Intervertebral disc implant resistant to migration

• US 20050033440A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory H. Lambrecht, Jacob Einhorn, Robert Kevin Moore
• Original Assignee: Gregory H. Lambrecht, Jacob Einhorn, Robert Kevin Moore
• Inventors: Einhorn, Jacob, Moore, Robert Kevin, Lambrecht, Gregory H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320708 Curettes, e.g. hollow scraping instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7095 the filler comprising unlinked macroscopic particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00637 for sealing trocar wounds through abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00654 entirely comprised between the two sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00659 located only on one side of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 : having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 : with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 : Blunt dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 : used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 : penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 : for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 : Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2846 : Support means for bone substitute or for bone graft implants, e.g. membranes or plates for covering bone defects nets or sleeves applied to surface of endoprostheses A61F2/30907; bone plates A61B17/80; bone regeneration in dental surgery A61C8/0006
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30723 : Plugs or restrictors for sealing a cement-receiving space tools for inserting plugs A61F2/4614; sealing collars for use during cementing A61B17/8808
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30907 : Nets or sleeves applied to surface of prostheses or in cement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 : made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 : Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• 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 2/4657 : Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• 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 2002/30062 : (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 : swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 : horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30228 : Cylinders of elliptical or oval basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30291 : spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 : retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30571 : Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 : filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30589 : Sealing means
• 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 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4435 : Support means or repair of the natural disc wall, i.e. annulus, e.g. using plates, membranes or meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 : for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• 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 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4658 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4661 : for measuring thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4662 : for measuring penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 : swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• 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 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00293 : containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 : Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0097 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00976 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF

Abstract

Devices for implantation into an intervertebral disc can include a membrane support member to augment a disc having a defect. A defect in the anulus of a disc can be repaired using a prosthesis such as a barrier. The barrier can include a sealant and an enlarger. The barrier can be implanted into the disc using a delivery cannula, an advancer and at least one control filament to control the positioning of the barrier. A stiffening element can be included within the barrier to impart stiffness to the barrier. The support member can also be connected to an anchor.

Claims

1. An implant for treating an intervertebral disc, comprising:

an elongate expander defining a pre-formed concavity, wherein the expander has varied stiffness along at least one axis or between a first axis and a second axis; and

a membrane, wherein the membrane is in contact with at least a portion of the expander.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein said implant is a barrier or a patch.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the expander has varied stiffness along at least a portion of said first axis, wherein said first axis is a height or vertical axis.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the expander has varied stiffness along at least a portion of said second axis, wherein said second axis is a length or horizontal axis.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein the expander has varied stiffness along at least a portion of the first axis and along at least a portion of the second axis.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein said first axis is perpendicular to said second axis.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein said varied stiffness promotes the implant'"'"'s ability to resist migration in the intervertebral disc space.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein the expander comprises one or more struts.

9. The implant of claim 8, wherein said one or more struts are adapted to vary the stiffness of the expander.

10. The implant of claim 8, wherein said one or more struts comprise one or more slots.

11. The implant of claim 8, wherein said one or more struts comprise one or more slots, wherein said one or more slots are adapted to vary the stiffness of at least a portion of the expander.

12. The implant of claim 8, wherein said one or more struts comprise one or more slots, wherein said one or more slots promote flexibility of at least a portion of the expander.

13. The implant of claim 1, wherein the membrane covers at least a portion of the expander.

14. The implant of claim 1, wherein the membrane is a coating material, wherein said coating material coats at least a portion of the expander.

15. The implant of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a sealant, wherein said sealant is adapted to minimize or prevent the flow of a material through a defect in the anulus fibrosis.

16. The implant of claim 1, wherein the membrane is woven through the expander.

17. The implant of claim 1, wherein the expander is operable to expand or enlarge at least a portion of the membrane.

18. The implant of claim 1, wherein the expander is adapted to expand the membrane from a compressed state after insertion into the interior of the disc.

19. The implant of claim 1, wherein the varied stiffness is adapted to provide a flexible bend axis along a central area of the height and a stiff region along the length of the barrier.

20. The implant of claim 1, wherein the expander comprises one or more fingers.

21. The implant of claim 20, wherein said one or more fingers are adapted are adapted to vary the stiffness of the expander.

22. The implant of claim 1, wherein said barrier is adapted to fit between opposing endplates adjacent an intervertebral disc.

23. The implant of claim 1, wherein said implant has a length in the range of about 3 mm to a length corresponding to the entire inner perimeter of an anulus fibrosus.

24. The implant of claim 1, wherein the expander is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following:

silicon, rubber, plastic, stainless steel, and nickel titanium alloy.

25. The implant of claim 1, wherein the expander comprises a lattice.

26. An implant for treating an intervertebral disc, comprising:

one or more expanding means, wherein said at least one expanding means has a first region and a second region,

wherein said first region is flexible region and wherein said second region is a region that is less flexible than said first region,

wherein said first region and said second region are contiguous; and

one or more sealing means, wherein at least one sealing means is in contact with at least a portion of the expander.

27. An implantable barrier for treating an intervertebral disc, comprising:

a framing means, wherein said framing means has a first region, a second region and a third region,

wherein said first region is a rigid region,

wherein said second region is a flexible region, wherein said flexible region is more flexible than said first region,

wherein said third region is less flexible than said second region,

wherein said first region and said second region are contiguous,

wherein said second region and said third region are contiguous; and

a sealing means, wherein the sealing means is in contact with at least a portion of the expander.