Cervical spinous process staple
Thoracic/lumbar and cervical spinous process staples which staple/fuse adjacent spinous processes are disclosed. Thoracic/lumbar transverse process staples which staple/fuse adjacent transverse processes are also disclosed. Each embodiment has upper and lower claws connected by a ratchet spring mechanism, along with a multiplicity of bone fastener prongs attached to the upper and lower claws. Two sets of prongs on each staple claw are spaced by a distance approximately equal to the distance separating adjacent spinous or transverse processes so as to facilitate stapling/fusion of two adjacent processes. Also disclosed are staple prongs with multiple perforations which enable incorporation of bone fusion material thereby facilitating stapling/fusion of spinal elements.
1. A method of clamping spinous processes, the method comprising:
positioning an interarticulating staple on a pair of adjacent spinous processes, wherein the interarticulating staple comprises:
a first claw having a first clamping surface extending from a first end of the first claw to a second end of the first claw, wherein a first set of prongs extend from the first clamping surface;
a second claw having a second clamping surface extending from a third end of the second claw to a fourth end of the second claw, wherein a second set of prongs extend from the second clamping surface, wherein the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface cooperate to clamp the pair of adjacent spinous processes between the first and second clamping surfaces when the first claw and the second claw are in a closed position;
a staple pin pivotally connecting the first claw and the second claw; and
a ratchet mechanism that limits an opening force of the first claw with respect to the second claw, wherein the ratchet mechanism comprise a flexure spring and a plurality of ratchet teeth configured and aligned such that the flexure spring can interact with the ratchet teeth in a ratcheting action; and
securing the interarticulating staple to the pair of adjacent spinous processes by clamping the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface to the pair of adjacent spinous processes such that the first and second sets of prongs staple the adjacent spinous processes.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interarticulating staple is secured to the spinous processes via a staple tool by squeezing first and second grips at a proximal end of the staple tool to clamp the first and second claws against the spinous processes at a distal end of the staple tool.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the staple tool comprises a mechanism having one or more levers and one or more pins, wherein the first and second grips are connected to the mechanism to transmit motion of the first and second grips to the distal end of the staple tool to compress the first and second claws on the spinous processes.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet mechanism holds the first and second claws together once the first and second claws are clamped to the spinous processes.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first claw comprises a first circular hole located on and extending into a first outer surface of the first claw and the second claw comprises a second circular hole located on and extending into a second outer surface of the second claw.
6. The method of claim 5 , and further comprising positioning a first screw in the first circular hole to connect a first spacer to the first claw and positioning a second screw in the second circular hole to connect a second spacer to the second claw.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first circular hole extends through the first claw from the first outer surface to the first clamping surface and the second circular hole extends through the second claw from the second outer surface to the second clamping surface.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first circular hole is positioned closer to the second end of the first claw than to the first end of the first claw and wherein the second circular hole is positioned closer to the fourth end of the second claw than to the third end of the second claw.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flexure spring is positioned on an outer surface of the first claw.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flexure spring is a portion of a ratchet pawl.
11. An interarticulating staple configured for clamping spinous processes, the interarticulating staple comprising:
a first claw having a first clamping surface extending from a first end of the first claw to a second end of the first claw, wherein a first set of prongs extend from the first clamping surface;
a second claw having a second clamping surface extending from a third end of the second claw to a fourth end of the second claw, wherein a second set of prongs extend from the second clamping surface, wherein the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface are configured to cooperate to clamp a pair of adjacent spinous processes between the first and second clamping surfaces when the first claw and the second claw are in a closed position;
a staple pin pivotally connecting the first claw and the second claw; and
a ratchet mechanism configured to limit an opening force of the first claw with respect to the second claw, wherein the ratchet mechanism comprise a flexure spring and a plurality of ratchet teeth configured and aligned such that the flexure spring can interact with the ratchet teeth when the first and second claws are closed together to clamp on the adjacent spinous processes.
12. The interarticulating staple of claim 11 , wherein the ratchet mechanism is configured to hold the first and second claws together once the first and second claws are clamped to the spinous processes.
13. The interarticulating staple of claim 11 , wherein the first claw comprises a first circular hole located on and extending into a first outer surface of the first claw and the second claw comprises a second circular hole located on and extending into a second outer surface of the second claw.
14. The interarticulating staple of claim 13 , and further comprising a first screw positioned in the first circular hole to connect a first spacer to the first claw and a second screw positioned in the second circular hole to connect a second spacer to the second claw.
15. The interarticulating staple of claim 13 , wherein the first circular hole extends through the first claw from the first outer surface to the first clamping surface and the second circular hole extends through the second claw from the second outer surface to the second clamping surface.
16. The interarticulating staple of claim 13 , wherein the first circular hole is positioned closer to the second end of the first claw than to the first end of the first claw and wherein the second circular hole is positioned closer to the fourth end of the second claw than to the third end of the second claw.
17. The interarticulating staple of claim 11 , wherein the flexure spring is positioned on an outer surface of the first claw.
18. The interarticulating staple of claim 11 , wherein the flexure spring is a portion of a ratchet pawl.
19. A system comprising:
the interarticulating staple of claim 11 ; and
a staple tool having first and second grips at a proximal end of the staple tool, wherein the interarticulating staple is configured to be secured to the spinous processes via the staple tool by squeezing the first and second grips to clamp the first and second claws against the spinous processes at a distal end of the staple tool.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the staple tool comprises a mechanism having one or more levers and one or more pins, wherein the first and second grips are connected to the mechanism to transmit motion of the first and second grips to the distal end of the staple tool to compress the first and second claws on the spinous processes.