Swellable interspinous stabilization implant

摘要

A swellable, resilient interspinous implant is provided that includes a swellable polymeric medium, said polymeric medium being dispersed throughout the implant, the implant being dimensioned and configured to fit between two spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae and buttress the space between the two adjacent vertebrae. In embodiments, the implant has a first configuration of reduced size such that it can be inserted into the patient in a minimally invasive manner. Once inserted to an application point within the patient, the implant expands in size to dynamically maintain the adjacent spinous processes in beneficial alignment. Also provided is a method of making a swellable, resilient interspinous implant as described herein. Also provided is a method of treating a degenerative condition of a spine which includes creating an incision and inserting, through the incision, between two spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae, a swellable, resilient interspinous implant as described herein.

主权项

1. A swellable, resilient self-retaining interspinous implant which comprises a fluid absorbing polymer which expands from a substantially dehydrated compact first configuration having from about 12% to about 30% water by weight of the implant to an expanded second configuration upon absorption of fluid and which is dimensioned and configured to fit between two spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae, such that when the implant is in the first configuration the implant includes a first retainer end portion having a three dimensional cone shape and an oppositely disposed second retainer end portion which are connected by a centrally disposed transverse cross member, the cross member having a smaller cross-section than the end portions, and when the implant is in the second expanded configuration the first retainer end portion is expanded, the oppositely disposed second retainer end portion is expanded and the centrally disposed transverse cross member is expanded, the first and second retainer end portions being dimensioned and configured to frictionally engage the spinous processes at their respective outer sagittal faces when in the first and second configurations.