CLAIMS
CLAIMS
1. A sacroiliac joint fusion system comprising:
a) a joint implant comprising a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end;
b) an anchor element comprising a distal end and a proximal end; and
c) a delivery tool comprising:
i) an implant arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the implant arm configured to releasably couple to the proximal end of the joint implant; and
ii) an anchor arm comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a header and a member, the proximal end of the anchor arm coupled to the implant arm and the header supported on the anchor arm near the distal end of the anchor arm, the header including first and second guide holes, the first guide hole configured to orient the member when received in the first guide hole in a first approach aimed at least in the vicinity of the joint implant when the proximal end of the joint implant is releasably coupled to the distal end of the implant arm, the second guide hole configured to orient the member when received in the second guide hole in a second approach aimed at least in the vicinity of the joint implant when the proximal end of the joint implant is releasably coupled to the distal end of the implant arm, the first and second approaches being different, the member configured to guide the delivery of the anchor element to at least in the vicinity of the joint implant when the proximal end of the joint implant is releasably coupled to the distal end of the implant arm.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the joint implant includes a body extending between the distal and proximal ends of the joint implant and an anchor hole extends through the body non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the joint implant, and the first approach is aimed so as to cause the member when received in the first guide hole to guide the anchor element into the anchor hole.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the joint implant includes a first planar member and a second planar member, the first planar member extending generally perpendicular to a first lateral edge of the body of the joint implant, and the second planar member extending generally perpendicular to a second lateral edge of the body of the joint implant opposite the first lateral edge.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the body is substantially a planar member.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first planar member is larger in at least one of length or width than the second planar member.
6. The system of claim 3, wherein the body is generally hollow and includes a hollow open-ended insert that substantially occupies in a generally mating manner the hollow body, the insert being removable from the body.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the insert includes textured interior wall surfaces, the interior wall surfaces defining a hollow interior of the insert.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the insert is separate from the distal end of the implant arm or forms an extension of the implant arm.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the implant arm is substantially at least one of coaxial or parallel with the longitudinal axis of the joint implant.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the header further includes a first arm that generally exists in a plane defined by at least portions of the implant arm and the anchor arm, and the first and second guide holes are spaced apart from each other along the first arm and the respective first and second approaches are non- parallel to each other.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the header further includes a first arm that generally exists in a plane generally perpendicular to a plane defined by at least portions of the implant arm and the anchor arm, and the first and second guide holes are spaced apart from each other along the first arm and the respective first and second approaches are non-parallel to each other.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the header further includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm generally existing in a first plane defined by at least portions of the implant arm and the anchor arm, the second arm generally existing in a second plane generally perpendicular to the first plane, and the first guide hole is located on the first arm and the second guide hole is located on the second arm.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second approaches are substantially parallel to each other.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second approaches are non- parallel to each other.