Instrumentation for inserting and deploying an expandable interbody spinal fusion implant

• US 20050010294A1
• Filed: 08/04/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Michelson, Gary K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2002/30143 hexagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30428 made by inserting a protrusion into a slot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30487 Circumferential cooperating grooves and beads on cooperating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30574 with an integral complete or partial collar or flange
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30975 made of two halves
• 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 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical

Abstract

Instruments for inserting and expanding interbody spinal implants having an expandable height.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inserting an expandable spinal implant having an expander adapted to increase the height of the implant, said apparatus comprising:

an implant holder having a longitudinal axis, a passage along the longitudinal axis, and a distal end with an implant engagement area adapted to cooperatively engage the implant; and

an expander driver adapted to engage the expandable implant, said expander driver having a shaft adapted to pass through said passage of said implant holder, said shaft of said expander driver having a distal end adapted to engage the expander of the expandable implant.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant engagement area includes extensions having an exterior surface adapted to engage the implant, said extensions being adapted to move between a disengaged position with the extensions at a first distance from one another and an engaged position with the extensions at a second distance from one another, the second distance being larger than the first distance.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said extensions have an interior surface oriented toward said passage of said implant holder, said extensions being adapted to move away from the longitudinal axis of said implant holder to the engaged position by an outward force applied to said interior surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the implant has a trailing end, said extensions being adapted to be moved toward the longitudinal axis of said implant holder by an inward force applied to said exterior surface to permit said extensions to pass into the trailing end of the implant and to cooperatively engage the trailing end of the implant after the inward force is removed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the implant has a trailing end and said implant engagement area includes at least one projection adapted to cooperatively engage at least a portion of the trailing end of the implant.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said at least one projection is adapted to cooperatively engage a recess in the trailing end of the implant.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one projection includes a flange and said recess is a slot.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one projection includes a pin and said recess is a pin receiving opening.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said projection is adapted to remain engaged to the implant while the implant is expanded from an unexpanded position to an expanded position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said projection is a pin adapted to move within a recess in the trailing end while the implant is expanded from the unexpanded position to the expanded position.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant holder has a proximal end adapted to receive a handle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said handle is detachable.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said expander driver includes a handle to allow said expander driver to be rotated upon engagement with the expander of the expandable implant.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said distal end of said expander driver has a tip adapted to cooperatively engage an opening in the expander of the expandable implant.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable implant has at least a second expander, said expander driver being adapted to engage at least two of the expanders.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said expander driver has an elongated tip adapted to cooperatively engage an opening in at least two of the expanders.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said expander driver has a implant holder engagement portion configured for lockable engagement with an expander driver engagement portion of said implant holder.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said expander driver is movable within said passage of said implant holder between a first locked position not permitting rotation relative to said implant holder and a second locked position permitting said expander driver to rotate relative to said implant holder.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said expander driver engagement portion limits the rotation of said expander driver to one direction in the second locked position.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said expander driver engagement portion limits the amount of rotation of said expander driver in the second locked position.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said implant holder engagement portion of said expander driver has at least one detent adapted for lockable engagement with a spring-biased ball in said expander driver engagement portion of said implant holder.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said expander driver has an enlarged portion sized and shaped to fit into and rotate within said passage of said implant holder.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said enlarged portion of said expander driver has a shoulder and a peg adapted to cooperate with said implant holder, said implant holder having a cutout and a slot adapted to cooperate with said shoulder and peg of said enlarged portion of said expander driver to limit the rotation of said expander driver while engaged with said implant holder.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, in combination with an expandable spinal implant having an expander adapted to increase the height of said expandable spinal implant and a trailing end adapted to be engaged to said implant holder.

25. The combination of claim 24, wherein said expandable spinal implant is an expandable spinal fusion implant for promoting fusion between adjacent vertebral bodies, said expandable spinal fusion implant having upper and lower surfaces for placement between and in contact with the adjacent vertebral bodies, each of said upper and lower surfaces having at least one opening adapted to permit bone from the adjacent vertebral bodies to grow through said expandable spinal fusion implant.

26. The combination of claim 25, wherein said expandable spinal fusion implant has a hollow between said upper and lower surfaces for holding fusion promoting substances.

27. The combination of claim 25, wherein said expandable spinal fusion implant is separable into an upper member and a lower member to permit the placement of said expander between said upper and lower members.

28. The combination of claim 27, wherein said upper and lower members are at least in part arcuate.

29. The combination of claim 28, wherein said expandable spinal fusion implant includes a thread along at least a portion of said upper and lower surfaces of said expandable spinal fusion implant.

30. The combination of claim 27, wherein said upper and lower members are configured for at least in part linear insertion into a prepared implantation space between the adjacent vertebral bodies.

31. The combination of claim 30, wherein said spinal fusion implant includes surface projections configured to resist expulsion of said implant from an implantation space into which said implant is adapted to be inserted.

32. The combination of claim 27, wherein said upper and lower members are angled relative to one another to induce an angulation of the adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another.

33. The combination of claim 24, wherein said implant comprises at least in part of one of bone and bone growth promoting material.

34. The combination of claim 24, wherein said implant comprises at least one of the following materials:

metal, titanium, plastic, and ceramic appropriate for implantation in the human body.

35. The combination of claim 24, wherein said implant is at least in part resorbable.

36. The combination of claim 24, wherein said implant is formed of a porous material.

37. The combination of claim 24, wherein said implant has a hollow between said upper and lower surfaces, said hollow having a composite material therein.

38. The combination of claim 37, wherein said composite material is other than bone.

39. The combination of claim 25, wherein said expandable spinal fusion implant is in combination with a fusion promoting substance.

40. The combination of claim 39, wherein said fusion promoting substance is selected from one of bone, bone derived products, demineralized bone matrix, ossifying proteins, bone morphogenetic protein, hydroxyapatite, and genes coding for the production of bone.

41. The combination of claim 25, wherein said implant is treated with a fusion promoting substance.

42. The combination of claim 25, wherein said implant is in combination with a chemical substance adapted to inhibit scar formation.

43. The combination of claim 25, wherein said implant is in combination with an antimicrobial material.

44. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant engagement area of said outer sleeve is adapted to linearly engage the implant.

45. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant engagement area of said outer sleeve is adapted to slideably engage the implant.

46. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant engagement area of said outer sleeve is adapted to lock to said implant.