Patent ID: 9226835
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F

Claim Text:
1. A percutaneous fusion method to correct disc compression in a patient, comprising: making a posterolateral incision to access a desired spinal motion segment; determining a target level of a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies for implantation of a spinal implant; locating a path to the disc space at the target level; inserting a guide wire to maintain the path to the target level, the guide wire extending to the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies to the target level at the location for placing the spinal implant; selecting an appropriately sized spinal implant to correct disc compression, the spinal implant having a substantially square or substantially rectangular cross section midway from a proximal or distal end with height to width ratio in a range of 1:1 to 2:1 sized for full insertion between two adjacent vertebrae, the implant having a body, the body having a distal end, a proximal end, the body having a length extending from the distal end to the proximal end and opposing sides or walls extending between the distal and proximal ends to support the adjacent vertebrae on opposing upper and lower surfaces, the length being greater than the width or the height of the body of the implant, and a longitudinal axis and defining at least one implant aperture therethrough, the body being aligned with the longitudinal axis, the at least one implant aperture being in communication with a proximal and distal opening, the openings in alignment with one another to allow the passage of a guide wire therethrough the body, the distal end being an atraumatic tapered distal end, the tapered distal end having a profile having a cross section along the length of the body of a frustoconical shape or an elliptic parabolic shape; an elongate cannulated insertion tool defining an interior insertion tool pathway, wherein a distal end of the elongate cannulated insertion tool has a shape or configuration that correspondingly matingly engages at least a portion of at least one corresponding external surface of the implant so rotational alignment of the insertion tool and the implant is maintained after insertion to tense the soft tissue without damaging the nerve to reestablish the normal disc height of the two adjacent vertebral bodies; and an elongate lockshaft positioned therein the insertion tool pathway and defining a longitudinal interior lockshaft pathway, wherein a distal end of the elongate lockshaft selectively engages and attaches to a portion of the implant, and wherein rotation of the elongate lockshaft can draw and tighten the matingly engaged surfaces of the insertion tool to the implant wherein when the distal end of the elongate lockshaft is engaged with a proximal end portion of the implant, the interior lockshaft pathway and the implant aperture are aligned to receive the guide wire, the implant having a height and a length sized to accommodate being evenly spaced on each side of the spinous process; placing the spinal implant over the guide wire by passing the guide wire through the aperture; sliding the spinal implant along the guide wire to position the spinal implant into the disc space at the target level; removing the guide wire; and fixating at least a portion of the desired spinal motion segment, thereby enabling fusion of the adjacent vertebral bodies.