US10492802B2

US PATENT 10,492,802 B2

SYSTEMS FOR AND METHODS OF PREPARING A SACROILIAC JOINT FOR FUSION

A method of surgically preparing a sacroiliac joint comprising: a) approaching a sacroiliac joint space with a joint preparation tool comprising a cutting element including an exterior having an asymmetric cutting band such that the first side includes a first surface having a first texture and the second side includes a second surface having a second texture, the first and second textures being different such that the first texture is substantially smoother than the second texture; and b) delivering at least a portion of the cutting element non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint space for decortication, the cutting element being oriented in the sacroiliac joint space such that the first surface opposes the generally softer sacrum and the second surface opposes the generally harder ilium in order to more aggressively prepare the surface of the ilium while not over-preparing the sacrum to provide a robust biologic environment for intra-articular fusion.

CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. A method of surgically preparing a sacroiliac joint having a sacrum, an ilium, and a sacroiliac joint space defined therebetween for a surgical fusion procedure, the method comprising:

a) approaching the sacroiliac joint space with a joint preparation tool comprising: a proximal end, a distal end, a cutting element supported at the distal end, and a shaft extending proximally from the cutting element, the cutting element comprising a length extending between a proximal cutting element end and a distal cutting element end, a first side extending the length, and a second side opposite the first side extending the length, wherein the cutting element comprises an exterior having an asymmetric cutting band such that the first side includes a first surface having a first texture and the second side includes a second surface having a second texture, the first and second textures being different such that the first texture is substantially smoother than the second texture; and

b) delivering at least a portion of the cutting element non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint space, the cutting element being oriented in the sacroiliac joint space such that the first surface opposes the sacrum and the second surface opposes the ilium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second texture comprises a geometrically repeating pattern that is configured to abrade the ilium.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second texture comprises a non-repeating pattern that is configured to abrade the ilium.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second texture comprises ridges in a chevron pattern that is configured to abrade the ilium.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first texture is a smooth planar surface, and the second texture is a rasping surface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first texture comprises a first rasp band, and the second texture comprises a second rasp band, wherein the first rasp band is less abrasive than the second rasp band.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cutting element comprises a chamfered tip at the distal cutting element end.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cutting element is a planar member and the first surface is a planar surface and the second surface is a planar surface opposite of and generally parallel to the first surface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cutting element is a wedge-shaped member, the first surface is a planar surface, and the second surface is a planar surface opposite of and non-parallel to the first surface, the first and second surfaces tapering towards the distal cutting element end.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a joint implant non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint space.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the joint implant comprises an intra-articular member, and a cross member generally orthogonal to the intra-articular member, the intra-articular member positioned non-transversely in the sacroiliac joint space upon delivery into the sacroiliac joint space.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering an anchor across the sacroiliac joint space and into at least one of the sacrum and the ilium.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sides extends a fill length of the cutting element between the proximal cutting element end and the distal cutting element end.