Total artificial spino-laminar prosthetic replacement

Abstract

A total artificial spinous process (spino)-laminar prosthesis (TASP-LP) including a body having a portion forming a spinous process extending away from the body, a first lamina portion extending from a first side of the body, and a second lamina portion extending from a second side of the body, wherein the first lamina portion and the second lamina portion are disposed on opposite sides of the spinous process.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation Application of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 846,822, filed on Jul. 29, 2010, for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120, and this application also claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 264,648, filed Nov. 25, 2009, and entitled “TOTAL ARTIFICIAL SPINO-LAMINAR PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT”, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 306,926, filed Feb. 22, 2010, and entitled “TOTAL ARTIFICIAL SPINO-LAMINAR PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT”, the entire contents of all of the above identified patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is directed to a unique total artificial spinous process (spino)-laminar prosthesis (hereinafter “TASP-LP”), and a method of implanting a TASP-LP, and more particularly, to customized patient specific TASP-LP devices includin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a total artificial spinous process (TASP)-laminar prosthesis (LP) that is designed to expand the spinal canal and replace one or multiple total spinolaminar units in order to reconstitute the strength and structural integrity of the natural pre-laminectomy spinolaminar anatomy, as well as to protect the underlying posterior spinal neural elements. The invention has the advantage of not requiring an additional set of cumbersome connecting elements which add complexity, time, and morbidity to the surgical procedure. The invention can replace one, two or three spinolaminar units at a time, and can be custom fitted for all different inter and intra-patient anatomies. The cervical and thoracic / lumbar TASPs are designed completely differently from each other in order to account for differences between cervical and thoracic / lumbar anatomies.

Problems solved by technology

Laminectomies leave the posterior neural elements exposed without their native protection provided by dorsal protective lamina / spinous processes, and can lead to short and / or long term deformity and / or kyphosis.

Delayed kyphosis, particularly in the cervical spine is typically remedied with the performance of posterior instrumented fusions which have an increased risk of neuro-vascular complications.

These techniques can be cumbersome, time consuming, and also may have increased likelihood of dural tears, and nerve root injuries compared to the performance of straight forward laminectomies.

Currently there is limited attention / technology developed for laminoplasty techniques related to thoracic / or lumbar spines.

There are no other known devices that provide total artificial spinous process-laminar replacements (prostheses) mechanically designed for the explicit purposes of laminoplasty, i.e. to enlarge the diameter of the spinal canal and reconstruct the natural spinolaminar anatomy to protect exposed neural elements.

It's lack of concavity when applied to the spine does not allow for the expansion of the dural spinal space, which is mandatory for a stenotic thecal sac decompression, and hence is not suitable for the purposes of a decompressive laminoplasty / laminectomy.

It is somewhat cumbersome with laterally protruding separate or built-in connecting elements which in turn are attached to anchors which in turn are secured to pedicle screws.

No embodiment is capable of replacing more than one spinal element.

. . ” This device is not designed, or considered, to be, a total spinolaminar replacement, nor is it suitable for a laminectomy / laminoplasty.

The purpose of this implant is to fortify, not replace, the 51 (first sacral) vertebrae, which may not be well defined and therefore inadequate to support an implant.

This device is not adaptable for any position of the spine other than L5-S1.

This perforated mesh offers an inadequate protective cover of posterior spinal elements, and lacks the strength of a total spinolaminar replacement which recreates the solid anatomy of the spinal posterior elements which is necessary to protect and strengthen the post-laminectomy spine.

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