Intervertebral prosthesis or nucleus replacement prosthesis

• US 20050119750A1
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Synthes USA LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Mathys Medizinaltechnik AG (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Studer, Armin
• Application Number:
  US10/509,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119750A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.160
• 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 2002/30291 spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section

Abstract

An intervertebral disk prosthesis or nuclear prosthesis (1) includes a longitudinal, flexibility-yielding object (2) that can be spiral-wound (2), with a first exterior end (3), a second interior end (4) and a longitudinal central axis (5). The cross-section (10) of the object (2), which is orthogonal towards the central axis (5), is reduced in size towards the second interior end (4).

Claims

1. An intervertebral disk prosthesis or nuclear prosthesis (1) consisting of a longitudinal, flexibility-yielding object that is adapted to be wound in a spiral shape (2), with a first exterior end (3), a second interior end (4) and a longitudinal central axis (5), wherein

a cross-section (10) of the object (2) which is orthogonal towards the central axis (5) is reduced in size towards the second interior end (4).

2. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein the orthogonal cross-section (10) is continuously reduced in size.

3. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section (10) of the object (2), which is orthogonal towards the central axis (5), is continuously reduced in size towards the first exterior end (3), preferably with the reduction occurring continuously.

4. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein a measured width of the object (2), running vertically towards the central axis (5), is reduced in size, when viewed from its center toward the exterior end (3), and wherein the measured width reduction occurs continuously.

5. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein a measured width of the object (2), running vertically towards the central axis (5), is reduced in size when viewed from its center toward the inner end (4), and wherein the measured width reduction occurs continuously.

6. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein a width of the object (2) in its center is wider by 50% to 500%, preferably wider by 100% to 300%, than at its interior and exterior ends (4, 3).

7. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein the object (2) in its spiral-wound state towards the central axis (5) features an upper spiral level (6) and a lower spiral level (7), which are both curved in convex shapes and are suitable for application to cover plates of two adjacent intervertebral disk spaces.

8. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein the object (2) in a spiral-wound unloaded state features a gap between the spirals.

9. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 8, wherein the gap has a minimum width of 0.4 mm.

10. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 8, wherien the gap has a maximum width of 1 mm.

11. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein the object (2) in a spiral-wound state, when viewed at the spiral level, features an oval or kidney-shaped shape, and having a surface between 250 to 750 mm² measured at the spiral level.

12. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein the object (2) contains a hydrogel.

13. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein the object (2) is manufactured using an injection-molding process and its injection point (9) is positioned in an area of the second end (4).

14. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 13, wherein the injection point (9) is located in a recess vis-à

-vis the upper spiral level (6).

15. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first end (3) is designed asymmetrically towards an interior of the spiral.

16. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein the object (2) is X-ray-opaque.

17. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein the object (2) contains X-ray-opaque components.

18. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1, wherein a last exterior spiral turn with a circumference of at least 3600 of the spiral-wound object (2) has a thinner cross-section than remaining spiral turns.

19. The intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) according to claim 1 wherein the exterior end (3) of the object (2) is fitted with aids (11, 12, 13, 14), which are suited for gripping the intervertebral disk prosthesis (1) using an insertion instrument.