Percutaneous posterior implant slide
An implant insertion instrument provides a guide through tissue (skin, fascia, musculature) and into a vertebral space after a discectomy. The instrument slides onto a guide wire and defines a path for the implant to be delivered to the vertebral space. The guide expands laterally as required to accommodate the implant as the implant slides through a channel defined in the guide, which allows distraction of the vertebral bodies while maintaining a small incision in the patient.
1. An implant insertion system, comprising:
an insertion instrument; and
a guide instrument that mates with the insertion instrument,
wherein the guide instrument comprises:
an elongated body that defines a center channel extending longitudinally through the elongated body; and
a flexible slide that encloses an open side of the center channel,
wherein the flexible slide includes a tongue extending from an edge thereof,
wherein the elongated body includes a groove defined in a sidewall thereof that extends along the channel, and
wherein the tongue is located such that it can engage the groove to permit movement of the flexible slide in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the channel while maintaining a longitudinal location with respect to the flexible slide.
2. The implant insertion system of claim 1 , wherein the insertion instrument comprises a handle defined on a proximal end thereof.
3. The implant insertion system of claim 2 , wherein a distal end of the insertion instrument is tapered and shaped such that the distal end facilitates movement through a patient's tissues.
4. The implant insertion system of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the insertion instrument is tapered and shaped such that the distal end facilitates movement through a patient's tissues.
5. The implant insertion system of claim 1 , further comprising an implant inserter that can be mated with a proximal end of the guide instrument.
6. A method of inserting a spinal implant through a patient's tissues to deliver the implant to a vertebral space, the method comprising:
mating an insertion instrument with a guide instrument, wherein a distal end of the insertion instrument is tapered and shaped to facilitate movement through the patient's tissues, and wherein the guide instrument defines a channel extending longitudinally through the guide instrument;
inserting the guide instrument through the patient's tissues so that a distal end of the guide instrument can communicate with vertebral space;
removing the insertion instrument from the guide instrument while leaving the guide instrument inserted through the patient's tissues;
mating an implant inserter with a proximal end of the guide instrument;
moving the implant through the guide instrument towards the distal end thereof;
providing a slide to the channel to enclose an open side of the channel; and
while the implant is moving through the guide instrument, the implant flexing a slide disposed in the channel in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the channel.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising maintaining a longitudinal location of the slide with respect to the channel via a tongue of the slide engaging a groove defined in the channel.
8. An implant insertion system, comprising:
an insertion instrument;
a guide instrument that mates with the insertion instrument,
an implant inserter that can be mated with a proximal end of the guide instrument,
wherein the guide instrument comprises:
an elongated body that defines a center channel extending longitudinally through the elongated body; and
a flexible slide that encloses an open side of the center channel.
9. The implant insertion system of claim 8 , wherein
the flexible slide includes a tongue extending from an edge thereof,
the elongated body includes a groove defined in a sidewall thereof that extends along the channel, and
the tongue is located such that it can engage the groove to permit movement of the flexible slide in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the channel while maintaining a longitudinal location with respect to the flexible slide.
10. The implant insertion system of claim 8 , wherein the insertion instrument comprises a handle defined on a proximal end thereof.
11. The implant insertion system of claim 10 , wherein a distal end of the insertion instrument is tapered and shaped such that the distal end facilitates movement through a patient's tissues.
12. The implant insertion system of claim 8 , wherein a distal end of the insertion instrument is tapered and shaped such that the distal end facilitates movement through a patient's tissues.