Abstract:
A spinal implant for limiting flexion of the spine includes a tether structure for encircling adjacent spinal processes. Usually, a pair of compliance members will be provided as part of the tether structure for elastically limiting flexion while permitting an extension. A cross-member is provided between the compliance member or other portions of the tether structure to stabilize the tether structure and prevent misalignment after implantation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/206,339 filed Oct. 14, 2011, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/777,366 filed Jul. 13, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,029,541, which is a non-provisional of, and claims the benefit of prior U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/862,085, filed on Oct. 19, 2006; the present application is also a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/455,917 filed Apr. 25, 2012, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/426,167, filed on Apr. 17, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of PCT Application US2007/081815, filed on Oct. 18, 2007, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/862,085, filed on Oct. 19, 2006; the present application is also a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/427,551 filed Mar. 22, 2012, which is a divisional of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/426,119 filed Apr. 17, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to International PCT Application No. PCT/US2007/081822 filed Oct. 18, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/862,085 filed Oct. 19, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/426,119 also is a non-provisional of, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/158,892 filed Mar. 10, 2009; the present application is also a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/274,171 filed Oct. 14, 2011, which is continuation of International PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/031471 filed Apr. 16, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/426,119 filed Apr. 17, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2007/081822 filed Oct. 18, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/862,085 filed Oct. 19, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/426,119 is also a non-provisional of, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/158,892 filed Mar. 10, 2009; the present application is also a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/106,049 filed Apr. 18, 2008, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/875,674 filed Oct. 19, 2007, which is a non-provisional of, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/862,085 filed Oct. 19, 2006; the entire contents of each of the above is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to medical methods and apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and devices for restricting spinal flexion in patients having back pain or other spinal conditions. 
     A major source of chronic low back pain is discogenic pain, also known as internal disc disruption. Patients suffering from discogenic pain tend to be young, otherwise healthy individuals who present with pain localized to the back. Discogenic pain usually occurs at the discs located at the L4-L5 or L5-S1 junctions of the spine ( FIG. 1 ). Pain tends to be exacerbated when patients put their lumbar spines into flexion (i.e. by sitting or bending forward) and relieved when they put their lumbar spines into extension (i.e. arching backwards). Discogenic pain can be quite disabling, and for some patients, can dramatically affect their ability to work and otherwise enjoy their lives. 
     This pain experienced by patients with discogenic low back pain can be thought of as flexion instability and is related to flexion instability that is manifested in other conditions. The most prevalent of these is spondylolisthesis, a spinal condition in which abnormal segmental translation is exacerbated by segmental flexion. 
     Current treatment alternatives for patients diagnosed with chronic discogenic pain are quite limited. Many patients follow a conservative treatment path, such as physical therapy, massage, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, muscle relaxants, and epidural steroid injections, but typically continue to suffer with a significant degree of pain. Other patients elect to undergo spinal fusion surgery, which commonly requires discectomy (removal of the disk) together with fusion of adjacent vertebrae. Fusion is not usually recommended for discogenic pain because it is irreversible, costly, associated with high morbidity, and of questionable effectiveness. Despite its drawbacks, however, spinal fusion for discogenic pain remains common due to the lack of viable alternatives. 
     Recently, a less invasive and potentially more effective treatment for discogenic pain has been proposed. A spinal implant has been designed which inhibits spinal flexion while allowing substantially unrestricted spinal extension. The implant is placed over one or more adjacent pairs of spinal processes and provides an elastic restraint to the spreading apart of the spinal processes which occurs during flexion. Such devices and methods for their use are described in U.S. Patent Application 2005/02161017A1, published on Sep. 29, 2005, and having common inventors with the present application. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , an implant  10  as described in the &#39;017 application, typically comprises an upper strap component  12  and a lower strap component  14  joined by a pair of compliant members  16 . The upper strap  12  is shown disposed over the top of the spinous process SP4 of L4 while the lower strap  14  is shown extending over the bottom of the spinous process SP5 of L5. The compliance member  16  will typically include an internal element, such as a spring of rubber block, which is attached to the straps  12  and  14  in such a way that the straps may be “elastically” or “compliantly” pulled apart as the spinous processes SP4 and SP5 move apart during flexion. In this way, the implant provides an elastic tension on the spinal processes which provides a force that resists flexion. The force increases, typically linearly with a non-variable spring constant, as the processes move further apart. Usually, the straps themselves will be essentially non-compliant so that the degree of elasticity or compliance may be controlled and provided solely by the compliance members  16 . 
     Ideally, the compliance members  16  will remain horizontally aligned and spaced generally between the spinous processes SP4 and SP5, as shown generally in  FIG. 3 . In some instances, however, the desired symmetry may be lost if the implant structure  10  becomes circumferentially displaced about the spinous processes SP4 and SP5, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Such displacement can affect the ability of the implant to provide a uniform, symmetric elastic force to inhibit flexion of the spinous processes in accordance with the desired treatment. 
     For these reasons, it would be desirable to provide improved spinal implants and methods for their use in inhibiting flexion in patients suffering from discogenic pain. It would be particularly desirable if the improved devices would provide the desired elastic forces to the spinous processes without displacement or loss of symmetry of the device over time. At least some of these objectives will be met by the inventions described hereinbelow. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     US 2005/0216017A1 has been described above. Other patents and published applications of interest include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,966,600; 5,011,494; 5,092,866; 5,116,340; 5,282,863; 5,395,374; 5,415,658; 5,415,661; 5,449,361; 5,456,722; 5,462,542; 5,496,318; 5,540,698; 5,609,634; 5,645,599; 5,725,582; 5,902,305; Re. 36,221; 5,928,232; 5,935,133; 5,964,769; 5,989,256; 6,053,921; 6,312,431; 6,364,883; 6,378,289; 6,391,030; 6,468,309; 6,436,099; 6,451,019; 6,582,433; 6,605,091; 6,626,944; 6,629,975; 6,652,527; 6,652,585; 6,656,185; 6,669,729; 6,682,533; 6,689,140; 6,712,819; 6,689,168; 6,695,852; 6,716,245; 6,761,720; 6,835,205; Published U.S. Patent Application Nos. US 2002/0151978; US 2004/0024458; US 2004/0106995; US 2004/0116927; US 2004/0117017; US 2004/0127989; US 2004/0172132; US 2005/0033435; US 2005/0049708; US 2006/0069447; Published PCT Application Nos. WO 01/28442 A1; WO 02/03882 A2; WO 02/051326 A1; WO 02/071960 A1; WO 03/045262 A1; WO 2004/052246 A1; WO 2004/073532 A1; and Published Foreign Application Nos. EP 0322334 A1; and FR 2 681 525 A1. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides spinal implants and methods for restricting spinal flexion for the treatment of discogenic pain and other spinal conditions, such as spondylolisthesis, where the physician desires to control spinal flexion. The spinal implants comprise a tether structure adapted to encircle at least two spinous processes, where at least a portion of the tether structure is adapted to elastically elongate to apply tension to the spinous processes as the spine undergoes flexion, i.e. as the spinous processes move apart as the patient leans forward. The tether structure may comprise any of the particular structures described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/076,469, filed on Mar. 9, 2005, and published as US 2005/0216017 A1, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     In particular, in the simplest embodiments, the tether structure may comprise a single, continuous loop of material wherein all or a portion of the loop is formed of a compliant material to provide the desired elasticity. More commonly, the tether structure will comprise one or more band segments joined by one or more compliance members, where the band(s) are typically non-distensible and the compliance member(s) provide for the desired elasticity. In some instances, the compliance members may comprise spring or other elements which provide an elastic tensioning force where the band member(s) are attached to opposite ends of the spring member. In other instances, the compliance members could include elastomeric or other compression elements, where the band member(s) are attached to opposed sides of the compressive elements so that the elasticity is provided by compression on the compression member. 
     In preferred embodiments, the tether structure will comprise a pair of band members joined by a pair of compliance members, where an upper band member will be placed over the superior surface of an upper spinous process and the lower band member will be placed over an inferior surface of the lower spinous process. The compliance members will be generally horizontally aligned across the region between the upper and lower spinous processes. 
     In a particular aspect of the present invention, the spinal implants will include at least one cross-member coupled to opposed portions of the tether structure, where the cross member is positioned to lie between the spinous processes when the tether structure encircles the processes as described above. In specific embodiments, the cross-member will extend between the horizontally aligned compliance members, but in other embodiments a cross-member could be coupled to other portions or components of the tether structure, including the band or loop elements which are disposed over the spinous processes. 
     The cross-member(s) functions to stabilize the tether structure after the tether structure has been implanted over the spinous processes. In particular, the cross-member(s) will help maintain the symmetry of the device so that it does not circumferentially rotate or migrate over the spinous processes, which is a potential problem when the tether includes one or more compliance members. In addition, the cross-member(s) may optionally maintain the lateral spacing between the two sides of the device, such as between a pair of horizontally aligned compliance members. The cross-member(s) may further prevent or inhibit vibration or sinusoidal movement of the device which may result from dynamic and/or cyclic loading. 
     In addition to the stabilization functions, a cross-member may help in initial placement and positioning of the tether structure. For example, a tether structure including a pair of horizontally aligned compliance members may be introduced and assembled in situ, where the cross-member helps establish the initial horizontal alignment between the compliance members. Alternatively, when no compliance members are to be used, the cross-member could itself provide for connection points for attaching upper and lower band segments. Additionally, the cross-member(s) can create pivot points to allow rotation or pivoting of the band relative to the cross-member(s) as well as the other band segments. 
     The cross-member(s) may have a wide variety of particular configurations. The most common cross-member(s) will have generally rigid structures, e.g. in the form of a rod, bar, beam, or the like. In other instances, however, the cross-member(s) may be relatively flexible, in some cases being in the form of a wire, ribbon, string, spring, suture, or the like. In still other configurations, the cross-member(s) may be linearly compressible, but not extensible, in order to allow for a controlled degree of inward motion of the tether structure after it has been placed. In still other configurations, the cross-member(s) may be linearly non-compressible, but allow for a small degree of axial extension in order to prevent inward motion or intrusion of the tether structure into the region between the spinous processes. 
     There are also a variety of ways in which the cross-member(s) may be attached to the tether structure. Typically, the cross-member(s) will be attached to opposed compliance members (usually to housings of the compliance member subassemblies as shown in the &#39;017 application previously incorporated by reference), where the attachment can be rigid, semi-rigid, pivotal, or the like. In a first exemplary embodiment, the cross-member is rigidly attached to a pair of compliance members in a generally H-shaped configuration. In other instances, the connections may be pivotal or non-rigid, as mentioned above. Still further, the cross-member can be completely flexible which would allow for a small degree of motion between the compliance members after implantation. 
     While most embodiments of the present invention will employ only a single cross-member, in other embodiments two or more cross-members may be used. For example, a pair of cross-members may be positioned between opposed portions of the tether structure, where an upper cross-member is located immediately below the inferior surface of the upper spinal process, while the lower cross-member is positioned immediately adjacent to a superior surface of the lower spinal process. Alternatively, such cross-member pairs may be positioned more closely to the compliance members, e.g. where they lie immediately above and below the compliance members. In still other embodiments, the cross-members may be slidably attached to the bands or other portions of the tether structure so that the cross members may move in response to a force applied by the spinous processes or otherwise. 
     In all the embodiments of the present invention, it will be desirable that the cross-member(s) provide little or no resistance to extension, i.e. motion of the adjacent spinous processes toward one another. When the cross-member consists of a single rod, bar, structure, or other flexible element extending between exposed portions of the tether structure, the cross-member will usually have a very small vertical height (typically less than 6 mm, usually in the range from 1 mm to 3 mm), and it is unlikely that the cross-member would contact either spinous process even in an extreme degree of extension, so long as the cross-member is located at a position which is equally spaced apart from the two spinous processes. In other instances, however, the cross-member could have a larger cross-sectional profile which might contact either or both spinous processes as the spine undergoes extension. In such cases, it is desirable that the cross-member be collapsible or otherwise provide minimum force against either or both processes. 
     Usually, the cross-member will be implanted through the interspinous ligament which extends between the upper and lower spinous processes. In such instances, it is desirable that the cross-member itself have a relatively low profile to permit passage through the ligament with minimum trauma. Often, it will be desirable to have the cross-member detachable from at least one of the opposed tether structure components so that the cross-members or other portions of the tether structure do not need to be passed through the interspinous ligament. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, methods for stabilizing spinal flexion comprise positioning a continuous tether structure over a pair of adjacent spinous processes on adjacent vertebrae to elastically restrict flexion. The tether structure will be positioned and have mechanical properties which will elastically tension the processes when the processes are in flexion. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, opposed portions of the tether structure are mechanically coupled, usually through the interspinous ligament, in order to stabilize the structure, particularly to inhibit circumferential displacement of the tether structure over time. 
     In the exemplary embodiments, the opposed portions of the tether structure will comprise compliance members, and it will be the compliance members which are mechanically coupled to stabilize the structure in situ. Typically, the compliance members will be connected by at least one cross-member wherein said at least one cross-member is fixably or non-fixably attached to the compliance members. In some embodiments, one end of the cross-member may be fixably attached to one compliance member while the other member is non-fixably attached to the other compliance member. The cross-member itself may be rigid, semi-rigid, or non-rigid, and in all instances the cross-member will provide no significant inhibition of spinal extension. Preferably, the cross-member will pass through the interspinous ligament without significant damage or compromise to its integrity. 
     Optionally, one or more additional tether structures may be implanted around other pair(s) of spinous processes in the manner described above. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the lumbar region of the spine including the spinal processes (SP), facet joints (FJ), lamina (L), transverse processes (TP), and sacrum (S). 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a spinal implant of the type described in US 2005/0216017A1. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate how the spinal implant of  FIG. 2  can become misaligned over time. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a first embodiment of a spinal implant having a cross-member in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate the spinal implant of  FIG. 5  having a rigid cross-member. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the spinal implant of  FIG. 5  having a semi-rigid cross-member. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate the cross-member of  FIG. 5  having an elastic cross-member. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a specific embodiment of a cross-member useful in the apparatus and methods of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the cross-member of  FIG. 9  in an implant. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention having a pair of cross-members. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates the spinal implant of  FIG. 11  in an implant. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an additional continuous tether structure over a spinous process on another pair of adjacent vertebrae. 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  illustrate use of a reinforcement member on a single connector which does not include a compliance member, while  FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate use of a reinforcement member on a single connector which includes a compliance member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a spinal implant  20  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises an upper strap  22 , a lower strap  24 , and a pair of compliance members  26  joining the upper and lower straps. Typically, the upper and lower straps  22  and  24  will be non-distensible but will be joined to the compliance members  26  so that they can be expanded from a constricted configuration, as shown in broken line, when the patient&#39;s spine is in a neutral position between flexion and extension, to an expanded configuration (shown in full line) when the patient&#39;s spine is in flexion. The compliance members  26  will provide a force which acts against the extension of the spinous processes, as generally described in prior patent application U.S. 2005/0216017, which has been previously incorporated herein by reference. In particular accordance with the present invention, a cross-member  30  extends between and joins the compliance members  26 . The cross-member  30  passes through the interspinous ligament ISL. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the cross-member  30  may be rigid and be rigidly attached to the compliance members  26  in a generally H-shaped configuration so that the compliance members do not shift relative to each other even when the upper and lower bands  22  and  24  are pulled apart, as shown in  FIG. 6B . Alternatively, the cross-member  30  may be semi-rigid (or semi-compliant) so that it will undergo compression when the upper band  22  is pulled away from the lower band  24 , as shown in  FIG. 7B . In a third embodiment, the cross-member  30  may be entirely elastic, as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . In such instances, the cross-member  30  will allow the compliance members  26  to vertically displaced relative to each other by a controlled amount, as shown in  FIG. 8B . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary cross-member  50  which can be coupled to compliance members  26 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . The cross-member  50  is a rigid structure which may be attached (and optionally detached) from the compliance member during implantation of the spinal implant. End portions  52  of the cross-member are shaped and adapted to be attached to the cylindrical bodies of the compliance members. Other shapes and structures for selective attachment and detachment of the cross-member are, of course, readily available. 
     A pair of cross-members  60  are illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The cross-members  60  have endpieces  62 , each having a slot  64  which receives the corresponding band  22  or  24 . Cross-members  60  can thus be disposed directly over the upper and lower surfaces of the compliance members  26 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . Usually, cross-members  60  will themselves be compliant in order to avoid inhibiting of extension of the spinal processes SP4 and SP5, as shown in broken line in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 13  illustrates positioning at least one additional continuous tether structure over a spinous process on another pair of adjacent vertebrae, and mechanically coupling opposed portions of the at least one additional tether structure through the interspinous space. 
     Further details and alternative embodiments of flexion limiting devices, their use, and associated instruments are disclosed in the patent applications previously incorporated herein by reference. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 14 , yet another spinous process constraint system  1460  comprises first and second hook-like attachment members  1462  and  1464 . The hook members  1462  and  1464  are connected in a C-shaped pattern, as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     The spinous process constraint  1460  of  FIG. 14  will have a tendency to deform when placed under an axial load as the spinous processes undergo a flexion causing movement in the direction of arrow  1465 . Typically, a region  1466  of the constraint will tend to bow inwardly which causes the superior and inferior hook members  1462  and  1464  to displace laterally, increasing the risk that they will shift from their intended positions on the spinous processes. In order to alleviate this condition, a reinforcement member  1467  can be placed over a portion of the single connector  1463  between the hooks  1462  and  1464 . The reinforcement member may be a simple sleeve constructed from a relatively rigid material, such as a metal or rigid polymer, having a central passage which is placed over the single connector. Other reinforcement structures would also be possible. Additionally, the sleeve embodiment shown in  FIG. 14B  could be modified to be used with constraint embodiments including compliance members as described elsewhere in this application. 
     Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 15 , a spinous process constraint system  1570  comprises first and second hook-like attachment members  1572  and  1574  arranged in C-shaped pattern, generally as shown in  FIG. 14 , and further comprises compliance member  1578  attached to superior and inferior segments of the single connector  1576  (which is preferably non-compliant). 
     The spinous process constraint  1570  of  FIG. 15  can also undergo deformation when subjected to an axial load, as shown in  FIG. 15A . A reinforcement assembly  1573  specifically adapted for constraints having compliance members  1578  is illustrated in  FIG. 15B . The reinforcement assembly  1573  connects to a superior segment  1575  of the single connector  1576  and includes a slide rod  1571  extending toward an inferior segment  1577  of the single connector  1576 . The slide rod  1571  is received in a bearing structure  1579  attached to the interior segment  1577  which allows the rod to translate as the segments  1573  and  1577  move toward and away from each other as the spine undergoes extension and flexion. The reinforcement assembly  1571  helps maintain the proper alignment between the superior and inferior segments  1575  and  1577  to prevent the bowing and deformation illustrated in  FIG. 15A . 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.