Plate system for minimally invasive support of the spine

• US 20050234456A1
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Malandain, Hugues F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,618,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7007 Parts of the longitudinal elements, e.g. their ends, being specially adapted to fit around the screw or hook heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8042 the additional component being a cover over the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8047 wherein the additional element surrounds the screw head in the plate hole A61B17/8052 takes precedence

Abstract

An implantable medical device and methods of use thereof are provided for supporting a structure. The structure supported can include a bony structure. The device is comprised of a support having a top portion, a bottom portion having a bottom surface and one or more apertures passing therethrough. The bottom surface of the support includes a receiver configured to receive a plurality of anchor assemblies of one or multiple types. Each of the anchor assemblies includes a means for locking the anchor assembly to the support element, and a base having a head and a means for locking the base to the anchor assembly. When assembled, the head of the base for one anchor assembly type may not pass through the support. In contrast, the head of the base for a second anchor assembly type is passable through the support.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device for supporting a structure comprising:

a support having a top and bottom portion and one or more apertures passing therethrough, the bottom portion adapted to receive a receiver;

the receiver including one or more anchor assemblies, each of the one or more anchor assemblies including a head and a base portion, the base portion for engaging with the structure to be supported, the receiver engaging with the bottom portion of the support such that when assembled with the support, the base does not pass through the one or more apertures; and

a second anchor assembly passable through one of the apertures and lockably engagable with the support.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the base is comprised of

a base head,

wherein the base head is movably disposed within the anchor assembly, and

a locking means for locking the base in a desired position relative to the support.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more anchor assemblies is comprised of a means for locking the anchor assembly to the support.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the one or more apertures have a dimensional configuration providing access to a base and the means for locking an anchor assembly when assembled with the support.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the support has a shape selected from the group consisting of a board, plate, elongated cross-section, oval, square, I-beam and a rod.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the support bottom portion includes a bottom surface, wherein the receiver is coupled to the bottom surface through a means selected from the group consisting of integral attachment and non-integral attachment.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the receiver and the anchor assembly are configured in an interconnecting geometry comprising a T-slot having a planar upper face, a planar lower face and a planar medial face.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is comprised of one or more access ports sized for coupling an anchor assembly to the receiver distally from the receiver ends.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the head of the one or more anchor assemblies and the second anchor assembly have a configuration selected from the group consisting of a slot, groove, track, dove tail and a snap-in configuration.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of a screw, staple, nail, hook and a pin.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 10, wherein the screw is a bone screw.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the base head is selected from the group consisting of a polyaxial and a hinge-type connector.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 3, wherein the means for locking the anchor assemblies to the support includes a deformable geometry of the head portion of the one or more anchor assemblies.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 13, wherein the deformable geometry of the head is comprised of a tapered void within the head, and a setscrew;

wherein turning the setscrew into the threaded base aperture results in deformation of the head outwardly; and

wherein the head engages the receiver to effect locking.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the base head is selected from the group consisting of a polyaxial and a hinge-type connector.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the means for locking the base is comprised of a threaded base aperture and a setscrew;

wherein turning the setscrew into the threaded base aperture results in engagement of the base head to effect locking the base in a desired position.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the structure supported is a fractured bony structure.

18. A method for supporting a bony structure, the method comprising the steps of:

1) implanting one or more anchor assemblies having bases into bone;

2) connectively positioning a support having a receiver for the anchor assemblies on top of one or more of the anchor assemblies at a body location selected from the group consisting of the subcutaneous fat layer of the back, muscle, cartilage and a bone;

3) locking the bases within one or more of the anchor assemblies;

4) locking one or more of the anchor assemblies within the support receiver;

5) passing through the support and implanting one or more additional anchor assemblies having bases into bone;

6) locking the bases within one or more of the additional anchor assemblies; and

7) locking one or more of the anchor assemblies within the support receiver.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the bony structure supported is fractured.

20. A method for effecting a desired vertebral disc spacing including the steps of:

1) implanting a plurality of anchor assemblies having bases and a first and second locking means into vertebrae, wherein the bases of the anchor assemblies are unlocked for free movement;

2) interconnecting the anchor assemblies with the receiver of a support, wherein the anchor assemblies are unlocked within the receiver;

3) locking the bases within the anchor assemblies using the first locking means;

4) compressing or distracting the bases in relation to each other to achieve a parallel displacement of the instrumented vertebrae; and

5) locking the anchor assemblies within the support using the second locking means.