Vertebral spacer for spinal stabilization

• US 20030083746A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Spineology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spineology Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuslich, Stephen D.
• Application Number:
  US10/000,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083746A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30771 applied in original prostheses, e.g. holes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2821 Bone stimulation by electromagnetic fields or electric current for enhancing ossification
• 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 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30143 hexagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30149 pentagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30151 rhomboidal or parallelogram-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30154 square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30156 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30225 Flat cylinders, i.e. discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3023 wedge-shaped cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30237 partial tubes
• 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 2002/3055 : for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 : Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30779 : arcuate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30784 : Plurality of holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3082 : Grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30836 : knurled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• 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 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 : Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0021 : square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0023 : triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• 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 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 : Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof

Abstract

A device for implantation into a mammalian spine which comprises: a body having a first end and a second end. The first end constructed and arranged to engage a lower surface of a spinal body when the body is implanted into an intervertebral space within the mammalian spine. The second end constructed and arranged to engage an upper surface of a spinal body when the body is implanted into an intervertebral space of the mammalian spine. The body defines an interior space. The body further includes a first edge and a second edge which define a longitudinal discontinuity extending from the first end of the body to the second end of the body, wherein the longitudinal discontinuity may be a space, slot or groove.

Claims

1. A device for implantation into a mammalian spine, the device comprising:

a body, the body having a first end and a second end, the first end constructed and arranged to engage a lower surface of a first spinal body when the body is implanted into an intervertebral space of the mammalian spine, the second end constructed and arranged to engage an upper surface of a second spinal body when the body is implanted into the intervertebral space of the mammalian spine, the body having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an interior space, the body further having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and the second edge defining a longitudinal discontinuity extending from the first end of the body to the second end of the body.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal discontinuity is an opening defined by the first edge and the second edge, the interior space being in fluid communication with an exterior through the longitudinal opening.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the opening is sized to allow an intermedullary rod to pass from the exterior to the interior space when the device is implanted the intervertebral space of the mammalian spine.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the first edge and the second edge are spaced apart by less than about 10 mm.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the body further comprises a first interior wall and a second interior wall, the first wall extending from the first edge into the interior space, the second wall extending from the second edge into the interior space, the first wall and the second wall forming a slot.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the first wall and the second wall are substantially parallel to one another.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the slot is sized to allow an intermedullary rod to pass therethrough from the exterior to the interior space when the device is implanted the intervertebral space of the mammalian spine.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal discontinuity comprises a groove, the groove being defined by a first interior wall extending inwardly from the first edge and a second interior wall extending inwardly from the second edge, the first wall and the second wall and the second wall being engaged to one another at a junction point.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the groove is U-shaped.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the first wall and the second wall are spaced apart to allow an intermedullary rod to pass between the first wall and the second wall into the groove.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the at least a portion of the first wall and the second wall are constructed and arranged to engage the intermedullary rod when the device is implanted the intervertebral space of the mammalian spine.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the interior space is constructed and arranged to receivingly retain fill material therein.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the fill material is selected from at least one member of the group consisting of:

bone, bone graft, bone substitute, bioceramic beads and any combination thereof.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the fill material includes at least on member of the group consisting of:

at least one type of protein, at least one type of hormone, at least one type of enzyme, at least one type of genetic material, at least one type of viral material, at least one bone formation stimulant, and any combination thereof.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein the body is constructed and arranged to be in electrical communication with an electrical stimulation device, the electrical stimulation device constructed and arranged to electrically stimulate bone formation through the device when the device is implanted into the mammalian spine.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the electrical stimulation device is further constructed and arranged to electrically stimulate bone formation through the fill material.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings providing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the body further defines a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape being generally analogous to a cross-sectional shape of a normal human vertebral body.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first end and second end have a smooth surface.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first end and second end have a textured surface.

21. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one end cap, the at least one end cap having a first engagement surface for engaging at least one of the first and second end of the body, and a second engagement surface for engaging at least one of the upper surface and lower surface of at least one of the first spinal body and the second spinal body.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the second engagement surface is flat relative to at least one of the upper surface and lower surface of at least one of the first spinal body and the second spinal body.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein the at least one end cap has an angular orientation relative to at least one of the upper surface and lower surface of at least one of the first spinal body and the second spinal body.

24. The device of claim 21 wherein the second engagement surface of the at least one end cap has a textured surface.

25. The device of claim 21 wherein the at least one end cap further comprises a plurality of end caps, the plurality of end caps being constructed and arranged to be stacked upon each other.

26. The device of claim 21 wherein the at least one end cap has a diameter wider than the body.

27. The device of claim 1 wherein the body is at least partially constructed from a biocompatible material.