Modular interspinous fixation system and method
View Patent ↗A modular interspinous fixation system and method are shown. The system and method comprise a first plate, a second plate and a locking cross bar for locking the first and second plates together and into locked engagement with a first spinous process and a second spinous process. A bridge is mounted or received on the locking cross bar so that it becomes locked onto the locking cross bar when the locking cross bar is in locked engagement. The bridge and locking cross bar are adapted so that the bridge does not rotate about its axis while on the locking cross bar. Various other embodiments are shown illustrating various bridges of different shapes and sizes, integral and non-integral locking cross bars and even a ramped locking cross bar for facilitating preventing separation of the first and second plates after they are mounted to the first and second spinous processes.
1. A bridge system for use in a modular interspinous fixation system having a first plate, a second plate and a locking cross bar for coupling the first plate to the second plate to a first spinous process and a second spinous process, said bridge system comprising:
a plurality of bridges; and
each of said plurality of bridges comprising a sleeve member for slidably mounting onto the locking cross bar;
each of said plurality of bridges being different in at least one of size, shape or dimension to provide a selection of bridges, at least one of said plurality of bridges being selectable by a user in response to a local anatomy including said first spinous process and said second spinous process;
wherein an external surface of each of said sleeve members being different in at least one size, shape or dimension so to provide said user with a selection of said plurality of bridges so that said user can select one of said plurality of bridges for mounting on said locking cross bar in response to said local anatomy;
said second plate having a second plate aperture, said bridge extending into said second plate aperture, when said first and second plates are secured together with said locking cross bar.
2. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking cross bar and each of said sleeve members are made of different materials.
3. The bridge system as recited in claim 2 wherein said locking cross bar is metal and each of said sleeve members is a polymer.
4. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said sleeve members are adapted and sized in response to at least one anatomical or pathological characteristic.
5. The bridge system as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one anatomical or pathological characteristic comprises at least one of a size of an interspinous space between said first spinous process and said second spinous process.
6. The bridge system as recited in claim 4 wherein a bridge comprises a bridge surface that is adapted to facilitate bone ingrowth.
7. The bridge system as recited in claim 4 wherein said sleeve member comprises a bridge modulus of elasticity similar to or less than bone.
8. The bridge system as recited in claim 4 wherein said sleeve member comprises at least one aperture to facilitate bone ingrowth.
9. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein each sleeve member comprises a plurality of graft apertures for receiving graft material and facilitating fusion of said first spinous process to said second spinous process.
10. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking cross bar comprises an external shape and each sleeve member comprises a sleeve member aperture that cooperate to restrict any relative movement between said sleeve member and said locking cross bar after said sleeve member is slidably received thereon.
11. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein each sleeve member comprises at least one surface comprising a bone ingrowth facilitator.
12. The bridge system as recited in claim 11 wherein said bone ingrowth facilitator comprises a hydroxyapatite coating, surface sintering, surface etching, surface machining, surface blasting, drilling, or trabecular composition.
13. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve member comprises a modulus of elasticity of equal to or less than a modulus of elasticity of bone to facilitate avoiding overloading and/or potential fracture of at least one of said first spinous process or said second spinous process.
14. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve member comprises an aperture and communicating notched-out area to allow for locking of said locking cross bar through said sleeve member.
15. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein said each of said plurality of bridges comprises an outer surface generally defining a predetermined shape.
16. The bridge system as recited in claim 15 wherein said predetermined shape is not cylindrical.
17. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of bridges is generally C-shaped in cross section.
18. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of bridges is not cylindrical about its axis and comprises a wall thickness that is not constant about its axis.
19. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of bridges comprises a notched-out area that extends along a longitudinal length of said sleeve member.
20. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of bridges are made of sponge, bone, or a polymer.
21. The bridge system as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking cross bar comprises an elongated portion having a first end and a second end, said first end;
said elongated portion having a projection having a flat or planar surface;
said sleeve member having a first wall and a generally opposed second wall that cooperate to define a notched-out area adapted to receive said projection when said sleeve member is mounted on said locking cross bar.
22. The bridge system as recited in claim 21 wherein said projection is tapered or ramped to facilitate preventing said first and second plates from separating.
23. A bridge system for use in a modular interspinous fixation system having a first plate, a second plate and a locking cross bar for coupling the first plate to the second plate to a first spinous process and a second spinous process, said bridge system comprising:
a plurality of bridges; and
each of said plurality of bridges comprising a sleeve member for slidably mounting onto the locking cross bar;
each of said plurality of bridges being different in at least one of size, shape or dimension to provide a selection of bridges, at least one of said plurality of bridges being selectable by a user in response to a local anatomy including said first spinous process and said second spinous process;
wherein each of said sleeve members comprises a sleeve member aperture that is substantially the same and an external shape, size or dimensions that is different, thereby enabling a user to select said at least one of a plurality of bridges for mounting onto said locking cross bar which is adapted to receive them.
24. A bridge system for use in a modular interspinous fixation system having a first plate, a second plate and a locking cross bar for coupling the first plate to the second plate to a first spinous process and a second spinous process, said bridge system comprising:
a plurality of bridges; and
each of said plurality of bridges comprising a sleeve member for slidably mounting onto the locking cross bar;
each of said plurality of bridges being different in at least one of size, shape or dimension to provide a selection of bridges, at least one of said plurality of bridges being selectable by a user in response to a local anatomy including said first spinous process and said second spinous process;
wherein said at least a portion of said sleeve member and at least a portion of said locking cross bar cooperate with a lock and in at least one of said first plate or second plate to lock said sleeve member and said locking cross bar to said at least one of said first plate or said second plate.
25. A modular interspinous fixation kit comprising:
a plurality of plates comprising at least one first plate and at least one second plate; and
a plurality of bridges;
each of said plurality of bridges comprising a sleeve member for slidably mounting onto at least one locking cross bar;
said plurality of bridges being different in at least one of size, shape or dimension to provide a selection of bridges at least one of which being selectable by a user in response to a local anatomy including a first spinous process and a second spinous process;
wherein an external surface of each of said sleeve members being different in at least one size, shape or dimension so to provide said user with a selection of said plurality of bridges so that said user can select one of said plurality of bridges for mounting on said locking cross bar in response to said local anatomy;
said at least one second plate having a second plate aperture, said bridge extending into said second plate aperture, when said at least one first and at least one second plates are secured together with said at least one locking cross bar.
26. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein said at least one locking cross bar and said sleeve member are made of different materials.
27. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 26 wherein said at least one locking cross bar is metal and said sleeve member of each of said plurality of bridges is a polymer.
28. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein each sleeve member is adapted and sized in response to at least one anatomical or pathological characteristic.
29. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 28 wherein said at least one anatomical or pathological characteristic comprises a size of an interspinous space between said first spinous process and said second spinous process.
30. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein at least one sleeve member comprises a plurality of graft apertures for receiving graft material and facilitating fusion of said first spinous process to said second spinous process.
31. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein said at least one locking cross bar comprises an external shape and each sleeve member comprises a sleeve member aperture that cooperate to restrict any relative movement between said sleeve member and said at least one locking cross bar after said sleeve member is slidably received thereon.
32. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein at least one sleeve member comprises at least one surface comprising a bone ingrowth facilitator.
33. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 32 wherein said bone ingrowth facilitator comprises a hydroxyapatite coating, surface sintering, surface etching, surface machining, surface blasting, drilling, or trabecular composition.
34. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein said sleeve member comprises a modulus of elasticity of equal to or less than a modulus of elasticity of to facilitate avoiding overloading and/or potential fracture of at least one of said first spinous process or said second spinous process.
35. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein at least one sleeve member comprises an aperture and communicating notched-out area to allow for locking of said at least one locking cross bar through said sleeve member.
36. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein each of said plurality of bridges comprises an outer surface generally defining a predetermined shape.
37. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 36 wherein said predetermined shape is not cylindrical.
38. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein at least one sleeve member is generally C-shaped in cross section.
39. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein at least one sleeve member is not cylindrical about its axis and comprises a wall thickness that is not constant about its axis.
40. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein each sleeve member comprises a notched-out area that extends along a longitudinal length of said sleeve member.
41. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein said sleeve member is made of sponge, bone, or a polymer.
42. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein said at least one locking cross bar comprises an elongated portion having a first end and a second end;
said elongated portion having a projection having a flat or planar surface;
said sleeve member having a first wall and a generally opposed second wall that cooperate to define a notched-out area adapted to receive said projection when said sleeve member is mounted on said at least one locking cross bar.
43. The modular interspinous fixation kit as recited in claim 25 wherein said kit comprises a container or case for storing said plurality of bridges, said plurality of plates and said at least one locking cross bar.
44. A modular interspinous fixation kit comprising:
a plurality of plates comprising at least one first plate and at least one second plate; and
a plurality of bridges;
each of said plurality of bridges comprising a sleeve member for slidably mounting onto at least one locking cross bar;
said plurality of bridges being different in at least one of size, shape or dimension to provide a selection of bridges at least one of which being selectable by a user in response to a local anatomy including a first spinous process and a second spinous process;
wherein each of said sleeve members comprises a sleeve member aperture that is substantially the same and an external shape, size or dimensions that is different, thereby enabling a user to select said at least one of a plurality of bridges for mounting onto said at least one locking cross bar which is adapted to receive them.
45. A modular interspinous fixation kit comprising:
a plurality of plates comprising at least one first plate and at least one second plate; and
a plurality of bridges;
each of said plurality of bridges comprising a sleeve member for slidably mounting onto at least one locking cross bar;
said plurality of bridges being different in at least one of size, shape or dimension to provide a selection of bridges at least one of which being selectable by a user in response to a local anatomy including a first spinous process and a second spinous process;
wherein at least a portion of said sleeve member and at least a portion of said at least one locking cross bar cooperate with a lock in at least one of said at least one first plate or said at least one second plate to lock said sleeve member and said at least one locking cross bar to said at least one of said at least one first plate or said at least one second plate.