Devices for treating the spine

摘要

Various features of spinal implants and systems and methods for implanting the same with or between tissue layers in the human body.

主权项

1. A system for treating the spine, comprising:
at least one cannula including a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an internal passageway, the distal end portion of the cannula being positionable at a desired location of spinal tissue and including a distal end portion opening in communication with the internal passageway; an elongated guide member advanceable through the internal passageway and the distal end portion opening of the cannula so as to deploy a distal end portion of the guide member at the desired location while a proximal end portion of the guide member remains in the internal passageway of the cannula, the elongated guide member having a surface configuration and the distal end portion opening of the cannula being defined by an edge portion having a configuration that is cooperative with the surface configuration of the guide member to facilitate orientation of the elongated guide member during deployment from the cannula through the distal end portion opening; an elongated implant separate from and advanceable along the elongated guide member through the internal passageway and the distal end portion opening of the cannula and configured so as to conform to the orientation of the guide member at the desired location; and the distal end portion of the elongated guide member being retractable into the distal end portion opening and internal passageway of the cannula while allowing the implant to remain at the desired location.