AU2016204937B2

AU PATENT 2016204937 B2 Sacroiliac joint fixation fusion system

A method of fusing a sacroiliac joint (1) comprising a sacrum (4) and an ilium (5), comprises the steps of a) delivering a joint implant (6) non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint (1), the joint implant (6) comprising a first planar member coupled to and extending generally perpendicularly with an intra-articular member, the joint implant (6) being oriented in the sacroiliac joint (1) such that the intra-articular member is generally coplanar with a joint plane of the sacroiliac joint (1), and b) causing an anchor element to be delivered into a sacroiliac joint region in a preselected trajectory such that the anchor element extends into at least one of the sacrum (4) or the ilium (5).

CLAIMS

1. A method of fusing a sacroiliac joint comprising a sacrum and an ilium, the method comprising:

a) delivering a joint implant non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint, the joint implant comprising a non-threaded body comprising a first planar member coupled to and extending generally perpendicularly with an intra-articular member, the joint implant being oriented in the sacroiliac joint such that the intra-articular member is generally coplanar with a joint plane of the sacroiliac joint; and

b) causing an anchor element to be delivered into a sacroiliac joint region in a trajectory such that the anchor element extends into at least one of the sacrum or the ilium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the trajectory includes the anchor element extending generally transverse to the joint plane.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the trajectory includes the anchor element extending generally transverse to the joint implant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the joint implant further comprises at least one void within the joint implant.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the void is a passageway extending through the joint implant, the passageway comprising at least one opening defined on an outer surface of the joint implant.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one opening includes a first and a second opening, the first and second openings being defined on different surfaces of the joint implant.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the different surfaces include an implant proximal region surface and a longitudinally extending surface which extends generally along a length of the joint implant between an implant proximal end and an implant distal end.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the anchor element extends at least partially through the at least one opening.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the passageway comprises a longitudinal axis which is disposed in a transverse relation to a joint implant longitudinal axis.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the passageway is a bore which extends generally across and between opposite faces of the intra-articular member, the anchor element extending at least partially through the bore.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the joint implant further comprises a bore extending generally across and between opposite faces of the intra-articular member, the anchor element extending through the bore.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the joint implant further comprises a plurality of joint implants joined in a fixed, substantially fixed or moveable relation.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the joint implant is oriented in the sacroiliac joint such that the intra-articular element is generally coplanar with the joint plane, the first planar member is configured to extend into at least one of the sacrum or the ilium.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first planar member extends into both the sacrum and the ilium.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the joint implant further comprises at least one passageway extending through the joint implant and comprising at least one opening defined on an outer surface of the joint implant, wherein the anchor extends at least partially through the passageway such that the anchor extends into the at least one of the sacrum or the ilium.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first planar member and the intra-articular member are coupled together at relative midpoints such that the first planar member extends outward from each of opposing faces of the intra-articular member about a same distance.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first planar member and the intra-articular member are coupled together to form a cross-shape cross-section.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first planar member and the intra-articular member are coupled together to form a T-shape cross-section.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first planar member comprises a pair of opposing planar faces extending between a pair of side edges, the pair of opposing planar faces and the pair of side edges extending a length of the implant, the intra-articular member comprising a body extending between a pair of longitudinal ends, the body and the pair of longitudinal ends extending the length of the implant, one of the pair of longitudinal ends of the intra-articular member being coupled to one of the pair of opposing planar faces.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

c) delivering the joint implant non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint with a delivery tool, wherein the delivery tool comprises an implant arm and an anchor arm coupled to the implant arm, the anchor arm configured to be maintained in an orientation relative to the implant arm; and

d) guiding the anchor element with the anchor arm when the anchor element is being driven generally transverse to the sacroiliac joint,

wherein the joint implant is configured to be coupled with the implant arm, and the system has a configuration that allows the anchor arm to properly align the anchor element to be delivered generally transverse to the joint implant when the joint implant is delivered into the sacroiliac joint.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising coupling a proximal end of the joint implant to a distal end of the implant arm.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the distal end of the implant arm is coupled to the proximal end of the joint implant when the anchor arm is employed to guide the anchor element.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the joint implant, the implant arm, and the anchor arm have the configuration that allows the anchor arm to properly align the anchor element to be delivered generally transverse to the joint implant when the joint implant is coupled to the implant arm.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

c) delivering the joint implant non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint with a delivery tool, wherein a proximal end of the joint implant is coupled to a distal end of an implant arm of a delivery tool, the delivery tool comprising the implant arm and an anchor arm coupled to the implant arm; and

d) with the distal end of the implant arm still coupled to the proximal end of the joint implant, guiding the anchor element with the anchor arm when the anchor element is being driven generally transverse to the joint plane through the sacrum or the ilium,

wherein the joint implant, the implant arm and the anchor arm have a configuration that limits the anchor arm to properly align the anchor element for delivery generally transverse to the joint implant in a fixed orientation when the joint implant is coupled to the implant arm.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein, in delivering the joint implant into the sacroiliac joint, the implant arm is located generally in the joint plane of the sacroiliac joint.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein, in delivering the joint implant into the sacroiliac joint, the implant arm is positioned at least one of superior or cephalad of a sciatic notch.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein, in delivering the joint implant into the sacroiliac joint, a longitudinal axis of the implant arm has a generally anterior trajectory.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein, in delivering the joint implant into a sacroiliac joint, a longitudinal axis of the implant arm has a generally superior-to-inferior trajectory.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein, in delivering the joint implant into a sacroiliac joint, the joint implant gains access to the sacroiliac joint via a cranial access.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the joint implant is implanted in a cranial region of the sacroiliac joint.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein, in delivering the joint implant into the sacroiliac joint, the joint implant gains access to the sacroiliac joint via a caudal access.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the joint implant is implanted in a caudal region of the sacroiliac joint.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein, in delivering the joint implant into the sacroiliac joint, a longitudinal edge of the intra-articular member is generally parallel to an inferior sacroiliac joint border while a distal end of the joint implant is oriented towards an anterior sacroiliac joint border.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein, in delivering the joint implant into a sacroiliac joint, a longitudinal edge of the intra-articular member is generally immediately adjacent an inferior sacroiliac joint border while a distal end of the joint implant is oriented towards: 1) an anterior sacroiliac joint border; 2) a superior sacroiliac joint border; or 3) somewhere between 1 and 2.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein, in delivering the joint implant into the sacroiliac joint, the joint implant passes through a posterior inferior access region.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor element is driven lateral to medial.

37. The method of claim 11, wherein the anchor element is driven into the ilium before entering the bore of the joint implant.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the trajectory, the anchor element is configured to extend across an articular portion of the sacroiliac joint.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the joint implant is configured to receive two anchor elements via two discreet passageways.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the joint implant is coupled to a proximal end of an implant arm of a delivery tool, the implant arm comprising the proximal end and a distal end, a longitudinal axis of the implant arm is substantially at least one of coaxial or parallel with a longitudinal axis of the joint implant.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the delivery tool further comprises an anchor arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the anchor arm configured to engage a proximal end of the anchor element, the anchor arm operably coupled to the implant arm in an arrangement such that a longitudinal axis of the anchor element is generally coaxially aligned with a bore of the joint implant when the distal end of the implant arm is releasably coupled with the proximal end of the joint implant and the distal end of the anchor arm is engaged with the proximal end of the anchor element.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the arrangement is fixed and nonadjustable.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the arrangement is adjustably fixed.