Dynamized interspinal implant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9402654-B2
Application number	US-201514845687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2015
Priority date	Mar 6, 2004
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

An interspinous process implant for insertion between adjacent spinous processes, the implant having a flexible body having i) an upper posterior portion having an upper surface adapted to bear upon an upper spinous process, ii) a lower posterior portion having a lower surface adapted to bear upon a lower spinous process, and iii) an arcuate, flexible anterior wall connecting the upper and lower portions, wherein the anterior wall has a narrowed portion.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for post-operatively adjusting an implant that has been surgically implanted with at least one portion posterior to a patient's spinal cord, the implant including a sensor capable of determining a change in the physical surroundings of the implant, comprising:
post-operatively analyzing by the sensor of the physical surroundings of the implant, wherein analyzing the physical surroundings of the implant includes analyzing the patient's motion;
post-operatively determining by the sensor of a significant change in the physical surroundings of the implant; and
post-operatively adjusting a characteristic of the implant in response to the determined significant change in the physical surroundings of the implant, wherein adjusting a characteristic of the implant results in an alleviation of the patient's pain.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting a characteristic of the implant includes providing an electric stimulus.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is contained within the implant.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of reporting data analyzed by the sensor to an ex vivo source.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of reporting is performed by a reporter contained within the implant.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of implanting the implant proximate to the patient's spinal cord so as to alleviate pain.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant is a spinal implant.

8. A method for post-operatively adjusting an implant that has been surgically implanted with at least one portion posterior to a patient's spinal cord, the implant including a sensor capable of determining a change in the physical surroundings of the implant, comprising:
post-operatively analyzing by the sensor of the physical surroundings of the implant wherein analyzing the physical surroundings of the implant includes analyzing the patient's motion;
post-operatively determining by the sensor of a significant change in the physical surroundings of the implant; and
post-operatively providing an electric stimulus in response to the significant change in the physical surroundings of the implant, wherein providing an electric stimulus results in an alleviation of the patient's pain.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the implant is a spinal implant.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of implanting the implant proximate to the patient's spinal cord so as to alleviate pain.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is contained within the implant.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of reporting data analyzed by the sensor to an ex vivo source.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of reporting is performed by a reporter contained within the implant.

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Serhan Hassan

Classifications

• A61B17/7068

  Devices comprising separate rigid parts, assembled in situ, to bear on each side of spinous processes; Tools therefor · CPC title

• A61B17/7065 Primary

  Devices with changeable shape, e.g. collapsible or having retractable arms to aid implantation; Tools therefor · CPC title

• A61B2017/00964

  composite · CPC title

• A61F2/4405

  for apophyseal or facet joints, i.e. between adjacent spinous or transverse processes (devices implanted between spinous or transverse processes A61B17/7062) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00221

  with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves · CPC title