Peanut spectacle multi discoid thoraco-lumbar disc prosthesis

• US 20060074489A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bryan, Vincent
• Application Number:
  US11/286,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074489A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.130
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30742 Bellows or hose-like seals; Sealing membranes A61B17/8808 takes precedence; sealing membranes for retaining bone substitute A61F2/2846
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• 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 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30016 differing in hardness, e.g. Vickers, Shore, Brinell
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30121 with lobes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30123 with two diametrically opposed lobes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3013 figure-"8"- or hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30225 Flat cylinders, i.e. discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30253 ellipsoidal or ovoid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30673 Lubricating means, e.g. synovial pocket
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30822 : Circumferential grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30975 : made of two halves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 : having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• 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 2230/001 : Figure-8-shaped, e.g. hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0076 : ellipsoidal or ovoid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 : differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0019 : differing in hardness, e.g. Vickers, Shore, Brinell

Abstract

A disc prosthesis comprises a first prosthetic device comprising a first upper housing and a first lower housing between which at least one first disc element is movably interposed. The disc prosthesis further comprises a second prosthetic device comprising a second upper housing and a second lower housing between which at least one second disc element is movably interposed. The first and second prosthetic devices are adapted for parallel placement within an intervertebral space.

Claims

1. A disc prosthesis comprising:

a first prosthetic device comprising a first upper housing and a first lower housing between which at least one first disc element is movably interposed and

a second prosthetic device comprising a second upper housing and a second lower housing between which at least one second disc element is movably interposed,

wherein the first and second prosthetic devices are adapted for parallel placement within an intervertebral space.

2. The disc prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the at least one first disc element has opposite convex surfaces.

3. The disc prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the first prosthetic device further comprises a first post extending from the first upper housing and the at least one first disc element further comprises a recess portion into which the first post is adapted to extend.

4. The disc prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the first and second prosthetic devices are further adapted for separated placement within the intervertebral space.

5. The disc prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the first prosthetic device further comprises a first sheath extending between the first upper and lower housings.

6. The disc prosthesis of claim 5 wherein the first prosthetic device further comprises a circlage retainer for affixing the first sheath the first upper housing.

7. The disc prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the first upper housing comprises a pair of rounded lobes.

8. The disc prostheis of claim 1 wherein the first upper housing comprises a convex surface adapted to slidingly contact the at least one first disc element.

9. The disc prosthesis of claim 8 wherein the first lower housing comprises a convex surface adapted to slidingly contact the at least one first disc element.

10. The disc prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the at least one first disc element is adapted to rotate with respect to the first upper housing.

11. A minimally invasive method of installing a functional spinal unit comprising:

creating at least one posterior opening in a patient;

accessing an intervertebral disc space through the at least one posterior opening;

inserting a first prosthetic device into the intervertebral disc space, wherein the first prosthetic device comprises a first upper housing and a first lower housing between which at least one first disc element is movably interposed; and

inserting a second prosthetic device into the intervertebral disc space and into generally parallel alignment with the first prosthetic device, wherein the second prosthetic device comprises a second upper housing and a second lower housing between which at least one second disc element is movably interposed.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising engaging the first upper housing with an upper vertebral endplate and engaging the first lower housing with a lower vertebral endplate.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising engaging the second upper housing with the upper vertebral endplate and engaging the second lower housing with the lower vertebral endplate.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising inserting the first prosthetic device as a single unit.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one first disc element comprises a convex upper surface adapted for slidably engaging a convex surface of the first upper housing.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one first disc element comprises a convex lower surface adapted for slidably engaging a convex surface of the first lower housing.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the first and second prosthetic devices are inserted into the intervertebral disc space through the at least one posterior opening.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising limiting motion of the at least one first disc element relative to the first upper and lower housings with a post extending from one of the first housings into a recess in the at least one first disc element.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the first prosthetic device further comprises a sheath extending between the first upper and lower housings.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first prosthetic device further comprises a circlage retainer for affixing the sheath to the first upper housing.