Granted Patent B2

US 12,728,015 · App. 19/368,815 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Inventors: Jeffrey B. Kleiner (Denver, CO); Edward John Grimberg (Denver, CO)

Assignee: Spinal Surgical Strategies, Inc.

A61F2/4601A61F2/4455A61F2/447A61F2/4611A61F2002/2817A61F2002/2835A61F2002/30011A61F2002/30153A61F2002/30224A61F2002/30235A61F2002/30525A61F2002/30579A61F2002/30593A61F2002/30601A61F2002/3071A61F2/30767A61F2002/30784A61F2002/30785A61F2002/30787A61F2002/30828A61F2002/30878A61F2002/30904A61F2002/3093A61F2002/4627A61F2002/4628A61F2002/4635A61F2002/469A61F2002/4693A61F2002/4694A61F2310/00017A61F2310/00023A61F2310/00029A61F2310/00047A61F2310/00059

Abstract

Claims (47)

1 . A method for delivering an implant and graft material into a surgical site, comprising:

(a) providing a hollow tube configured to convey the graft material, the hollow tube having a proximal end, a distal end with an opening, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the opening in the distal end;

(b) releasably attaching the implant to the distal end of the hollow tube so as to communicate with the opening in the distal end of the hollow tube,

the implant being expandable from a closed configuration to an open configuration, the implant having a leading end that is wedge shaped when the implant is in the closed configuration, the implant being configured to receive and allow the passage of the graft material into the surgical site,

(c) placing the implant within the surgical site;

(d) expanding the implant; and

(e) advancing the graft material through the lumen of the hollow tube and through the implant into the surgical site.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wedge-shaped leading end of the implant facilitates moving obstacles out of the way of the implant as it is advanced into the implant's desired position within the surgical site.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein spinal disc material is removed from the surgical site prior to placing the implant within the surgical site, and advancing the graft material is performed without first needing to remove any obstructions to a path of the graft's movement.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the obstruction is a component of the implant.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing a plunger having at least a portion that is shaped congruently with, and is in contact with, an interior of the hollow tube such that the plunger is capable of pushing the graft material through the hollow tube without graft material escaping behind the portion of the plunger.

6 . A method for delivering an implant and graft material into a surgical site, comprising:

(a) providing a hollow tube configured to convey the graft material, the hollow tube having a proximal end, a distal end with an opening, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the opening in the distal end;

(b) releasably attaching the implant to the distal end of the hollow tube so as to communicate with the opening in the distal end of the hollow tube,

the implant being expandable from a closed configuration to an open configuration, the implant being configured to receive and allow the passage of the graft material into the surgical site;

(c) placing the implant within the surgical site;

(d) expanding the implant; and

(e) advancing the graft material through the lumen of the hollow tube and through the implant into the surgical site without prior removal of any implant parts.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the implant in the closed configuration has a wedge shaped leading end that facilitates moving tissue out of the way of the implant as it is advanced into the implant's desired position within the surgical site.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing a plunger having at least a portion that is shaped congruently with, and is in contact with, an interior of the hollow tube such that the plunger is capable of pushing the graft material through the hollow tube without graft material escaping behind the portion of the plunger.

9 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising providing a plunger having at least a portion that is shaped congruently with, and is in contact with, an interior of the hollow tube such that the plunger is capable of pushing the graft material through the hollow tube without graft material escaping behind the portion of the plunger.

10 . A method for delivering an implant and graft material into a surgical site during a surgical procedure, comprising:

(a) providing a hollow tube configured to convey the graft material, the hollow tube having a proximal end, a distal end with an opening, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the opening in the distal end;

(b) releasably attaching the implant to the distal end of the hollow tube so as to communicate with the opening in the distal end of the hollow tube,

the implant having no parts that require removal during the surgical procedure, and being expandable from a closed configuration to an open configuration, the implant being configured to receive and allow the passage of the graft material into the surgical site;

(c) placing the implant within the surgical site;

(d) expanding the implant; and

(e) advancing the graft material through the lumen of the hollow tube and through the implant into the surgical site.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the implant in the closed configuration has a wedge shaped leading end that facilitates moving tissue out of the way of the implant as it is advanced into the implant's desired position within the surgical site.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a plunger having at least a portion that is shaped congruently with, and is in contact with, an interior of the hollow tube such that the plunger is capable of pushing the graft material through the hollow tube without graft material escaping behind the portion of the plunger.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing a plunger having at least a portion that is shaped congruently with, and is in contact with, an interior of the hollow tube such that the plunger is capable of pushing the graft material through the hollow tube without graft material escaping behind the portion of the plunger.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein spinal disc material is removed from the surgical site prior to placing the implant within the surgical site, and advancing the graft material is performed without first needing to remove any obstructions to a path of the graft's movement.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the implant in the closed configuration has a wedge shaped leading end that facilitates moving tissue out of the way of the implant as it is advanced into the implant's desired position within the surgical site.

16 . A method for delivering an implant and graft material into a surgical site during a surgical procedure, comprising:

(a) providing a hollow tube configured to convey the graft material, the hollow tube having a proximal end, a distal end with an opening, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the opening in the distal end;

(b) releasably attaching the implant to the distal end of the hollow tube so as to communicate with the opening in the distal end of the hollow tube,

the implant being expandable from a closed configuration to an open configuration and configured to receive and allow the passage of the graft material into the surgical site,

the implant comprising:

a leading end that is wedge shaped when the implant is in the closed configuration; and

no parts that require removal during the surgical procedure;

(c) placing the implant within the surgical site;

(d) expanding the implant; and

(e) advancing the graft material through the lumen of the hollow tube and through the implant into the surgical site without prior removal of any implant parts.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing a plunger having at least a portion that is shaped congruently with, and is in contact with, an interior of the hollow tube such that the plunger is capable of pushing the graft material through the hollow tube without graft material escaping behind the portion of the plunger.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein spinal disc material is removed from the surgical site prior to placing the implant within the surgical site, and advancing the graft material is performed without first needing to remove any obstructions to a path of the graft's movement.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising providing a plunger having at least a portion that is shaped congruently with, and is in contact with, an interior of the hollow tube such that the plunger is capable of pushing the graft material through the hollow tube without graft material escaping behind the portion of the plunger.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the implant is expanded into the open configuration at least at its leading end.

Continuity (16)

References Cited (400)