Cervical distraction device

Abstract

A device and method for a minimally invasive surgical implantation to reduce radicular symptoms by inserting an expandable cervical distraction implant in the facet joint and distracting the adjacent cervical vertebrae to increase the foraminal dimension. The implant, when positioned in the cervical facet joint, expands to via delivery of an inflation medium to increase the space between the vertebrae, thereby increasing the foraminal area or dimension, and reducing pressure on the nerves and blood vessels of the cervical spine.

1 . An apparatus for distracting first and second adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
 an expandable implant configured to be inserted in a collapsed configuration within a facet joint bounded by the first and second vertebrae;   wherein the expandable implant is configured to expand within the facet joint to increase a foraminal dimension associated with the first and second adjacent vertebrae.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the expandable implant is configured to be installed in a facet joint located between at least one cervical vertebra. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 :
 wherein the facet joint comprises opposing articulating surfaces; and   wherein the expandable implant is configured to engage the articulating surfaces to increase the distance between the articulating surfaces;   said distance correlating to said foraminal dimension.   
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the expandable implant comprises an inflatable balloon;
 said balloon configured to be filled with an inflation medium to distribute a compressive load on the articulating surfaces.   
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 3 :
 wherein the facet joint comprises a joint capsule that extends beyond the margin of the articulating surfaces; and   wherein the expandable implant is configured to be delivered into the facet joint through an access hole created in the joint capsule.   
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the expandable implant, in its expanded configuration, is larger than the access hole such that the expandable implant is retained in the facet joint once expanded. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the expandable implant is configured to plug the access hole once expanded. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the expandable implant is configured to occupy a substantial portion of the depth of the facet joint once expanded. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the expandable implant is configured to dynamically stabilize the facet joint. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the expandable implant is configured to increase and maintain a minimum distance between the articulating surfaces, while allowing motion of the first vertebrae with respect to the second vertebrae. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 :
 wherein the expandable implant is configured to attach to a distal tip of a catheter to facilitate installation into the facet joint;   wherein said catheter is configured to transport said inflation medium into said expandable implant; and   wherein the expandable implant is configured to detach from the catheter once the implant is expanded in the facet joint.   
   
   
       12 . A method of minimally invasively distracting first and second adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
 inserting an expandable implant into a facet joint bounded by the first and second vertebrae;   wherein the to be expandable implant is delivered to the facet joint in a collapsed configuration; and   expanding the expandable implant within the facet joint to increase a foraminal dimension associated with the first and second vertebrae.   
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein inserting an expandable implant comprises installing the expandable implant in a facet joint located between at least one cervical vertebra. 
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 13 :
 wherein the facet joint comprises opposing articulating surfaces; and   wherein expanding the expandable implant comprises engaging the articulating surfaces to increase the distance between the articulating surfaces;   said distance correlating to said foraminal dimension.   
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 13 :
 wherein the facet joint comprises a joint capsule that extends beyond the margin of the articulating surfaces;   wherein inserting an expandable implant comprises:
 creating an access hole through the joint capsule; and 
 inserting the expandable implant in a collapsed configuration through the access hole and into the facet joint. 
   
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the access hole is created with an introducer needle. 
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the expandable implant, in its expanded configuration, is larger than the access hole such that the expandable implant is retained in the facet joint once expanded. 
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 plugging the access hole as a result of the expanded implant.   
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein expanding the expandable implant comprises:
 filling an inflatable balloon with an inflation medium;   engaging the articulating surfaces the expandable implant; and   imparting a compressive load on the articulating surfaces to distract the first vertebra from the second vertebra.   
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 15 ,
 wherein inserting an expandable implant comprises:   feeding a catheter through the access hole and into the facet joint;   wherein the expandable implant is attached to a distal tip of a catheter;   
   
   
       21 . A method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein expanding the expandable implant comprises:
 transporting an inflation medium into said expandable implant via the catheter; and   inflating the expandable implant with the inflation medium;   wherein the expandable implant is configured to detach from the catheter once the implant is expanded in the facet joint.   
   
   
       22 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 dynamically stabilizing the facet joint as a result of the expanded implant being disposed between the articulating surfaces of the facet joint.   
   
   
       23 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 maintaining said distance between the articulating surfaces while allowing motion of the first vertebrae with respect to the second vertebrae.   
   
   
       24 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the extent of inflation of the expandable member is determined via patient feedback while the expandable member is being inflated. 
   
   
       25 . A system for distracting a first vertebra from a second adjacent vertebra, comprising:
 an expandable implant; and   a catheter;   wherein the expandable implant is configured to be detachably installed in a collapsed configuration on the distal tip of the catheter;   wherein the expandable implant and catheter are configured to be inserted in into a facet joint bounded by the first and second vertebrae; and   wherein the expandable implant is configured to expand within the facet joint to increase a neural foraminal height associated with the first and second vertebrae.   
   
   
       26 . A system recited in  claim 25 , wherein the expandable implant is configured to be installed in a facet joint located between at least one cervical vertebra. 
   
   
       27 . A system as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the facet joint comprises a joint capsule that extends beyond the margin of the articulating surfaces; and
 wherein the expandable implant is configured to be delivered into the facet joint through an access hole created in the joint capsule.   
   
   
       28 . A system as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising:
 an introducer needle configured to create said access hole.   
   
   
       29 . A system as recited in  claim 26 :
 wherein the facet joint comprises opposing articulating surfaces; and   wherein the expandable implant is configured to engage the articulating surfaces to increase the distance between the articulating surfaces;   said distance correlating to said foraminal height.   
   
   
       30 . A system as recited in  claim 29 :
 wherein the expandable implant comprises an inflatable balloon; and   wherein said balloon is configured to be filled with an inflation medium via the catheter to distribute a compressive load on the articulating surfaces.   
   
   
       31 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the expandable implant is configured to detach from the catheter once the implant is expanded. 
   
   
       32 . A system as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the expandable implant, in its expanded configuration, is larger than the access hole such that the expandable implant is retained in the facet joint once expanded. 
   
   
       33 . A system as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the expandable implant is configured to plug the access hole once expanded. 
   
   
       34 . A system as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the expandable implant is configured to maintain said increased foraminal height, while allowing motion of the first vertebrae with respect to the second vertebrae.