US10130477B2

US PATENT 10,130,477 B2

METHOD OF FUSING A SACROILIAC JOINT WITH AN IMPLANT WITH VOIDS

A method for fixating a dysfunctional sacroiliac joint for SI joint fusion including implanting a joint implant at the sacroiliac joint. The joint implant may include a body extending a length between a proximal end and a distal end, an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface and defining an internal volume therein, a wall thickness extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface, a proximal opening extending into the internal volume, and a first plurality of voids along the length and extending through the wall thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface. The first plurality of voids may be arranged along the length in a repeating pattern of a group of voids, wherein each void of the first plurality of voids is generally polygonal in shape.

CLAIMS

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

implanting a joint implant at the sacroiliac joint, the joint implant comprising a body extending a length between a proximal end and a distal end, an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface and defining an internal volume therein, a wall thickness extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface, a proximal opening extending into the internal volume, and a first plurality of voids along the length and extending through the wall thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface, the first plurality of voids arranged along the length in a repeating pattern of a group of voids, wherein each void of the first plurality of voids is generally polygonal in shape.

2.         The method of claim 1, wherein the joint implant further comprises a second plurality of voids along the length and extending through the wall thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface, and a third plurality of voids along the length and extending through the wall thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface.

3.         The method of claim 2, wherein the joint implant further comprises a first leading void, and a second leading void, the first leading void positioned distal to the first plurality of voids, the first leading void defining a passageway extending through the wall thickness, and the second leading void positioned distal to the second plurality of voids, the second leading void defining a passageway extending through the wall thickness.

4.         The method of claim 2, wherein each void of the first, second, and third plurality of voids are generally triangular in shape.

5.         The method of claim 1, wherein the joint implant is manufactured from titanium.

6.         The method of claim 1, wherein the joint implant is implanted non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint. 

7.         The method of claim 1, wherein the joint implant is implanted into the sacroiliac joint such that portions of the joint implant extend into the ilium and the sacrum.

8.         The method of claim 1, further comprising packing the internal volume at least partially with bone growth material prior to implanting the joint implant at the sacroiliac joint.

9.         The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an implant receiving space in at least one of the sacrum, the ilium, or the sacroiliac joint for receiving the joint implant prior to implanting the joint implant at the sacroiliac joint.

10.       The method of claim 1, wherein the group of voids comprises two voids arranged in a mirror image of each other.

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

implanting a joint implant at the sacroiliac joint, the joint implant comprising a body extending a length between a proximal end and a distal end, an exterior surface having a non-circular cross-section, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface and defining an internal volume therein, a wall thickness extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface, a proximal opening extending into the internal volume, and a first plurality of voids along the length and extending through the wall thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface, the first plurality of voids arranged along the length in a repeating pattern of a group of voids.

12.       The method of claim 11, wherein the joint implant further comprises a second plurality of voids along the length and extending through the wall thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface, and a third plurality of voids along the length and extending through the wall thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface.

13.       The method of claim 12, wherein the joint implant further comprises a first leading void, and a second leading void, the first leading void positioned distal to the first plurality of voids, the first leading void defining a passageway extending through the wall thickness, and the second leading void positioned distal to the second plurality of voids, the second leading void defining a passageway extending through the wall thickness.

14.       The method of claim 12, wherein each void of the first, second, and third plurality of voids are generally triangular in shape.

15.       The method of claim 11, wherein the joint implant is manufactured from titanium.

16.       The method of claim 11, wherein the exterior surface includes a polygonal cross-section.

17.       The method of claim 16, wherein the polygonal cross-section is rectangular.

18.       The method of claim 11, wherein the joint implant is implanted non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint. 

19.       The method of claim 11, wherein the joint implant is implanted into the sacroiliac joint such that portions of the joint implant extend into the ilium and the sacrum.

20.       The method of claim 11, further comprising packing the internal volume at least partially with bone growth material prior to implanting the joint implant at the sacroiliac joint.

21.       The method of claim 11, further comprising forming an implant receiving space in at least one of the sacrum, the ilium, or the sacroiliac joint for receiving the joint implant prior to implanting the joint implant at the sacroiliac joint.

22.       The method of claim 12, wherein the group of voids comprises two voids arranged in a mirror image of each other.

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

implanting a joint implant at the sacroiliac joint, the joint implant comprising a body extending a length between a proximal end and a distal end, an exterior surface comprising at least two generally planar side surfaces extending at least a portion of the length, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface and defining an internal volume therein, a wall thickness extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface, a proximal opening extending into the internal volume, and a first plurality of voids along the length and extending through the wall thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface of a first planar side surface of the at least two generally planar side surfaces, the first plurality of voids arranged along the length of the first planar side surface in a repeating pattern of a group of voids.

24.       The method of claim 23, wherein the at least two generally planar side surfaces of the exterior surface define a polygonal cross-section.

25.       The method of claim 24, wherein the polygonal cross-section is rectangular.

26.       The method of claim 23, wherein the joint implant further comprises a second plurality of voids along the length and extending through the wall thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface, and a third plurality of voids along the length and extending through the wall thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface.

27.       The method of claim 26, wherein each void of the first, second, and third plurality of voids are generally polygonal in shape.

28.       The method of claim 27, wherein the each void of the first, second, and third plurality of voids are generally triangular in shape.

29.       The method of claim 26, wherein the joint implant further comprises a first leading void, and a second leading void, the first leading void positioned distal to the first plurality of voids, the first leading void defining a passageway extending through the wall thickness, and the second leading void positioned distal to the second plurality of voids, the second leading void defining a passageway extending through the wall thickness.

30.       The method of claim 23, wherein the joint implant is manufactured from titanium.

31.       The method of claim 23, wherein the joint implant is implanted non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint. 

32.       The method of claim 23, wherein the joint implant is implanted into the sacroiliac joint such that portions of the joint implant extend into the ilium and the sacrum.

33.       The method of claim 23, further comprising packing the internal volume at least partially with bone growth material prior to implanting the joint implant at the sacroiliac joint.

34.       The method of claim 23, further comprising forming an implant receiving space in at least one of the sacrum, the ilium, or the sacroiliac joint for receiving the joint implant prior to implanting the joint implant at the sacroiliac joint.

35.       The method of claim 23, wherein the group of voids comprises two voids arranged in a mirror image of each other.

36.       The method of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the joint implant defines a non-circular interior cross-section transverse to the length.

37.       The method of claim 36, wherein the proximal opening defines a circular bore extending into the internal volume defining a non-cylindrical shape, the non-circular interior cross-section having an area which is substantially greater than an area of a cross-section of the circular bore.

38.       The method of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the joint implant defines a non-circular interior cross-sectional shape transverse to the length which generally matches a shape of a non-circular cross-section defined by the external surface.

39.       The method of claim 11, wherein the interior surface of the joint implant defines a non-circular interior cross-section transverse to the length.

40.       The method of claim 39, wherein the proximal opening defines a circular bore extending into the internal volume defining a non-cylindrical shape, the non-circular interior cross-section having an area which is substantially greater than an area of a cross-section of the circular bore.

41.       The method of claim 11, wherein the interior surface of the joint implant defines a non-circular interior cross-sectional shape transverse to the length which generally matches a shape of the non-circular cross-section of the external surface.

42.       The method of claim 23, wherein the interior surface of the joint implant defines a non-circular interior cross-section transverse to the length.

43.       The method of claim 42, wherein the proximal opening defines a circular bore extending into the internal volume defining a non-cylindrical shape, the non-circular interior cross-section having an area which is substantially greater than an area of a cross-section of the circular bore.

44.       The method of claim 23, wherein the interior surface of the joint implant defines a non-circular interior cross-sectional shape transverse to the length which generally matches a shape of a non-circular cross-section defined by the external surface.