Patent ID: 8348979
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for treating cervical foraminal stenosis, the method comprising: a) identify a nerve root canal between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra, the nerve root canal including a stenosed intervertebral foraminal height; b) identifying a facet joint adjacent the nerve root canal, the facet joint including an inferior articulating surface of the upper vertebra and a superior articulating surface of the lower vertebra, a distance between the superior articulating surface and the inferior articulating surface being narrowed at least in part because of the stenosed intervertebral foraminal height; c) providing an implant comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the upper wall and lower wall are formed of an inelastic material and the implant is configured to transition to an expanded configuration from a non-expanded configuration; d) minimally invasively accessing the facet joint with a guide tool; e) minimally invasively routing the implant into the facet joint by routing along the guide tool the implant in the non-expanded configuration and supported on a distal end of the delivery tool; and f) acting at the proximal end of the implant with the delivery tool to cause the implant to transition from the non-expanded configuration to the expanded configuration, the transition of the implant causing the upper wall to act against the inferior articulating surface and the lower wall to act against the superior articulating surface, thereby increasing the distance between the superior articulating surface the inferior articulating surface and increasing the stenosed intervertebral foraminal height.