Minimally invasive interspinous process spacer implants and methods

摘要

An interspinous process spacer for implantation in an interspinous space between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process includes a balloon-like body, a first deployable protrusion and a second deployable protrusion. The body has a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. The spacer is arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The first deployable protrusion is mounted proximate the proximal end and the second deployable protrusion is mounted proximate the distal end. The first and second deployable protrusions are oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis in the unexpanded configuration and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the expanded configuration.

主权项

1. An interspinous process spacer for implantation in an interspinous space between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process, the interspinous process spacer comprising:
a balloon-like body comprising an inflatable interior member and an inflatable exterior member disposed around the inflatable interior member, the balloon-like body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, the balloon-like body being arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration; the inflatable exterior member including:
a first and a separate third deployable protrusion mounted proximate the proximal end of the balloon-like body and each having an elongate axis, the third deployable protrusion generally opposite the first deployable protrusion, wherein the first deployable protrusion and the third deployable protrusion are comprised of an elongated hollow semi-cylinder and extend proximally along the longitudinal axis of the balloon-like body in the unexpanded configuration to cover and protect a portion of the balloon-like body; anda second and a separate fourth deployable protrusion mounted proximate the distal end of the balloon-like body and each having an elongate axis, the fourth deployable protrusion generally opposite the second deployable protrusion, wherein the second deployable protrusion and the fourth deployable protrusion are comprised of an elongated hollow semi-cylinder and extend distally along the longitudinal axis of the balloon-like body in the unexpanded configuration to cover and protect another portion of the balloon-like body;wherein the elongate axes of the first, second, third, and fourth deployable protrusions are oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis in the unexpanded configuration and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the expanded configurationwherein inflating the exterior member deploys the first, second, third, and fourth deployable protrusions.