Enhanced cage insertion assembly

• US 10,327,911 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Voellmicke, John C, O'Neil, Michael J, Shaw, Derek, Grinberg, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Julianna N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negrellirodriguez, Christina
• Application Number:
  US15/653,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20170319356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 606 90, 606 96, 606 99, 606104, 606 86 A, 623 1711- 1716
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30032 differing in absorbability or resorbability, i.e. in absorption or resorption time
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30731 Bone edge protectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00239 containing zirconia or zirconium oxide ZrO2

Abstract

An inserter instrument for inserting an intervertebral fusion cage having curved sidewalls, comprising:

• • a) a threaded securement rod that mates with the cage via screw threads;
  • b) a cannulated cage holder to receive the rod and hold the cage in position as the sheath is retracted; and
  • c) a bulleted cannulated sheath,
    wherein the sheath is curved and comprises a superelastic shape memory material having a curved configuration and a straight configuration.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

i) an intervertebral fusion cage having curved, substantially parallel sidewalls, and

ii) an inserter instrument for inserting the intervertebral fusion cage, comprising;

a) a threaded securement rod that mates with the cage via screw threads;

b) a cannulated cage holder to receive the rod and hold the cage in position; and

c) a bulleted cannulated, extensible and retractable sheath extending from the cage holder,

wherein the sheath is curved and comprises a superelastic shape memory material having a curved configuration and a straight configuration,

wherein the cannulated cage holder holds the cage in position as the sheath is retracted, wherein the sheath comprises curved sidewalls having a geometry substantially similar to the curved, substantially parallel sidewalls of the cage, thereby providing for shielded placement of the cage in a final location prior to sheath retraction.

2. An assembly comprising:

i) an intervertebral fusion cage having curved, substantially parallel sidewalls, and

ii) an inserter instrument for inserting the intervertebral fusion cage, comprising;

a) a threaded securement rod that mates with the cage via screw threads;

b) a cannulated cage holder to receive the rod and hold the cage in position; and

c) a bulleted cannulated, extensible and retractable sheath extending from the cage holder,

wherein the sheath is curved and comprises a superelastic shape memory material having a curved configuration and a straight configuration,

wherein the cannulated cage holder holds the cage in position as the sheath is retracted, and

wherein the inserter is adapted for distal loading of the cage, thereby allowing for minimal diameter of the bulleted sheath and cannulated cage holder.

3. An assembly comprising:

i) an intervertebral fusion cage having curved, substantially parallel sidewalls, and

ii) an inserter instrument for inserting the intervertebral fusion cage, comprising;

a) a threaded securement rod that mates with the cage via screw threads;

b) a cannulated cage holder to receive the rod and hold the cage in position; and

c) a bulleted cannulated, extensible and retractable sheath extending from the cage holder

wherein the sheath is curved and comprises a superelastic shape memory material having a curved configuration and a straight configuration,

wherein the cannulated cage holder holds the cage in position as the sheath is retracted, and

wherein the inserter is adapted for proximal cage loading, thereby allowing for an increased diameter of the bulleted sheath and cannulated cage holder.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the curved inserter is self-steerable by using a memory metal or memory polymer sheath.