Patent ID: 8157840
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: A61B,A61K

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: longitudinally displacing an inner second shaft of an insertion tool relative to an outer first shaft of the insertion tool to retract a distal tip of the second shaft proximally toward a handle of the insertion tool; the first and second shafts extending distally from the handle section; the second shaft slidably disposed in the first shaft; the first shaft extending along a first longitudinal axis and having a first pin oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis; the distal tip of the second shaft extending parallel to the first axis; while the distal tip is retracted, aligning the first pin of an insertion tool to an interspinous-process implant relative to the insertion tool and displacing the first pin toward the implant in a direction generally perpendicular to the first axis of the tool to couple, at the first pin, the tool with the implant for both distal and proximal movement in a direction parallel to the first axis of the tool; thereafter, rotatably engaging the distal tip of the insertion tool to the interspinous-process implant by rotating the second shaft relative to the first shaft; thereafter, inserting the interspinous-process implant into a body while the first pin is aligned with the interspinous-process implant and while the distal tip is rotatably engaged with the interspinous-process implant.