Intervertebral devices and methods

• US 20070118222A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vertegen, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vertegen, Inc.
• Inventors: Lang, Philipp
• Application Number:
  US11/602,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20070118222A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.120
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• 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 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 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30291 spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30586 having two or more inflatable pockets or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30588 filled with solid particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

An expandable device for spinal fusion or vertebral disc replacement that is inserted via a minimally invasive surgery approach and that is expanded inside the vertebral disc space. The device is configured to expand in at least one of a medial, a lateral, an anterior, a posterior, a superior and an inferior direction and to restrict further expansion of at least one of the medial, lateral, anterior and posterior direction after reaching a maximum allowing further expansion in superior or inferior direction.

Claims

1. An intervertebral device for stabilizing two adjacent vertebrae in a spine comprising an expandable structure configured to expand in situ into an intervertebral disc space in at least one of a medial, a lateral, an anterior, a posterior, a superior and an inferior direction and wherein said structure restricts further expansion of at least one of the medial, lateral, anterior and posterior direction after reaching a maximum allowing further expansion in superior or inferior direction and wherein said structure defines a hollow cavity.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein at least one membrane covers at least part of the hollow cavity.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device is collapsible.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said structure comprises at least one element selected form the group consisting of rod-like, bar-like, pillar-like, column-like, sheet-like, pane-like, mesh-like, net-like, lattice-like, ring-like, spiral-like, coil-like, strut-like element.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said elements are assembled in a first orientation and adopt a second orientation in situ allowing expansion or collapse of the structure.

6. The device according to claim 4 wherein said elements change orientation.

7. The device according to claim 4 wherein elements are interconnected.

8. The device according to claim 4 wherein the elements are interdigitated.

9. The device according to claim 4 wherein the elements are superposed.

10. The device of claim 3 wherein said device is inserted into an intervertebral disk space in a collapsible configuration and wherein the device is expanded in situ in an expanded configuration.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the expanded configuration has a final volume sized to consume at least a portion of the intervertebral disk space.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the medial, lateral dimensions and the anterior, posterior dimensions of expanded configuration remain unchanged under loading conditions.

13. The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one membrane is covering the entirety of the cavity and defines at least one sealed cavity.

14. The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one membrane is bioresorbable.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein a filling material is delivered within the hollow cavity of the device.

16. The device of claim 2 wherein a filling material is delivered within the at least one membrane.

17. The device of claim 2 wherein at least one membrane is semi-permeable.

18. The device of claim 10 wherein the medial, lateral and the anterior, posterior dimensions of said expanded configuration substantially correspond to at least a portion of a vertebral endplate.

19. The device of claim 3 wherein the anterior and posterior dimensions of said expanded configuration reestablish a normal curvature of the spine.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein said structure is self-expanding.

21. The device of claim 2 wherein at least one element is made of a shape memory material.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the shape memory material is Nitinol.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the shape memory material is temperature responsive.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein said structure is bioresorbable.

25. The device of claim 2 wherein at least one element is made of a material that selected from a group of corrosive metal or corrosive metal alloys.

26. The device of claim 15 wherein said filling material includes a hardenable material.

27. The device of claim 15 wherein said filling material is a compressible liquid or gel.

28. The device of claim 15 wherein said filling material is a non-compressible liquid or gel.

29. The device of claim 15 wherein said filling material comprises at least one osteobiologic material selected from the group consisting of BMP/bone morphogenetic proteins, LMP/LIM mineralization protein, and DBM/Demineralized bone matrix, growth differentiation factors (GDF), transforming growth factors (TGF), hydroxyapatite, tri-calcium phosphate (TCP), bioactive glass, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfates, collagen, alginate.

30. The device of claim 15 wherein the filling material is solid.

31. The device of claim 15 wherein the filling material is semi-solid.

32. The device of claim 15 wherein said filling material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of hydroxyaptite spheres, plastic spheres, polymeric, ceramic and metal.

33. The device of claim 10 wherein a cross-sectional shape of the expanded configuration is selected from the group consisting of kidney-shaped, C-shaped, rectangular, square, cylindrical, capsule, U-shaped, V-shaped, X-shaped, oval-like, spherical and “

O”

or donut shaped.

34. The device of claim 10 wherein the expanded configuration of said device is O-shaped and wherein said device has a footprint substantially corresponding to a perimeter of two adjacent vertebral endplates.

35. The device of claim 1 wherein said structure has regions of differential rigidity or extensibility.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the rigidity of an anterior area of the outer structure is lesser than the rigidity of a posterior area of said outer structure and whereupon filling the cavity of said device expansion of the anterior area is greater than expansion of the posterior area.

37. The device of claim 3 wherein the device is introduced into the intervertebral disk space in said collapsible configuration via a hollow catheter or cannula.

38. The device of claim 3 wherein the device is introduced into the intervertebral disk space using a minimally invasive approach.

39. The device of claim 15 wherein said structure is removed after injection of the filling material.

40. The device of claim 39 wherein said structure is removed in a collapsible configuration.

41. The device of claim 32 wherein said mesh structure is removed via a catheter or cannula.

42. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is used for intervertebral fusion.

43. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is used as a vertebral disc replacement.

44. A method for stabilizing two adjacent vertebrae in a spine comprising

a. comprising an expandable structure configured to expand in situ into an intervertebral disc space in at least one of a medial, a lateral, an anterior, a posterior, a superior and an inferior direction and wherein said structure restricts further expansion of at least one of the medial, lateral, anterior and posterior direction after reaching a maximum allowing further expansion in superior or inferior direction and wherein said structure defines a hollow cavity.

b. filling the hollow cavity with an a filler material thereby expanding the device in the intervertebral disc space in an extended configuration wherein said structure restricts radial expansion of said device.