 . A method, comprising:
inserting an implant in a first configuration along a curved path through an incision of skin to a location that includes a space between adjacent spinous processes of a patient's body; and
changing, after the inserting, the implant from the first configuration to a second configuration, a portion of the implant in the second configuration having a size greater than a size of the portion of the implant in the first configuration.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the portion of the implant is disposed within the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the portion of the implant is a central portion between a distal end of the implant and a proximal end of the implant, the central portion of the implant being disposed within the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.
28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the portion of the implant is a distal end portion of the implant disposed outside the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.
29 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the size of the portion of the implant is along a dimension parallel to a midline of a patient's body.
30 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape; and
distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes.
31 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape;
distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,
a central portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension along the midline no greater than the distance.
32 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape;
distracting, after the coupling and after the inserting, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,
a central portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension along a midline of the patient's body no greater than the distance.
33 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant via an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape, the curved path substantially corresponding to the predefined curved shape of the insertion tool.
34 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the implant in the second configuration is configured to limit extension of a spinal column including the adjacent spinous processes and configured to allow flexion of the spinal column.
35 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant via an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape, a distal end portion of an insertion tool is coupled to the implant proximate of the distal end of the implant.
36 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the inserting includes moving a first portion of the implant to the space between the adjacent spinous processes from a first side of the adjacent spinous processes and a second portion of the implant to a position adjacent a second side of the adjacent spinous processes, the second side of the adjacent spinous processes being opposite the first side of the adjacent spinous process.
37 . A method, comprising:
inserting a first implant member into a patient's body to a space between a pair of adjacent spinous processes using a first insertion tool;
inserting a second implant member into the patient's body using a second insertion tool, the second insertion tool slidably coupled to the first insertion tool; and
coupling the second implant member to the first implant member using the second insertion tool.