US6447548B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of surgically treating scoliosis
Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp
•
Filing: 2001-07-16
•
Granted: 2002-09-10
•
Expires: 2021-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient including: determining an angular misalignment associated with at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones; sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the corresponding intervertebral space between the at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones until the proper anatomical spacing between the pair of adjacent vertebral bones is restored; for each intervertebral space, inserting a diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element into the intervertebral space between the corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones; and rotating the diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element such that the rotational orientation of the tapered cylindrical spacer element introduces the appropriate counter offset to the intervertebral space of the previously misaligned scoliotic vertebral bones, thereby restoring the proper anatomical alignment of the vertebral bones.
Inventors
- 👤 James D. Ralph
- 👤 Steven Tatar
- 👤 Thomas J. Errico
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/025; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/442; A61F2/4455; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2/4684; A61B2017/0256; A61B2017/564; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30113; A61F2002/30159; A61F2002/30166; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/302; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/3023; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30383; A61F2002/30385; A61F2002/3039; A61F2002/30392; A61F2002/30395; A61F2002/30476; A61F2002/305; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30574; A61F2002/30604; A61F2002/30616; A61F2002/30617; A61F2002/30667; A61F2002/30672; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/3082; A61F2002/30822; A61F2002/4625; A61F2002/4628; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0006; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0065; A61F2230/0069; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/0096; A61F2250/0097; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient comprising: determining an angular misalignment associated with at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones; sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the corresponding intervertebral space between said at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones until the proper anatomical spacing between the pair of adjacent vertebral bones is restored; for each intervertebral space, inserting a diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element into the intervertebral space between said corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones; and rotating said diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element such that the rotational orientation of the tapered cylindrical spacer element introduces the appropriate counter offset to the intervertebral space of the previously misaligned scoliotic vertebral bones, thereby restoring the proper anatomical alignment of the vertebral bones.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient comprising: determining an angular misalignment associated with at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones; sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the corresponding intervertebral space between said at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones until the proper anatomical spacing between the pair of adjacent vertebral bones is restored; for each intervertebral space, inserting a diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element into the intervertebral space between said corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones; and rotating said diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element such that the rotational orientation of the tapered cylindrical spacer element introduces the appropriate counter offset to the intervertebral space of the previously misaligned scoliotic vertebral bones, thereby restoring the proper anatomical alignment of the vertebral bones.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements includes substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , further including affixing immobilizing instrumentation to the vertebral bones of the patient to hold the restored vertebral bones rigidly in position to facilitate fusion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , further including positioning bone fusion material adjacent to the restored vertebral bones.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to verterbal bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , further including positioning a non-fusion intervertebral spacer device between the restored vertebral bones so that a proper anatomical motion may be possible.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element has a width along its central cylindrical axis substantially equivalent to the axial width of the final cylindrical spacer element utilized in the step of sequentially inserting and removing the series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements to restore the proper anatomical spacing between the pair of adjacent vertebral bones.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each progressively wider cylindrical spacer element comprises solid metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element comprises solid metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each progressively wider cylindrical spacer element comprises porous metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element comprises porous metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each progressively wider cylindrical spacer element comprises a non-porous organic implantable material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element comprises a non-porous organic implantable material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each progressively wider cylindrical spacer element comprises a porous organic implantable material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element comprises a porous organic implantable material.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for placing a sequence of vertebral bones in a desired configuration, comprising: exposing an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones; distracting the space by sequentially inserting therein and subsequently removing therefrom a plurality of intervertebral spacers, each having a predetermined thickness, the thicknesses incrementally increasing from one spacer to another at an increment acceptable for safely distracting the space to a desired distance; and when adjustment of an angular misalignment of the adjacent vertebral bones is necessary, inserting, and when necessary rotating, in the intervertebral space, at least one diametrically tapered intervertebral spacer having a thickness along its central cylindrical axis sufficient to maintain the desired distance between the adjacent vertebral bones, and a diametrical angle sufficient to reorient the adjacent bones to the desired configuration, when rotational adjustment of the angular misalignment is necessary, rotating said tapered intervertebral spacer within the space until the desired alignment is established.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for placing a sequence of vertebral bones in a desired configuration, comprising: exposing an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones; distracting the space by sequentially inserting therein and subsequently removing therefrom a plurality of intervertebral spacers, each having a predetermined thickness, the thicknesses incrementally increasing from one spacer to another at an increment acceptable for safely distracting the space to a desired distance; and when adjustment of an angular misalignment of the adjacent vertebral bones is necessary, inserting, and when necessary rotating, in the intervertebral space, at least one diametrically tapered intervertebral spacer having a thickness along its central cylindrical axis sufficient to maintain the desired distance between the adjacent vertebral bones, and a diametrical angle sufficient to reorient the adjacent bones to the desired configuration, when rotational adjustment of the angular misalignment is necessary, rotating said tapered intervertebral spacer within the space until the desired alignment is established.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the spacers has an annular groove for engagement therein by an orthopedic instrument.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the instrument holds each spacer so that it is immovable relative to the instrument, such that the held spacer may be rotated within the intervertebral space in accordance with a corresponding manipulation of the instrument.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the instrument rotationally freely holds at least one of the plurality of spacers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the spacers comprises at least one of solid metal, porous metal, non-porous organic implantable material, and porous organic implantable material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-09 | 2006-03-11 | 2006-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-09 | 2010-03-11 | 2010-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-09 | 2014-03-11 | 2014-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |