Adjustable bone fusion implant and method

• US 20030074063A1
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMDS LLC
• Original Assignee: Medicinelodge, Inc (Nelso Antolotti)
• Inventors: Fallin, T. Wade, Gerbec, Daniel E., Faciszewski, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 6,648,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/16.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• 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 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4603 for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4637 for connecting or disconnecting two parts of a prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30266 wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30487 Circumferential cooperating grooves and beads on cooperating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30522 releasable, e.g. using a releasable ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30784 Plurality of holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30789 perpendicular with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30975 : made of two halves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4622 : having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4628 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 : connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0082 : parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 : for adjusting thickness

Abstract

An adjustable bone fusion implant includes a first plate having an interior face with a plurality of spaced apart first support members projecting therefrom. Each support member has a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom. A second plate has an interior face with a plurality of spaced apart second support members projecting therefrom. Each second support member has at least one tooth projecting therefrom. At least a portion of the plurality of teeth of each first support member mechanically engages with the at least one tooth of a corresponding second support member so that the first plate and the second plate can be selectively separated while forming a compartment therebetween. A reinforcing member is disposed between the first plate and the second plate such that the application of a compressive force between the first plate and the second plate applies compression on the reinforcing member.

Claims

1. An adjustable bone fusion implant comprising:

a first plate having an interior face and an opposing exterior face;

a second plate having an interior face and an opposing exterior face, the interior face of the first plate facing the interior face of the second plate such that a compartment is formed therebetween;

means for mechanically connecting the first plate to the second plate such that the first plate and second plate can be selectively manually separated so as to enlarge the size of the compartment; and

a discrete reinforcing member selectively inserted between the first plate and the second plate such that the application of a compressive force between the first plate and the second plate causes the reinforcing member to be compressed between the first plate and the second plate.

2. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for mechanically connecting comprises:

a pair of spaced apart first support members projecting from the interior face of the first plate, each first support member having a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom; and

a pair of spaced apart second support members projecting from the inside face of the second plate, each second support member having at least one tooth projecting therefrom, at least a portion of the plurality of teeth of each first support member mechanically engaging with the at least one tooth of a corresponding second support member.

3. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one tooth on the second support members comprises a sloping surface and an intersecting horizontally disposed surface.

4. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the exterior face of the first plate is angled relative to the exterior face of the second plate so as to form a wedged shape configuration.

5. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, further comprising an attachment flange projecting into the compartment from the first plate or the second plate, the attachment flange having an threaded opening formed thereon.

6. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of grafting ports extending through at least the first plate or the second plate.

7. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a substantially U-shaped configuration.

8. An adjustable bone fusion implant comprising:

a first plate having an interior face and an opposing exterior face;

a second plate having an interior face and an opposing exterior face, the interior face of the first plate facing the interior face of the second plate such that a compartment is formed therebetween, the second plate being mechanically connected to the first plate such that the first plate and second plate can be selectively manually separated so as to enlarge the size of the compartment; and

a discrete reinforcing member selectively inserted between the first plate and the second plate such that the application of a compressive force between the first plate and the second plate causes the reinforcing member to be compressed between the first plate and the second plate.

9. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 8, further comprises:

four spaced apart first support members projecting from the interior face of the first plate, each first support member having a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom; and

four spaced apart second support members projecting from the inside face of the second plate, each second support member having at least one tooth projecting therefrom, at least a portion of the plurality of teeth of each first support member mechanically engaging with the at least one tooth of a corresponding second support member.

10. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 9, wherein a brace extends between at least two of the second support members.

11. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 8, wherein the exterior face of the first plate is angled relative to the exterior face of the second plate so as to form a wedged shape configuration.

12. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 8, further comprising an attachment flange projecting into the compartment from the first plate or the second plate, the attachment flange having an opening extending therethrough.

13. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 8, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a cantilever beam having a pair of flexible arms projecting therefrom.

14. An adjustable bone fusion implant comprising:

a first plate having an interior face and an opposing exterior face;

a pair of spaced apart first support members projecting from the interior face of the first plate, each first support member having a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom;

a second plate having an interior face and an opposing exterior face, the interior face of the first plate facing the interior face of the second plate such that a compartment is formed therebetween; and

a pair of spaced apart second support members projecting from the interior face of the second plate, each second support member having at least one tooth projecting therefrom, at least a portion of the plurality of teeth of each first support member mechanically engaging with the at least one tooth of a corresponding second support member.

15. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 14, further comprising a discrete reinforcing member disposed between the first plate and the second plate such that the application of a compressive force between the first plate and the second plate causes the reinforcing member to be compressed between the first plate and the second plate.

16. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of teeth on the first support members comprises a sloping surface and an intersecting horizontally disposed surface.

17. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of grafting ports extending through at least the first plate or the second plate.

18. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of retention barbs projecting from at least the first plate or the second plate.

19. A method for fusing two adjacent bones or pieces of bone, the method comprising:

inserting an adjustable fusion implant between two adjacent bones or pieces of bone;

expanding a portion of a tool inserted within the fusion implant so as to expand the fusion implant between the bones or pieces of bone; and

removing the tool from within the fusion implant.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the act of inserting comprises inserting the adjustable fusion implant between two adjacent vertebrae.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising removably securing a distal end of an inserter to the fusion implant prior to the act of inserting.

22. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the fusion implant has a first plate and an opposing second plate with a compartment formed therebetween, the method further comprising inserting a reinforcing member between the first plate and the second plate after the tool has been removed from the fusion implant.

23. A method for fusing two adjacent bones or pieces of bone, the method comprising:

inserting an adjustable fusion implant between two adjacent bones or pieces of bone, the fusion implant having a first plate and an opposing second plate with a compartment formed therebetween;

expanding the fusion implant between the bones or pieces of bone so as to further separate the first plate from the second plate; and

positioning a reinforcing member between the first plate and the second plate such that the application of a compressive force between the first plate and the second plate causes the reinforcing member to be compressed between the first plate and the second plate.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the act of expanding comprises:

expanding at least a portion of a tool within the fusion implant so as to selectively expand the fusion implant; and

removing the tool from within the fusion implant.

25. A method as recited in claim 23, further comprising removably securing a distal end of an inserter to the fusion implant such that at least a portion of the inserter is disposed within the compartment of the fusion implant, the inserter being secured prior to the act of inserting.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the act of positioning comprises:

advancing a tubular push rod over a distal end of the inserter; and

moving the push rod along the inserter so that the push rod advances the reinforcing member between the first plate and the second plate.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, further comprising:

removing the inserter from within the push rod; and

feeding bone graft through the tubular push rod and into the compartment of the fusion implant.

28. A method for fusing two vertebrae, the method comprising:

forming a posterior opening through a back of a person so as to expose two vertebrae, the two vertebrae having a wedged shape gap formed therebetween that enlarges anteriorly toward a front of the person;

inserting an adjustable fusion implant through the posterior opening and into the gap formed between the vertebrae, the fusion implant having a wedge shaped configuration that enlarges from a proximal end to a distal end, the distal end of the fusion implant being inserted first into the gap formed between the vertebrae; and

expanding the fusion implant disposed between vertebrae such that the fusion implant maintains a wedge shaped configuration.

29. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the act of expanding comprises:

expanding at least a portion of a tool within the fusion implant so as to selectively expand the fusion implant; and

removing the tool from within the fusion implant.

30. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the fusion implant has a first plate and an opposing second plate with a compartment formed therebetween, the method further comprising inserting a reinforcing member between the first plate and the second plate after the fusion implant has been expanded.