Low profile intervertebral implant

• US 10,543,102 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kueenzi, Thomas, Walsh, Ryan T., Pepe, Thomas, Hunziker, Markus, Koch, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hanna, Samuel S
• Application Number:
  US14/826,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20150342750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8033 having indirect contact with screw heads, or having contact with screw heads maintained with the aid of additional components, e.g. nuts, wedges or head covers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30077 shrinkable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• 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 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30485 plastically deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0066 : shrinkable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0073 : Quadric-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00323 : containing titanium nitride
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00359 : Bone or bony tissue

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a low profile intervertebral implant for implantation in an intervertebral disc space in-between adjacent vertebral bodies. The intervertebral implant includes a plate preferably coupled to a spacer. The plate is preferably formed from a first material and the spacer is preferably formed from a second material, the first material being different from the second material. The plate is preferably sized and configured so that the plate does not extend beyond the perimeter of the spacer. In this manner, the plate preferably does not increase the height profile of the spacer and the plate may be implanted within the intervertebral disc space in conjunction with the spacer.

Claims

1. A plate configured to be coupled to a spacer to form an intervertebral implant that is insertable into an intervertebral disc space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body, the plate comprising:

a body portion including a first surface and a second surface offset from the first surface in a first direction, the body portion defining a first hole having a first entry opening with an enclosed shape defined by the first surface and a first exit opening defined at least partially by the second surface, at least a portion of the first exit opening offset from the first entry opening with respect to a second direction that is oblique to the first direction such that the first hole is configured to receive a bone fixation element that secures the plate to one of the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body, the body portion defining a second hole having a second entry opening with an enclosed shape defined by the first surface and a second exit opening defined at least partially by the second surface, at least a portion of the second exit opening offset from the second entry opening with respect to a third direction that is oblique to the first direction such that the second hole is configured to receive a bone fixation element that secures the plate to the other of the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body, the body portion further including a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface offset from the top surface in a fourth direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the top surface configured to abut the first vertebral body when the intervertebral implant is inserted into the intervertebral disc space, and the bottom surface configured to abut the second vertebral body when the intervertebral implant is inserted into the intervertebral disc space, wherein an entirety of both the first entry opening and the second entry opening are positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface;

a first arm that extends from the body portion and terminates at a first end such that a portion of the first arm is offset from the second surface in the first direction, the portion of the first arm including a first arm top surface and a first arm bottom surface offset from the first arm top surface in the fourth direction, wherein the first end comprises a first plurality of teeth that are linearly arranged and disposed between the top and bottom surfaces of the body portion; and

a second arm that extends from the body portion and terminates at a second end such that a portion of the second arm is offset from the second surface in the first direction, and the second end comprises a second plurality of teeth that face the first plurality of teeth, are linearly arranged, and are disposed between the top and bottom surfaces of the body portion, wherein respective terminal surfaces of the first and second ends are spaced from each other by a distance measured in a fifth direction that is perpendicular to both the first direction and the fourth direction,

wherein the first arm and the second arm are sized and configured to securely receive and couple the spacer to the plate, the body portion defines a first height measured from the top surface of the body portion to the bottom surface of the body portion in the fourth direction, the portion of the first arm defines a second height measured from the first arm top surface to the first arm bottom surface in the fourth direction, and the first height is greater than the second height, and

wherein at least a portion of the first entry opening is aligned with at least a portion of the second entry opening with respect to the fifth direction.

2. The plate of claim 1, wherein the first height is measured along the first surface, the first arm extends from the second surface in the first direction, the first arm projects inward toward the second arm so as to define the first end of the first arm, and the second height is measured at the first end of the first arm.

3. The plate of claim 1, wherein the first height is a maximum height of the body portion, and the second height is a minimum height of the first arm.

4. The plate of claim 3, wherein the portion of the second arm includes a second arm top surface and a second arm bottom surface offset from the second arm top surface in the fourth direction, the portion of the second arm defines a third height measured from the second arm top surface to the second arm bottom surface in the fourth direction, and the first height is greater than the third height.

5. The plate of claim 4, wherein when the plate is coupled to the spacer, the intervertebral implant is configured to be inserted in the intervertebral disc space such that the second arm top surface faces the first vertebral body and the second arm bottom surface faces the second vertebral body.

6. The plate of claim 5, wherein when the plate is coupled to the spacer, the intervertebral implant is configured to be inserted in the intervertebral disc space such that the second arm top surface abuts the first vertebral body and the second arm bottom abuts the second vertebral body.

7. The plate of claim 5, wherein the second height is equal to the third height.

8. The plate of claim 5, wherein the third height is a minimum height of the second arm.

9. The plate of claim 5, wherein the top surface, the first arm top surface, and the second arm top surface each are configured to face the first vertebral body when the plate is coupled to the spacer and the intervertebral implant is inserted in the intervertebral disc space, and the bottom surface, the first arm bottom surface, and the second arm bottom surface each are configured to face the second vertebral body when the plate is coupled to the spacer and the intervertebral implant is inserted in the intervertebral disc space.

10. The plate of claim 5, wherein the first arm includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall that is opposite the first sidewall, the second arm includes a first sidewall that faces the first sidewall of the first arm, the second arm further includes a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall of the second arm, and the second sidewall of the first arm converges toward the second sidewall of the second arm as the first arm extends in the first direction.

11. The plate of claim 5, wherein both the portion of the first arm and the portion of the second arm are offset from the first exit opening in the first direction.

12. The plate of claim 1, wherein the second height is measured from a first location on the first arm top surface to a second location on the first arm bottom surface, and the first arm top surface is parallel to the first arm bottom surface.

13. A plate configured to be coupled to a spacer to form an intervertebral implant that is configured to be inserted in an intervertebral disc space that is defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body, the plate comprising:

a body portion including a first surface and a second surface offset from the first surface in a first direction, the body portion defining a first hole having a first entry opening with an enclosed shape defined by the first surface and a first exit opening, at least a portion of the first exit opening offset from the first entry opening with respect to a second direction that is oblique to the first direction such that the first hole is configured to receive a bone fixation element that secures the plate to the first vertebral body, the body portion defining a second hole having a second entry opening with an enclosed shape defined by the first surface and a second exit opening, at least a portion of the second exit opening offset from the second entry opening with respect to a third direction that is oblique to the first direction such that the second hole is configured to receive a bone fixation element that secures the plate to the second vertebral body, the body portion further including a top surface and a bottom surface offset from the top surface in a fourth direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the top surface configured to face the first vertebral body when the plate is inserted in the intervertebral disc space, the bottom surface configured to face the second vertebral body when the plate is inserted in the intervertebral disc space, wherein a portion of the first entry opening is closer to the top surface than an entirety of the second entry opening is to the top surface;

a first arm attached to the body portion such that the first arm extends from the second surface in the first direction and terminates at a first end, the first arm including a first portion and a second portion offset from each other along the first direction, the first portion including a first top arm surface and a first bottom arm surface offset from the first top arm surface in the fourth direction, the second portion including a second top arm surface and a second bottom arm surface offset from the second top arm surface in the fourth direction, the first arm configured such that when the plate is inserted in the intervertebral disc space the first top arm surface and the second top arm surface each face the first vertebral body and the first bottom arm surface and the second bottom arm surface each face the second vertebral body; and

a second arm that extends from the body portion and terminates at a second end, such that respective end surfaces of the first and second ends are separated from each other by a distance measured in a fifth direction that is perpendicular to both the first direction and the fourth direction, wherein the first end and the second end comprise respective linear arrays of teeth that face each other and are disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface of the body portion,

wherein the first portion defines a first height measured from the first top arm surface to the first bottom arm surface in the fourth direction, the second portion defines a second height measured from the second top arm surface to the second bottom arm surface in the fourth direction, and the first height is greater than the second height, and

wherein at least a portion of the first entry opening is aligned with at least a portion of the second entry opening with respect to the fifth direction.

14. The plate of claim 13, wherein both the first portion and the second portion are offset from the exit opening in the first direction.

15. The plate of claim 13, wherein the body portion defines a third height measured from the top surface to the bottom surface in the fourth direction, and the third height is greater than the second height.

16. The plate of claim 13, wherein the second arm is offset from the first arm by a gap that is configured to receive the spacer.

17. The plate of claim 13, wherein the second arm includes a third portion and a fourth portion offset from each other along the first direction, the third portion including a third top arm surface and a fourth bottom surface offset from the third top arm surface in the fourth direction, the fourth portion including a fourth top arm surface and a fourth bottom surface offset from the fourth top arm surface in the fourth direction, the second arm configured such that when the plate is inserted in the intervertebral disc space the third top arm surface and the fourth top arm surface each face the first vertebral body and the third bottom surface and the fourth bottom surface each face the second vertebral body.

18. The plate of claim 17, wherein the third portion defines a third height measured from the third top arm surface to the third bottom surface in the fourth direction, the fourth portion defines a fourth height measured from the fourth top arm surface to the fourth bottom surface in the fourth direction, and the third height is greater than the fourth height.

19. The plate of claim 18, wherein the body portion defines a fifth height measured from the top surface to the bottom surface in the fourth direction, the fifth height is greater than the second height, and the fifth height is greater than the fourth height.

20. The plate of claim 18, wherein each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are offset from the exit opening in the first direction.

21. The plate of claim 18, wherein the first arm includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall that is opposite the first sidewall, the second arm includes a first sidewall that faces the first sidewall of the first arm, the second arm further includes a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall of the second arm, and the second sidewall of the first arm converges toward the second sidewall of the second arm as the first arm extends in the first direction.