US6358254B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and implant for expanding a spinal canal
Assignee: ANDERSON MD DAVID GREG
•
Filing: 2000-09-11
•
Granted: 2002-03-19
•
Expires: 2020-09-11
Abstract
Abstract The present invention expands a spinal canal by making two pedicle cuts (osteotomies) in a vertebra, separating each vertebral cut by inserting an implant into the cut which expands the spinal canal, and securing each separated vertebral cut allowing the vertebra to heal with the spinal canal expanded. The implant includes two stents, two washers, two screws and a cable. One stent is impacted into each pedicle cut in the vertebra. One screw is inserted through one washer and one stent and is threaded into an anterior portion of the vertebra for each pedicle cut in the vertebra. The cable is attached at each end to a washer and is strapped around and through a posterior portion of the vertebra to secure the posterior portion of the vertebra to the anterior portion of the vertebra, stabilizing the expanded spinal canal and allowing the vertebra to heal with the spinal canal expanded.
Inventors
- 👤 D. Greg Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/8685; A61B17/16; A61B17/1613; A61B17/1615; A61B17/1617; A61B17/1662; A61B17/1671; A61B17/7071; A61B17/1631; A61B17/1637; A61B17/80; A61B17/8004; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for expanding a spinal canal, comprising: a. cutting a vertebra through to the spinal canal in at least one location; b. separating each vertebral cut to expand the spinal canal; c. securing each separated vertebral cut to allow the vertebra to heal with the spinal canal expanded.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for expanding a spinal canal, comprising: a. cutting a vertebra through to the spinal canal in at least one location; b. separating each vertebral cut to expand the spinal canal; c. securing each separated vertebral cut to allow the vertebra to heal with the spinal canal expanded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertebra is cut through the pedicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertebral cut is separated by inserting an implant into the vertebral cut.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the implant includes a stent and a screw, the stent separates the vertebral cut and the screw secures the stent and the separated vertebral cut.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the stent is U-shaped having an interior section adapted to accept bone graft material to facilitate healing of the vertebral cut.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the stent includes a rounded, wedge-shaped end for separating the vertebral cut.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the stent includes a flange to prevent the stent from entering the spinal canal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the stent includes a rounded depression and the screw includes a rounded head, the rounded depression being adapted to rotatably accept the rounded head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the screw includes self-tapping, bone gripping threads for inserting the screw into the vertebra.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for expanding a spinal canal, comprising: a. cutting a vertebra in two locations, one cut through each pedicle of the vertebra, beginning at a base of a transverse process of the vertebra and coursing medially and anteriorly through the pedicle to the spinal canal; b. separating each vertebral cut by impacting a stent into each vertebral cut, whereby the spinal canal is expanded; c. securing each separated vertebral cut by inserting a screw through a washer and the stent and threading the screw into an anterior portion of the vertebra; and d. securing a posterior portion of the vertebra to the anterior portion of the vertebra by strapping a cable around the posterior portion of the vertebra, the cable being attached to a washer at each of its two ends.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for expanding a spinal canal, comprising: a. cutting a vertebra in two locations, one cut through each pedicle of the vertebra, beginning at a base of a transverse process of the vertebra and coursing medially and anteriorly through the pedicle to the spinal canal; b. separating each vertebral cut by impacting a stent into each vertebral cut, whereby the spinal canal is expanded; c. securing each separated vertebral cut by inserting a screw through a washer and the stent and threading the screw into an anterior portion of the vertebra; and d. securing a posterior portion of the vertebra to the anterior portion of the vertebra by strapping a cable around the posterior portion of the vertebra, the cable being attached to a washer at each of its two ends.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the screw includes a rounded head, the washer includes a rounded shape and the stent includes a rounded depression, the rounded washer engagably accepting the rounded head of the screw and rotatably residing within the rounded depression in the stent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the washers includes a crushable side-passage allowing slidable insertion of the cable through the side-passage, taut tensioning of the cable and permanent fixation of the cable to the washer by crushing the side-passage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the cable secures the posterior portion of the vertebra by lying over laminae of the vertebra and passing through a hole in a spinous process of the vertebra.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the cable secures the posterior portion of the vertebra by lying over laminae of the vertebra and around a spinous process of the vertebra.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
An implant for expanding a spinal canal, comprising: a. a stent for insertion into a cut in the vertebra to expand the spinal canal; and b. a screw inserted through the stent and threaded into the vertebra to secure the stent within the cut in the vertebra.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
An implant for expanding a spinal canal, comprising: a. a stent for insertion into a cut in the vertebra to expand the spinal canal; and b. a screw inserted through the stent and threaded into the vertebra to secure the stent within the cut in the vertebra.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The implant of claim 15 , wherein the stent includes a rounded, wedge-shaped end for inserting the stent into the cut in the vertebra.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The implant of claim 15 , wherein the stent is U-shaped with an interior section adapted to accept bone graft material to facilitate healing of the cut in the vertebra.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The implant of claim 15 , wherein the stent includes a flange limiting the distance the stent can be inserted into the cut in the vertebra, the flange preventing the stent from penetrating the spinal canal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The implant of claim 17 , wherein the stent includes a rounded depression and the screw includes a rounded head, the rounded head rotatably residing within the rounded depression.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
An implant for expanding a spinal canal, comprising: a. two stents, one stent inserted into each of two cuts in the vertebra, each inserted stent expanding the spinal canal; b. two washers, one washer attached to each of two ends of a cable; and c. two screws, one screw inserted through one washer and one stent, each screw being threaded into an anterior portion of the vertebra to secure one washer and one stent to the anterior portion of the vertebra, with the cable strapped around a posterior portion of the vertebra to secure the posterior portion of the vertebra to the anterior portion of the vertebra to stabilize the expanded spinal canal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
113 words
An implant for expanding a spinal canal, comprising: a. two stents, one stent inserted into each of two cuts in the vertebra, each inserted stent expanding the spinal canal; b. two washers, one washer attached to each of two ends of a cable; and c. two screws, one screw inserted through one washer and one stent, each screw being threaded into an anterior portion of the vertebra to secure one washer and one stent to the anterior portion of the vertebra, with the cable strapped around a posterior portion of the vertebra to secure the posterior portion of the vertebra to the anterior portion of the vertebra to stabilize the expanded spinal canal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The implant of claim 20 , wherein the stents include a rounded depression, the washers include a rounded shape and the screws include a rounded head, the rounded head residing within the rounded washer and the rounded washer rotatably residing within the rounded depression.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The implant of claim 20 , wherein at least one washer includes a crushable sidepassage for slidably accepting the cable therethrough, adjusting the cable tension and fixedly securing the cable to the washer by crushing the side-passage.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The implant of claim 20 , wherein the cable additionally passes through a hole in a spinous process of the vertebra to further secure the posterior portion of the vertebra to the anterior portion of the vertebra.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The implant of claim 20 , wherein each stent includes a rounded, wedge-shaped end for inserting the stent into the cut in the vertebra.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The implant of claim 20 , wherein each stent is U-shaped with an interior section adapted to accept bone graft material to facilitate healing of the cuts in the vertebra.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The implant of claim 20 , wherein each stent includes a flange limiting the distance the stent can be inserted into the cut in the vertebra, the flange preventing the stent from penetrating the spinal canal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4917704A
Cited
US4955908A
Cited
US5059193A
Cited
US5176678A
Cited
US5480440A
Cited
US5258031A
Cited
US5766251A
Cited
US5496322A
Cited
US5725527A
Cited
US5425772A
Cited
US5772663A
Cited
US5653762A
Cited
US6077268A
Cited
US5722977A
Cited
US5653763A
Cited
US5836948A
Cited
US6008433A
Cited
US6099531A
Cited
US6224599B1
Cited
US6248106B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-03-18 | 2005-09-17 | 2006-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-18 | 2009-09-17 | 2010-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-18 | 2013-09-17 | 2014-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |