Devices and methods for the preservation of spinal prosthesis function

Abstract

A barrier is placed across a portion of or across the totality of a spinal implant. The barrier can serve a variety of purposes, including, for example: (1) to keep tissue away from the implant and minimize or eliminate the likelihood of tissue adhesion with the spine or implant; (2) to decrease or eliminate the likelihood of tissue growth, migration, invasion and/or interaction with the implant; (3) to decrease or eliminate the likelihood of the dissemination of implant wear debris and particles away from the implant and into body cavities; and (4) to decrease or eliminate the likelihood of calcification, ossification, and/or bone formation adjacent to the implant.

1 . A method of preserving functionality of a spinal implant, comprising:
 identifying a dissection field adjacent to the spinal implant; and   positioning a barrier in at least a portion of the dissection field so as to substantially decrease the likelihood of tissue interaction with the spinal implant.   
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier decreases the likelihood of tissue adhesion with the spinal implant. 
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier decreases the likelihood of tissue growth into the spinal implant. 
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier decreases the likelihood of implant debris from disseminating away from the spinal implant and into a body cavity. 
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier decreases the likelihood of calcification, ossification, or bone formation adjacent to the spinal implant. 
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier facilitates the ease of a re-operative procedure. 
   
   
       7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier facilitates the safety of a re-operative procedure. 
   
   
       8 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is in a portion of the dissection field located lateral to the implant. 
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is in a portion of the dissection field located posterior to the implant. 
   
   
       10 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is in a portion of the dissection field located anterior to the implant. 
   
   
       11 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is in a portion of the dissection field located in at least one of lateral, anterior, or posterior to the implant. 
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a liquid material. 
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a solid material. 
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a gel. 
   
   
       15 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising implanting the spinal implant. 
   
   
       16 . A method of preserving functionality of a spinal implant, comprising:
 identifying a spinal implant; and   interposing a barrier between the spinal implant and tissue adjacent the implant to prevent the spinal implant from interacting with the tissue.   
   
   
       17 . A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the barrier prevents the spinal implant from adhering with tissue adjacent the implant. 
   
   
       18 . A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the barrier prevents the spinal implant from shedding debris into a body cavity. 
   
   
       19 . A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the barrier decreases the likelihood of calcification, ossification, or bone formation adjacent the spinal implant. 
   
   
       20 . A method as in  claim 16 , wherein interposing the barrier comprises positioning the barrier in at least a portion of a dissection field adjacent the implant. 
   
   
       21 . A method as in  claim 20 , wherein the barrier is positioned in at least one of a lateral, anterior, or posterior portion of the dissection field. 
   
   
       22 . A method of preserving functionality of a spinal implant of a subject, comprising:
 placing a barrier in at least a portion of a dissection field adjacent to the spinal implant to decrease the likelihood the implant adversely interacting with a portion of the subject's body.   
   
   
       23 . A method for preserving the functionality of a spinal implant placed within an inter-vertebral disc space, comprising:
 creating a surgical corridor through extra-spinal tissue in order to access an exterior aspect of the inter-vertebral disc space;   accessing the exterior aspect of the disc space and creating a defect in the annulus fibrosis of the disc space;   removing at least a portion of inter-vertebral disc material from an interior aspect of the disc space;   implanting a spinal prosthesis within the disc space, wherein the spinal prosthesis provides at least partial support of the spinal column;   positioning a barrier within at least a portion of the disc space between the prosthesis and an intact segment of the annulus fibrosis, wherein the barrier is adapted to at least partially inhibit scar formation; and   leaving the disc space without recreating a closed isobaric environment of an intact disc space.   
   
   
       24 . A method as in  claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of the barrier is positioned lateral, anterior, or posterior to the prosthesis. 
   
   
       25 . A method for preserving the functionality of a mobile spinal implant that is adapted to preserve mobility of a spinal segment, comprising:
 creating a tissue corridor from the site of a skin incision to an exterior aspect of the spine;   identifying a diseased spinal segment consisting of at least two vertebrae and an intervening disc spaces;   attaching a motion preservation device to the diseased spinal segment, wherein the motion preservation device maintains movement between the two vertebrae after complete implantation of the motion preservation device;   leaving the annulus fibrosis unrepaired such that a closed isobaric environment of an intact disc space is not recreated; and   positioning a barrier within at least a portion of a dissection field that resides outside of the spinal column, wherein the barrier is adapted to at least partially inhibit scar formation.