Patent Application
20060149284
During a surgical procedure, it is often necessary to attach a member, such as a jig or implant, within a patient. Various devices are available for inserting and accurately positioning the member into a patient's body. However, the previous devices have various drawbacks.
Previous devices often do not apply the required holding force to maintain attachment with the member. The inadequate holding force could result in the member becoming detached during the insertion or removal from the patient. Detachment from the device could result in the member being improperly placed within the intervertebral space causing the physician further work to reconnect and correctly reposition the member.
In addition to not providing enough holding force, it often was difficult to attach the member to the device. The attachment locations on the members were minimal and required precise alignment with the device to attach the two together. If the alignment was incorrect, the two would not attach. Another difficultly was that the member would visibly appear to be securely attached to the device, even when the attachment was incorrect. The false attachment was not visibly obvious, and would only become apparent during the procedure when the member became detached at the improper time.
The difficulty of the attachment between the members and device further lead to a change in the construction of the members to facilitate attachment. The members would include additional mounting locations and structures. However, the additional locations and structure would deter from the functionality of the member to be used within the body, or did not ease the attachment process.
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a device and method to position a member within the body. One specific embodiment features attachment of an implant within an intervertebral space between vertebral members. The device may include a handle that is manipulated during the procedure to insert and/or remove the member. The device may also include a connector mounted to the distal end of the handle for attaching the member. The device is selectively positionable between a first orientation that connects the member to the device, and a second orientation that releases the member such that it can remain within the body.
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a device for positioning a member within the body of a patient.
The handle 20 has a first end that attaches to the connector 20 and a second end that is manipulated by the physician during the procedure for attaching and releasing the member 50. The handle 20 includes an inner section 21 and an outer section 22. The sections 21, 22 are sized such that the two can move relative to each other. The length of the handle 20 may vary depending upon the application. In the embodiment illustrated in
The connector 30 is attached to the distal end of the handle 20 and interacts with the member 50. The connector 30 comprises an extension 31, and a pair of arms 35 as illustrated in
The connector 30 further includes a pair of arms 32 connected to the inner section 21 of the handle 20. A first end of the arms 32 are pivotally connected together to the inner section 21. A pair of jaws 36 are positioned at the second end of the arms 32. The jaws 36 function in combination with the extension 31 to engage the member 50. The jaws 36 have an abutting surface 37 that abuts against the member 50, and a contact surface 38 that laterally contacts the member 50. In one embodiment, one or both of the abutting surface 37 and contact surface 38 are angled to conform to the shape of the member 50. In the embodiment best illustrated in
Arms 35 may further include first and second sections 41, 42 connected together at a pivot 40. As illustrated in the embodiment of
Guide arms 39 may extend between the extension 31 and the arms 35. The guide arms 39 stabilize the arms 35 as they move between the first and second orientations. Guide arms 39 may have a variety of constructions, including a single member that extends through both arms 35 and through the extension 31, or a first guide arm that extends between the extension 31 and a first arm, and a second guide arm that extends between the extension 31 and a second arm. In one embodiment, the guide arm 39 extends through an aperture 34 in the extension. Arms 35 may further include apertures for receiving the outer ends of the guide arms 39.
The device 10 may be used on a variety of different members 50. One embodiment is best illustrated in
The member 50 may comprise an articulating joint, such as the ball and trough arrangement as best illustrated in
In the position illustrated in
Once attached, the device 10 can be used to insert and position the member 50 into the intervertebral space. When the member 50 is in position, the procedure is reversed to detach the device 10. The first section 21 is moved forward causing the jaws 36 to move outward away from a centerline of the device 10. Once the contact surface 38 of the jaws 36 have moved beyond the mounting section 53, the device 10 can be axially moved away from the member 50.
Various embodiments are considered for the handle 20 to provide relative movement between the first and second sections 21, 22. The relative movement may result from one of the sections moving while the other remains substantially stationary, or movement of both sections. One embodiment of the handle 20 is illustrated in
Further, the embodiments disclosed feature the extension 31 connected to the outer member 22, and the arms 35 connected to the inner member 21. The attachment may be reversed with the extension 31 connected to the inner member 21, and the arms 35 connected to the outer member 22. Further, the gripping section 23 in the embodiment of
A lock 29 may also be positioned on the handle 20 to prevent relative motion of the first and second sections 21, 22. The lock 29 may be engaged at any point, and particularly when the device 10 is gripping the member 50 to prevent inadvertent detachment. In one embodiment, lock 29 is operatively connected to the gripping section 23 to prevent rotation. Another embodiment of the lock 29 includes a member that extends through the inner and outer sections 21, 22 in the locked position.
While the illustrative embodiments discussed above have assumed that the member 50 replaces a single intervertebral disc, the present invention also encompasses situations where the member 50 replaces more than one intervertebral disc—a so-called corpectomy construct. This can be achieved through the use of a larger member 50, or by multiple members 50 that can be attached and detached from the device 10.
Additionally, although the devices and methods illustrated and described above are particularly useful in treating the cervical region of the spine, it should nevertheless be understood that the present invention is also applicable to other portions of the spine, including the lumbar or thoracic regions of the spine.
The term “vertebral member” and the like are used generally to describe the vertebral geometry comprising the vertebral body, pedicles, lamina, and processes. Likewise, the term “intervertebral space” and the like are used generally to describe the space between vertebral members. The intervertebral space may be formed between adjacent vertebral members, or between non-adjacent vertebral members. The member 50 may be sized and shaped, and have adequate strength requirements to be used within the different regions of the vertebra including the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions.
The term “member 50” is used herein in a general sense to describe a device that is selectively attached to the device 10. In one embodiment, the member 50 is an implant that is left in the body. In another embodiment, the member 50 is a jig which is a fixture or device to guide or hold a cutting, measuring, or space maintaining device in order to prepare a location, such as a vertebral member or intervertebral space, in order to receive an implant. Jigs may also be used in a process to relieve symptoms of a spinal or neurological disorder.
Other embodiments of the present invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. The terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, and the like are terms to describe the relative positioning of different elements, and are used in a general sense. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
