Flanged interbody fusion device with locking plate

• US 20060235403A1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Spinal Elements, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Spinal Elements, Inc.
• Inventors: Blain, Jason
• Application Number:
  US11/374,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20060235403A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/88 Osteosynthesis instruments; Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal or external fixation devices A61B17/7074 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/8655 with special features for locking in the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/46 Special tools or methods for implanting or extracting artificial joints, accessories, bone grafts or substitutes, or particular adaptations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30166 H-shaped or I-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30378 Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30484 Mechanically expandable devices located on the first prosthetic part for locking into or onto the second prosthetic part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30495 using a locking ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30505 spring biased
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30514 : using a locking washer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 : using a locking plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 : having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 : Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3079 : Stepped or enlarged apertures, e.g. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3092 : having an open-celled or open-pored structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 : elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/449 : comprising multiple spinal implants located in different intervertebral spaces or in different vertebrae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• 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 2220/0091 : connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0028 : Shapes in the form of latin or greek characters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for treating the vertebral column. An integrated fixation plate and spacer having a retaining structure within the screw holes of the fixation plate to resist backout of screws attaching the fixation plate to the bone is provided. A movable joint may be provided between the fixation plate and spacer. In some embodiments, a screw hole insert is also provided to resist shear forces acting between the screw and fixation plate. In some embodiments, an integrated fixation plate and spacer system is provided, comprising two or more integrated fixation plate and spacer implants, wherein the fixation plates of each implant has a complementary configuration to allow attachment of the implants at adjacent intervertebral spaces. Alternative fixation systems are also contemplated.

Claims

1. An implant for treating the spine, comprising:

a fixation plate comprising an access surface and a bone facing surface, an upper portion, a lower portion, and at least one attachment lumen between the access surface and the bone facing surface;

a spacer connected to the bone facing surface of the fixation plate; and

a locking plate configured to overlie the at least one attachment lumen and comprising an alignment structure to non-frictionally resist rotation of the locking plate when the locking plate is partially attached to the fixation plate by a fastener.

2. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the fixation plate further comprises two attachment lumens and the locking plate overlies at least one of the two attachment lumens.

3. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 2, wherein the locking plate overlies both of the two attachment lumens.

4. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 2, wherein the fixation plate further comprises a third attachment lumen.

5. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 4, wherein the locking plate overlies the two attachment lumens and the third attachment lumen.

6. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 4, wherein the fixation plate further comprises a fourth attachment lumen.

7. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 6, wherein the locking plate overlies the two attachment lumens, the third attachment lumen and the fourth attachment lumen.

8. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the spacer comprises tissue engagement structures.

9. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 8, wherein the tissue engagement structures comprise teeth.

10. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the spacer is integral with the bone facing surface of the fixation plate.

11. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the spacer is connected to the bone facing surface of the fixation plate by an articulation joint.

12. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 10, wherein the articulation joint is separable.

13. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 10, wherein the articulation joint is non-separable.

14. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the fixation plate has a configuration complementary to the configuration of the upper portion of the fixation plate.

15. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the alignment structure comprises an elongate member and wherein the fixation plate further comprises an alignment lumen configured to accept the elongate member.

16. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 15, wherein the elongate member and the alignment lumen are configured to resist rotation of the elongate member when in the alignment lumen.

17. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the locking plate has an X-shaped configuration.

18. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the locking plate has an H-shaped configuration.

19. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 15, wherein the locking plate further comprises a second alignment structure and wherein the fixation plate further comprises a second alignment lumen configured for accepting the second alignment structure.

20. The implant for treating the spine as in claim 2, wherein the locking plate overlies one of the two attachment lumens and the implant further comprises a second locking plate overlying the other of the two attachment lumens.

21. An implant for treating the spine, comprising:

a flanged intervertebral spacer comprising a spacer body and a flange section, the flange section comprising an access surface and a bone facing surface, an upper portion, a lower portion, four attachment lumens between the access surface and the bone facing surface and two alignment lumens;

a locking plate comprising four attachment cover sections and two alignment pins, wherein the four attachment cover sections are configured to cover the four attachment lumens of the flange section and the two alignment pins are configured for insertion into the two alignment lumens of the flange section.