Instrument and system for placing graft, implant and graft material for minimally invasive posterolateral fusion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9775723-B2
Application number	US-201514757713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2015
Priority date	Jun 16, 2015
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

In one aspect, an instrument for placing a graft, implant and/or graft material at a target site for enhancing posterolateral fusion between two or more vertebrae is provided which includes a housing and an actuable trigger associated with the housing. A curved rigid access tube extends from the housing, the access tube terminating at a distal end. A sheath is disposed about, and moveable relative to the access tube, and a transmission is disposed in the housing. In an initial state, the sheath extends distally past the distal end of the access tube, a space being defined within the sheath distally of the distal end of the access tube to accommodate the graft, implant and/or graft material. The transmission is configured to cause an incremental displacement of the sheath relative to the distal end of the access tube upon an actuation of the trigger.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An instrument for placing a graft, implant and/or graft material at a target site for enhancing posterolateral fusion between two or more vertebrae, the instrument comprising:
a housing;
an actuatable trigger associated with said housing;
a rigid access tube having a fixed curve extending from said housing, said access tube terminating at a distal end;
a sheath disposed about, and moveable relative to, said access tube; and,
a transmission disposed in said housing,
wherein, in an initial state, said sheath extends distally past said distal end of said access tube, a space being defined within said sheath distally of said distal end of said access tube to accommodate the graft, implant and/or graft material, and
wherein, said transmission is configured to cause an incremental displacement of said sheath relative to said distal end of said access tube upon an actuation of said trigger.

2. An instrument as in claim 1 , wherein said access tube is detachably mounted to said housing.

3. An instrument as in claim 1 , further comprising a rack fixed to said sheath.

4. An instrument as in claim 3 , wherein said transmission includes a pinion for intermeshing engagement with said rack.

5. An instrument as in claim 1 , further comprising a protrusion fixed to said sheath.

6. An instrument as in claim 5 , further comprising an indicator slidably mounted to said housing, said protrusion being located to engage said indicator with proximal displacement of said sheath.

7. An instrument as in claim 1 , wherein at least one radiopaque marker is provided on said sheath.

8. An instrument as in claim 1 , where said transmission is adjustable to selectively permit proximal and distal displacement of said sheath relative to said distal end of said access tube.

9. An implantation system comprising;
an instrument as in claim 1 ; and,
a graft, implant and/or graft material disposed within said space, said graft, implant and/or graft material configured to enhance posterolateral fusion between two or more vertebrae.

10. A system for placing a graft, implant and/or graft material at a target site for enhancing fusion between two or more vertebrae, the system comprising:
an instrument including:
a housing;
an actuatable trigger associated with said housing; and,
a transmission,

and,
a cartridge detachably mountable to said instrument, said cartridge including:
a body;
a rigid access tube having a fixed curve fixed to said body, said access tube terminating at a distal end;
a sheath disposed about, and moveable relative to, said access tube,

wherein, with said cartridge mounted to said instrument, said transmission being configured to cause an incremental displacement of said sheath relative to said distal end of said access tube upon an actuation of said trigger.

11. A system as in claim 10 , wherein, in an initial state, said sheath extends distally past said distal end of said access tube, a space being defined within said sheath distally of said distal end of said access tube to accommodate the graft, implant and/or graft material.

12. A system as in claim 10 , wherein said cartridge further including a rack fixed to said sheath.

13. A system as in claim 12 , wherein said transmission includes a pinion for intermeshing engagement with said rack.

14. A system as in claim 10 , wherein said cartridge further including a protrusion fixed to said sheath.

15. A system as in claim 14 , wherein said instrument further including an indicator slidably mounted to said housing, said protrusion being located to engage said indicator with proximal displacement of said sheath.

16. A system as in claim 10 , wherein at least one radiopaque marker is provided on said sheath.

17. A system as in claim 10 , wherein said transmission is adjustable to selectively permit proximal and distal displacement of said sheath relative to said distal end of said access tube.

18. A system as in claim 10 , wherein an indicator is fixed to said sheath so as to move therewith, said indicator extending through a slot formed in said body.

19. An implantation system comprising:
a system as in claim 11 ; and,
a graft, implant and/or graft material disposed within said space, said graft, implant and/or graft material configured to enhance posterolateral fusion between two or more vertebrae.

20. An implantation system comprising:
a system as in claim 11 ; and,
a graft material disposed within said space, said graft material configured for placement in the intradiscal between two opposing vertebrae to enhance fusion between said vertebrae in conjunction with a spinal intervertebral fusion implant in said intradiscal space.

Assignees

• Spine Wave Inc

Inventors

• Boyd Lawrence M
• Ratcliffe Jr John J
• Adamson Tim E
• Grata Paul J

Classifications

• A61B17/7094

  Solid vertebral fillers; devices for inserting such fillers · CPC title

• A61F2/4601 Primary

  for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity · CPC title

• A61B17/8811

  characterised by the introducer tip, i.e. the part inserted into or onto the bone · CPC title