US6554864B2 — Surgical method of treating scoliosis

Claim 1

Independent Claim 183 words

A surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient comprising: determining an angular misalignment associated with at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones; sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the corresponding intervertebral space between said at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones until the proper anatomical spacing between the pair of adjacent vertebral bones is restored; for each intervertebral space, inserting a diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element into the intervertebral space between said corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones; rotating about an axis passing through both vertebral bones of said corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones, said diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element such that the rotational orientation of the diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element introduces the appropriate counter alignment to the intervertebral space of the previously misaligned scoliotic vertebral bones, thereby restoring the proper anatomical alignment of the vertebral bones; and stabilizing the pair of adjacent vertebral bones to permit infused growth of bone into the diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 183 words

A surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient comprising: determining an angular misalignment associated with at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones; sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the corresponding intervertebral space between said at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones until the proper anatomical spacing between the pair of adjacent vertebral bones is restored; for each intervertebral space, inserting a diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element into the intervertebral space between said corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones; rotating about an axis passing through both vertebral bones of said corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones, said diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element such that the rotational orientation of the diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element introduces the appropriate counter alignment to the intervertebral space of the previously misaligned scoliotic vertebral bones, thereby restoring the proper anatomical alignment of the vertebral bones; and stabilizing the pair of adjacent vertebral bones to permit infused growth of bone into the diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements includes substantially parallel upper end lower surfaces.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 83 words

The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element has a width along its central cylindrical axis substantially equivalent to the axial width of the final cylindrical spacer element utilized in the step of sequentially inserting and removing the series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements to restore the proper anatomical spacing between the pair of adjacent vertebral bones.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each progressively wider cylindrical spacer element comprises solid metal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each progressively wider cylindrical spacer element comprises an implantable porous metallic material.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each progressively wider cylindrical spacer element comprises a non-porous organic implantable material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 38 words

The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each progressively wider cylindrical spacer element comprises a porous organic implantable material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 38 words

The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element comprises an implantable metallic material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

The surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element comprises an implantable organic material.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 173 words

A method for manipulating a spinal column into an anatomically proper configuration, comprising: exposing an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones; distracting the space by sequentially inserting therein and subsequently removing therefrom a plurality of intervertebral spacers, each having a pre-determined thickness, the thicknesses incrementally increasing from one spacer to another at an increment acceptable for safely distracting the space to a proper anatomical distance; when adjustment of an angular misalignment of the adjacent vertebral bones is necessary, inserting, and when necessary rotating, in the intervertebral space, at least one diametrically tapered intervertebral spacer having a thickness along its central cylindrical axis sufficient to maintain the proper anatomical distance and a diametrical angle sufficient to reorient the adjacent bones to the desired configuration, when rotational adjustment of the angular misalignment is necessary, rotating said tapered intervertebral spacer within the space about an axis passing through both vertebral bones of said corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones until the proper alignment is established; and installing an orthopedic implant useful for maintaining the proper alignment.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 173 words

A method for manipulating a spinal column into an anatomically proper configuration, comprising: exposing an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones; distracting the space by sequentially inserting therein and subsequently removing therefrom a plurality of intervertebral spacers, each having a pre-determined thickness, the thicknesses incrementally increasing from one spacer to another at an increment acceptable for safely distracting the space to a proper anatomical distance; when adjustment of an angular misalignment of the adjacent vertebral bones is necessary, inserting, and when necessary rotating, in the intervertebral space, at least one diametrically tapered intervertebral spacer having a thickness along its central cylindrical axis sufficient to maintain the proper anatomical distance and a diametrical angle sufficient to reorient the adjacent bones to the desired configuration, when rotational adjustment of the angular misalignment is necessary, rotating said tapered intervertebral spacer within the space about an axis passing through both vertebral bones of said corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones until the proper alignment is established; and installing an orthopedic implant useful for maintaining the proper alignment.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one diametrically tapered intervertebral spacer is one of the plurality of intervertebral spacers.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the spacers has an annular groove for engagement therein by an orthopedic instrument.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein the instrument holds each spacer so that it is immovable relative to the instrument, such that the held spacer may be rotated within the intervertebral space in accordance with a corresponding manipulation of the instrument.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein the instrument rotationally freely holds at least one of the plurality of spacers.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the spacers comprises at least one of solid metal, porous metal, non-porous organic implantable material, and porous organic implantable material.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 66 words

The method of claim 10 , wherein the implant comprises at least one of an immobilizing device for fixing the relative positions of the adjacent vertebral bones, material facilitating fusion of the adjacent vertebral bones to one another, and a device for providing the patient the ability to move the adjacent vertebral bones relative to one another in an anatomically proper fashion while maintaining the alignment.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-04-28	2006-10-28	2007-04-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-04-28	2010-10-28	2011-04-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-04-28	2014-10-28	2015-04-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Surgical method of treating scoliosis

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