Disk repair structures for positioning disk repair material

• US 20050216087A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zucherman, James F., Hsu, Ken Y.
• Application Number:
  US11/002,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216087A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.160
• 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• 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 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• 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 2002/4495 having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4622 having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 swellable
• 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 2230/0069 : 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 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00047 : Aluminium or Al-based alloys

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device that can be placed between two adjacent vertebrae, and that is used to repair an injury or defect in the anulus of the intervertebral disk. The implant is characterized by having a flexible structure anchored to the vertebral bone, the flexible structure connected with a patch held in place over the injury or defect. The flexible structure has a hollow interior space which can sustain inside it a hydrogel cushion. The hydrogel cushion acts as a shock absorber for the spine, maintains height of the intervertebral disk space, and prevents further disk herniation due to the narrowing of the intervertebral disk space.

Claims

1. An implant for repairing damage to an anulus of an intervertebral disk, the implant comprising:

a first anchor part adapted to anchor the implant to a first vertebra;

a second structure part with a first end and a second end, attached to the first anchor part;

a hollow internal space defined by the second structure part, the hollow internal space can receive a third cushion part;

the third cushion part; and

a fourth patch part that connects by a connector with the second end of the second structure part, the fourth patch part adapted to patch the damage to the anulus.

2. The implant of claim 1 wherein the second structure part comprises a plurality of wires.

3. The implant of claim 1 wherein the connector is a plurality of hooks.

4. The implant of claim 1 wherein the connector is a plurality of loops adapted to receive sutures to secure the fourth patch part to the anulus.

5. The implant of claim 1 wherein the connector includes a plurality of hooks, that can engage the fourth patch part and the anulus, and a plurality of loops, adapted to receive sutures to secure the fourth patch part to the anulus.

6. The implant of claim 2 wherein the plurality of wires is configured as a mesh.

7. The implant of claim 2 wherein the plurality wires is a wire weave.

8. The implant of claim 1 wherein the second structure part is configured as a spiral.

9. The implant of claim 1 wherein the second structure part is configured as a spiral.

10. The implant of claim 1 wherein the first anchor part is a bone screw.

11. The implant of claim 10 wherein the bone screw is made of a material selected from the group consisting of nitinol, titanium, stainless steel, and a resorbable material.

12. The implant of claim 1 wherein the first anchor part is a bone suture.

13. The implant of claim 1 wherein the fourth patch part is an anulus patch made of a material selected from the group comprising plastic mesh, wire mesh, scarring agents, and hydrogel.

14. The implant of claim 1 wherein the fourth patch part is an anulus patch shaped like a plug.

15. The implant of claim 1 wherein the third cushion part is filled with a thixotropic gel.

16. The implant of claim 1 wherein the third cushion part contains therapeutic materials selected from the group consisting of hormones, neurotransmitter peptides, anti-inflammatory substances, neurotropic factors, pain medications, and healing stimulants.

17. The implant of claim 1 wherein the second structure part is made of material selected from the group consisting of nitinol, aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium.

18. The implant of claim 1 wherein the third cushion part is a hydrogel.

19. An implant for repairing damage to an anulus of an intervertebral disk, the implant comprising:

a bone screw that anchors the implant to a vertebral bone endplate;

a structure including a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis, and connected to the bone screw at the first end;

a hollow internal space defined by the structure;

a hydrogel cushion received through the second end of the wire structure and retained in the hollow internal space; and

an anulus patch secured to the second end of the wire structure and the anulus by at least one connector extending from the second end of the flexible wire structure.

20. The implant of claim 19 wherein the structure comprises a plurality of wires.

21. The implant of claim 19 wherein the connector is a plurality of hooks.

22. The implant of claim 21 wherein the connector is a plurality of loops adapted to accept sutures.

23. A method for implanting a device encasing a cushion to repair damage to an anulus of an intervertebral disk, the method comprising:

inserting a first end of a cannula in an incision;

positioning the first end of the cannula by a defect in the anulus;

excising herniated disk tissue;

urging the device through the cannula and into the intervertebral disk space;

anchoring the device with an anchor;

positioning the device and a cushion in the intervertebral disk space;

patching the damaged anulus tissue; and

closing the incision.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the inserting step further comprises using a stylus within the cannula.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the anchoring step includes engaging a bone anchor at the first end of the device with a vertebral bone endplate.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of inserting a cannula further includes inserting a plurality of nested cannulae along a guide wire for monitoring the surgery by flouroscopy.

27. The method of claim 23 including the step of inserting the cushion filled with a hydrogel.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the method further includes the step of filling the cushion with a hydrogel after implanting the device.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein the method further comprises filling the cushion with a hydrogel, the hydrogel containing at least one therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of hormones, neurotransmitter peptides, anti-inflammatory substances, neurotropic factors, pain medications, and healing stimulants.