In-situ formed posterolateral fusion system

• US 20060004358A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Serhan, Hassan, Slivka, Michael Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,776,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004

Abstract

A formed in-place spinal implant comprising a hardenable, resorbable, bone fusion-promoting composition, wherein the implant may be rigidly connected to adjacent vertebrae until fusion occurs.

Claims

1. A method of treating a functional spinal unit comprising an upper vertebral body having a posterior side and a lower vertebral body having a posterior side and an anterior side, comprising the steps of:

a) placing a flowable, hardenable osteogenic composition adjacent to each of the posterior sides of the vertebral bodies, and

b) fixing the composition to the posterior sides of the vertebral bodies.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of placing is accomplished by flowing the mass.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the composition is flowed into a container placed adjacent to each of the posterior sides of the vertebral bodies.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the container is placed in contact with each of the posterior sides of the vertebral bodies.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the container comprises an upper and a lower throughhole, each throughhole having a diameter, and wherein the fixation is accomplished by inserting a bone anchor through each of the throughholes and into each of the posterior sides of the vertebral bodies.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the anchor comprises a shaft having a threaded outer surface.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the anchor comprises a proximal head having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the container throughhole.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the fixation is accomplished by inserting a bone anchor having a transverse throughhole into each of the posterior sides of the vertebral bodies, and inserting the container through each transverse throughhole.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the anchor comprises a shaft having a threaded outer surface.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the container has a plurality of upper throughholes and a plurality of lower throughholes.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein the container is a bag.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein the container is flexible.

13. The method of claim 3 wherein the container is a mesh.

14. The method of claim 3 wherein the container is resorbable.

15. The method of claim 3 wherein the container is a balloon.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition is a putty, and the step of placing produces contact between the putty and each of the posterior sides of the vertebral bodies.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises an osteoinductive component.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises an osteoconductive porous scaffold.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition is resorbable.

20. The method of claim wherein the composition comprises an osteoconductive component and an osteoinductive component.

21. A kit for treating a functional spinal unit comprising an upper vertebral body having a posterior side and a lower vertebral body having a posterior side, comprising:

a) a resorbable container defining an internal cavity, the container having at least two throughholes,

b) a bone anchor having a shaft having a diameter adapted for insertion into the throughhole, and

c) a flowable, hardenable osteogenic composition.

22. The kit of claim 21 wherein the anchor comprises a shaft having a threaded outer surface.

23. The kit of claim 22 wherein the anchor comprises a proximal head having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the container throughhole.

24. The kit of claim 23 wherein the anchor comprises a shaft having a threaded outer surface.

25. The kit of claim 21 wherein the anchor is at least partially resorbable.

26. The kit of claim 21 wherein the container has a plurality of upper throughholes and a plurality of lower throughholes.

27. The kit of claim 21 wherein the container is a bag.

28. The kit of claim 21 wherein the container is flexible.

29. The kit of claim 21 wherein the container is resorbable.

30. The kit of claim 21 wherein the container is a balloon.

31. The kit of claim 21 wherein the composition is a putty.

32. The kit of claim 21 wherein the composition comprises an osteoinductive component.

33. The kit of claim 21 wherein the composition comprises an osteoconductive porous scaffold.

34. The kit of claim 21 wherein the composition is resorbable.

35. The kit of claim 21 wherein the composition comprises viable osteoprogenitor cells.

36. A container for fusing a functional spinal unit comprising an upper vertebral body having a posterior side and a lower vertebral body having a posterior side, comprising:

a) a resorbable shell having an outer sheet and an inner sheet defining an internal cavity therebetween,

b) an inlet port in fluid connection with the internal cavity,

c) an upper throughhole traversing the inner and outer sheets, and

d) a lower throughhole traversing the inner and outer sheets,

37. The container of claim 36 wherein the container has a plurality of upper throughholes.

38. The container of claim 36 wherein the container has a plurality of lower throughholes.

39. The container of claim 36 wherein the container is a bag.

40. The container of claim 36 wherein the container is flexible.

41. The container of claim 36 wherein the container is a mesh.

42. The container of claim 36 wherein the container is resorbable.

43. The container of claim 36 wherein the container is a balloon.

44. The container of claim 36 wherein the composition is a putty.

45. The container of claim 36 wherein the internal cavity contains an osteogenic composition.

46. The container of claim 36 wherein at least one of the inner and outer sheets is perforated to provide osteogenic communication to the internal cavity.

47. A method of treating bone, comprising the steps of:

a) placing a flowable, hardenable osteogenic composition adjacent to a bone, and

b) fixing the composition to the bone.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the composition is fixed to a vertebral body.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the composition is fixed to an anterior portion of a vertebral body.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the composition is fixed to a posterior portion of a vertebral body.