Intervertebral disc implants and methods for manufacturing and using the same

• US 20060136064A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sherman, Michael C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,901,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3094 Designing or manufacturing processes
• 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 2002/30069 elastomeric
• 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 2002/30291 spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30293 Cylindrical body made by spirally rolling up a sheet or a strip around itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30505 spring biased
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2400/16 Materials with shape-memory or superelastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/38 for reconstruction of the spine, vertebrae or intervertebral discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/446 with other specific inorganic fillers other than those covered by A61L27/443 or A61L27/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/52 : Hydrogels or hydrocolloids

Abstract

Described are intervertebral disc implants that include an elastomeric polymer body, especially a hydrogel body, and a superelastic element. Also described are methods for making and using such implants.

Claims

1. An intervertebral disc implant, comprising:

an elastomeric polymer body sized for introduction into a disc space; and

a superelastic element within the elastomeric body.

2. The intervertebral disc implant of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric polymer body is water-swellable.

3. The intervertebral disc implant of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric polymer body comprises a hydrogel.

4. The intervertebral disc implant of claim 1, wherein the superelastic element comprises a superelastic metal alloy.

5. The intervertebral disc implant of claim 4, wherein the superelastic metal alloy is a nickel-titanium alloy.

6. The intervertebral disc implant of claim 1, wherein said elastomeric polymer body and said superelastic element are elongate.

7. The intervertebral disc implant of claim 6, wherein the implant has a spiral-form relaxed configuration.

8. The intervertebral disc implant of claim 7, wherein the implant is forcibly configurable to a substantially straight configuration.

24. A system for treating an intervertebral disc, comprising:

an intervertebral disc implant according to claim 1;

and

at least one additional device for treating the intervertebral disc.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said additional device includes one or more of an endoscope, a tissue disrupting device, a tissue dissection device, and a tissue retraction cannula.

9. A method for manufacturing an intervertebral disc implant, comprising:

providing a superelastic element; and

incorporating the superelastic element within an elastomeric polymer body sized for introduction within a spinal disc space.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the elastomeric polymer body is water-swellable.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the elastomeric polymer body comprises a hydrogel.

12. The method of claim 11, which comprises molding the hydrogel around the superelastic element.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the superelastic element comprises a superelastic metal alloy.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the superelastic metal alloy is a nickel-titanium alloy.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the implant has a spiral-form relaxed configuration.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the implant is forcibly configurable to a substantially straight configuration, and has a relaxed configuration differing from said straight configuration.

17. A method for providing an intervertebral disc implant in a patient, comprising:

providing an opening in a disc annulus of the patient; and

introducing through the opening and into a space defined by the disc annulus an intervertebral disc implant, said disc implant including an elastomeric polymer body sized for introduction into said space and a superelastic element within the elastomeric body.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the elastomeric polymer body comprises a hydrogel.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the superelastic element comprises a superelastic metal alloy.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein during said introducing, said implant has a first configuration, and after said introducing, said implant has a second configuration differing from said first configuration.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said first configuration is substantially straight.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said second configuration is a spiral.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said first configuration is substantially straight.