Method of laterally inserting an artificial vertebral disk replacement implant with curved spacer

• US 20050113926A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Steven T., Zucherman, James F., Hsu, Ken Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,691,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.140
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30232 Half-cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3065 Details of the ball-shaped head
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30654 Details of the concave socket
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30662 with rotation-limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• 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 2310/00029 Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an implant that can be placed between two adjacent vertebral bodies using a lateral insertion method. The implant is characterized as having a first end plate and a second end plate which a crossbar spacer therebetween. The crossbar spacer preferably fits within a channel on the inner surfaces of the first end plate and the second end plate, whereby the spacer allows pivots, twisting and/or rotational movement of the spine. The first end plate and the second end plate include a keel extending therefrom, whereby the keel traverses longitudinally between a first lateral side and a second opposed lateral side and is substantially perpendicular to the sagittal plane of the patient'"'"'s spine.

Claims

1. A method of inserting an intervertebral implant comprising the steps of:

a. accessing a lateral side of adjacent vertebral bodies;

b. cutting a receiving channel into a vertebral body, wherein the receiving channel extends between a first lateral end of the vertebral body and a second lateral end of the vertebral; and

c. inserting an implant into the receiving channel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the implant includes a spacer having opposed first and second curved surfaces oriented perpendicular to one another.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the implant includes a spherical spacer within.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting further comprises inserting a keel of the implant into the receiving channel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting further comprises inserting a keel of the implant into the receiving channel, wherein the keel is oriented perpendicular to the sagittal plane of the vertebral body when inserted therein.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the keel further comprises a plurality of teeth each having an angled side facing the receiving channel when the implant is inserted therein.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the implant is inserted into the receiving channel from a lateral approach.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of cutting further comprises cutting a first receiving channel into an upper vertebral body and cutting a second receiving channel into a lower vertebral body.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of inserting further comprises inserting a first keel of the implant into the first receiving channel and inserting a second keel of the implant into the second receiving channel.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising assembling the implant prior to inserting the implant into the receiving channel.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising assembling the implant subsequent to inserting the implant into the receiving channel.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising assembling the implant including:

a. selecting a first end plate having a first keel extending from a first outer surface between a first lateral end and a second lateral end;

b. selecting a second end plate having a second keel extending from a second outer surface between a first lateral end and a second lateral end; and

c. coupling the spacer to the first end plate and the second end plate.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein coupling the spacer to the first and second end plates further comprises:

a. inserting the first curved surface of the spacer into a first socket in the first end plate; and

b. inserting the second curved surface of the spacer into a second socket in the second end plate.

14. A method of attaching an artificial device between adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine comprising:

a. cutting a keel receiving channel into a vertebral body, wherein the keel receiving channel is substantially perpendicular to the sagittal plane of the spine; and

b. inserting a keel of an artificial device into the keel receiving channel.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the artificial device includes a spacer having opposed first and second curved surfaces oriented perpendicular to one another.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the artificial device includes a spherical spacer within.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the keel is oriented perpendicular to the sagittal plane of the spine when inserted therein.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the keel further comprises a plurality of teeth each having an angled side facing the keel receiving channel when the artificial device is inserted therein.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the artificial device is inserted into the keel receiving channel from a lateral approach.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of cutting further comprises cutting a first keel receiving channel into an upper vertebral body and cutting a second keel receiving channel into a lower vertebral body.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of inserting further comprises inserting a first keel of the implant into the first keel receiving channel and inserting a second keel of the implant into the second keel receiving channel.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising assembling the artificial device prior to inserting the keel of the artificial device into the receiving channel.

23. The method of claim 14 further comprising assembling the artificial device subsequent to inserting the keel of the artificial device into the receiving channel.

24. The method of claim 14 further comprising assembling the artificial device including:

a. selecting a first end plate having a first keel extending from a first outer surface and a first socket in a first inner surface;

b. selecting a second end plate having a second keel extending from a second outer surface and a second socket in a second inner surface; and

c. positioning a first curved surface of the spacer in the first socket and a second curved surface of the spacer in the second socket.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface are oriented perpendicular to one another.

26. A method of inserting an implant comprising:

a. accessing a lateral side of an upper vertebral body and a lower vertebral body;

b. cutting a first keel receiving channel into the upper vertebral body, wherein the first keel receiving channel extends between a first lateral side and a second lateral side of the vertebral body;

c. cutting a second keel receiving channel into the lower vertebral body, wherein the second keel receiving channel is substantially parallel to the first keel receiving channel; and

d. inserting a first keel of an implant into the first keel receiving channel and a second keel of the implant into the second keel receiving channel, wherein the implant includes a spacer having opposing first and second curved surface oriented perpendicular to one another.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the first and second keels are oriented substantially perpendicular to the sagittal plane of the vertebral bodies when inserted therein.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising assembling the implant prior to inserting the implant between the upper and lower vertebral bodies.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising assembling the implant subsequent to inserting the implant between the upper and lower vertebral bodies.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the first keel further comprises a plurality of teeth each having an angled side facing the keel receiving channel when the implant is inserted therein.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the second keel further comprises a plurality of teeth each having an angled side facing the keel receiving channel when the implant is inserted therein.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the implant is inserted into the first and second keel receiving channel from a lateral approach.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising assembling the implant including:

a. selecting a first end plate having the first keel extending from a first outer surface and a first socket in a first inner surface;

b. selecting a second end plate having the second keel extending from a second outer surface and a second socket in a second inner surface; and

c. positioning a spacer between the first end plate and the second end plate wherein the first curved surface is positioned in the first socket and the second curved surface is positioned in the second socket.

34. A method of inserting an intervertebral implant comprising:

a. accessing an intervertebral space;

b. cutting a receiving channel into at least one vertebral body, wherein the keel receiving channel extends between a first lateral side and a second lateral side of the vertebral body; and

c. inserting at least a portion of an implant into the receiving channel, wherein the implant is adapted to include a spacer therein having opposing first and second curved surfaces oriented perpendicular to one another.

35. A method of inserting an intervertebral implant in a spine comprising:

a. preparing an affected area of the spine to receive the implant; and

b. inserting a keel of an implant into the affected area, wherein the keel extends between a first lateral end and a second lateral end of the implant, the implant having opposing first and second curved surfaces oriented perpendicular to one another.

36. A method of inserting an intervertebral implant in a spine comprising:

a. preparing an affected area of the spine to receive the implant; and

b. inserting a keel of an implant into the affected area from a lateral approach, wherein the implant has a spacer having opposing first and second curved surfaces oriented perpendicular to one another.

37. A method of inserting an intervertebral implant in a spine comprising:

a. preparing an affected area of the spine to receive the implant; and

b. inserting a keel of an implant into the affected area from a lateral approach.

38. A method of manufacturing an intervertebral implant comprising:

a. selecting a first end plate having a first keel protruding from a first outer surface and extending between a right lateral side and a left lateral side;

b. selecting a second end plate having a second keel protruding from a second opposed outer surface and extending between a right lateral side and a left lateral side, and

c. coupling a spacer to the first end plate and the second end plate, wherein the spacer has first and second opposed curved surfaces oriented perpendicular to one another.