Expandable implant device with interchangeable spacer

• US 20070050030A1
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard Kim
• Original Assignee: Richard Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/508,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20070050030A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8858 laterally or radially expansible inflatable A61B17/8855
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2/4455 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/482 Electrical means
• 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 2002/30079 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 using a locking plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• 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 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 : Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30891 : Plurality of protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4622 : having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4628 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4658 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 : magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped

Abstract

An implantable device that is expandable in vivo includes two end pieces and a spacer configured to be inserted between the two end pieces in vivo. The two end pieces are configured to be inserted simultaneously without the spacer. After the two end pieces have been inserted and positioned as desired, the spacer is inserted between the two end pieces in vivo to maintain a desired amount of separation between the two end pieces. The two end pieces each provide contoured surfaces for engaging and holding the spacer between the end pieces.

Claims

1. A method of inserting an implantable device having two end pieces and a spacer configured to be positioned between the two end pieces, the method comprising:

simultaneously inserting the two end pieces into a surgical site of a patient;

applying a force to separate the end pieces away from each other in vivo;

inserting the spacer between the two end pieces while maintaining the separation force between the two end pieces; and

releasing the separation force, wherein the spacer maintains a desired separation distance between the two end pieces.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining when a desired amount of force has been exerted to separate the end pieces; and

determining a distance of separation between the end pieces when the desired amount of force is exerted, wherein the spacer is selected from a plurality of spacers having different sizes based on the distance of separation.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the force is determined based on a tactile feel of a surgeon while manually applying the force via an insertion tool used to insert the two end pieces.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the force is determined using a force gauge coupled to an insertion tool used to insert the two end pieces.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the distance is determined using a distance gauge coupled to an insertion tool used to insert the two end pieces.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the surgical site is a site located between two vertebral bodies after at least one intermediate vertebral body has been removed, the method further comprising securing the two end pieces to respective ones of the two vertebral bodies.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the surgical site is a site located between two vertebral bodies after an intermediate disk has been removed, the method further comprising securing the two end pieces to respective ones of the two vertebral bodies.

8. An implantable device that is expandable in vivo, comprising:

a first end piece having a top surface and a contoured bottom surface;

a second end piece having a bottom surface and a contoured top surface, wherein the first and second end pieces are configured to be inserted simultaneously into a surgical site of a patient with the contoured bottom surface of the first end piece facing the contoured top surface of the second end piece; and

a spacer configured to be inserted between the first and second end pieces in vivo, the spacer having a first contoured surface configured to engage the contoured bottom surface of the first end piece, and a second contoured surface configured to engage the contoured top surface of the second end piece.

9. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein:

the first end piece comprises at least one first hole configured to receive at least one first prong of a first insertion tool; and

the second end piece comprises at least one second hole configured to receive at least one second prong of the first insertion tool, wherein the first and second end pieces are configured to be inserted simultaneously into a surgical site within a patient and thereafter separated from each other in vivo by the first and second prongs.

10. The implantable device of claim 9 wherein the spacer comprises:

a third hole configured to receive a prong of a second insertion tool; and

a tapered leading edge portion to facilitate insertion of the spacer between the first and second end pieces in vivo.

11. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein:

the first end piece comprises a first window formed through the top surface and contoured bottom surface of the first end piece; and

the second end piece comprises a second window formed through the bottom surface and contoured top surface of the second end piece; and

the spacer comprises a third window formed through the first and second contoured surfaces of the spacer, wherein when the spacer is inserted between the first and second end pieces in vivo, the first, second and third windows form one continuous window through the implantable device so as to allow bone or tissue growth therethrough.

12. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein:

the first end piece comprises a first plurality of retractable anchoring elements; and

the second end piece comprises a second plurality of retractable anchoring elements, wherein the first and second plurality of retractable anchoring elements are maintained in a retracted state during insertion of the first and second end pieces into the surgical site, and retracted outwardly through the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, when the spacer is inserted between the first and second end pieces in vivo.

13. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the spacer and the first and second end pieces have shapes which are substantially symmetrical about a central axis.

14. The implantable device of claim 8 further comprising at least one magnetic element for providing a magnetic force between the spacer and at least one of the first and second end pieces.

15. The implantable device of claim 14 wherein the magnetic force comprises a magnetic repulsion force for dynamically cushioning axial loads between the spacer and at least one of the first and second end pieces.

16. The implantable device of claim 14 wherein the magnetic force comprises a magnetic attraction force between the spacer and at least one of the first and second end pieces.

17. The implantable device of claim 8 wherein the spacer and the first and second end pieces are configured to fit together so as to provide a desired curvature.

18. A method of providing an expandable spinal implant device that is customizable in real-time during surgery, comprising:

providing a first end piece having a top surface and a contoured bottom surface;

providing a second end piece having a bottom surface and a contoured top surface, wherein the first and second end pieces are configured to be inserted simultaneously into a surgical site of a patient with the contoured bottom surface of the first end piece facing the contoured top surface of the second end piece;

providing a plurality of interchangeable spacers of various heights, wherein each spacer is configured to be inserted between the first and second end pieces in vivo after the first and second end pieces have been inserted, each spacer having a first surface, configured to engage the contoured bottom surface of the first end piece, and a second surface configured to engage the contoured top surface of the second end piece, wherein each one of the plurality of spacers is configured to maintain a specified amount of separation between the first and second end pieces.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing an insertion tool set configured to simultaneously insert the first and second end pieces into the surgical site, the insertion tool set being further configured to distract the end pieces in vivo to a desired extent and thereafter insert a selected one of the plurality of spacers between the first and second end pieces in vivo.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing a distance gauge coupled to the insertion tool set, wherein the distance gauge indicates a distance of separation between the first and second end pieces when a desired force has been exerted to distract the first and second end pieces in vivo.