Posterior Articular Disc and Method for Implantation

• US 20070118223A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Allard, Randall, Finazzo, Anthony, Conta, Robert, Bryan, Vincent, Kunzler, Alex, Gil, Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.130
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• 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 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30332 Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30364 Rotation about the common longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30461 sutured, ligatured or stitched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30474 using an intermediate sleeve interposed between both prosthetic parts to be coupled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30495 using a locking ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30571 Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30662 with rotation-limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30663 multiaxial, e.g. biaxial; multipolar, e.g. bipolar or having an intermediate shell articulating between the ball and the socket
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30665 Dual arrangement of two adjacent ball-and-socket joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30685 Means for reducing or preventing the generation of wear particulates
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30738 Sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30906 shot- sand- or grit-blasted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30925 etched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• 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 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 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00161 : Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00167 : Diamond or diamond-like carbon
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00203 : containing alumina or aluminium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00239 : containing zirconia or zirconium oxide ZrO2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite

Abstract

A method for implanting an articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis into an intervertebral disc space comprises surgically accessing the intervertebral disc space through an opening on a first lateral side of the intervertebral disc space and inserting a first half of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis through the opening and into the intervertebral disc space. The method further comprises inserting a second half of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis through the opening on the first lateral side of the intervertebral disc space and positioning the first half of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis on a second lateral side of the intervertebral disc space. The method also comprises positioning the second half of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis on the first lateral side of the intervertebral disc space.

Claims

1. A method for implanting an articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis into an intervertebral disc space, the method comprising:

surgically accessing the intervertebral disc space through an opening on a first lateral side of the intervertebral disc space;

inserting a first half of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis through the opening and into the intervertebral disc space;

inserting a second half of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis through the opening on the first lateral side of the intervertebral disc space;

positioning the first half of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis on a second lateral side of the intervertebral disc space; and

positioning the second half of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis on the first lateral side of the intervertebral disc space.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting the second half comprises:

engaging the first half and advancing the first half from the first lateral side of the intervertebral disc space and into at least a portion of the second lateral side.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first half takes an arcuate path from the first lateral side to the second lateral side.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the arcuate path is milled into an endplate of a vertebra adjacent the intervertebral disc space.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first half takes a generally linear path from the first lateral side to the second lateral side.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising advancing the first and second halves so that a portion of each of the halves is positioned on the first lateral side and an opposite portion of each of the halves is positioned on the second lateral side.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising displacing bone to create a passage in a vertebral endplate adjacent the intervertebral disc space.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising locating a protrusion of the first half into a prepared depression in an endplate of a vertebra adjacent the intervertebral disc space.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising anchoring the second half of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis to bone or annulus tissue.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising limiting expulsion of the second half of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis by cutting a stepped cavity adjacent to the opening.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting the first half to the second half with a tethering device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first half is kidney shaped.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first half is oval shaped.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second halves each comprise an upper shell component, a lower shell component, and a central articulating body, wherein the central articulating bodies are curved to permit a single arc of motion between the central articulating bodies and the respective upper shell components and a single arc of motion between the central articulating bodies and the respective lower shell components.

15. An articulating intervertebral system for interposition between two vertebral endplates comprising:

a first half comprising upper and lower components and a central body adapted to articulate between the upper and lower components, and

a second half comprising upper and lower components and a central body adapted to articulate between the upper and lower components,

wherein the first and second halves are adapted for implantation entirely within an intervertebral disc space between the two vertebral endplates.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the central bodies of the first and second halves comprise upper and lower surfaces, each of the surfaces curved to permit flexion-extension motion.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein each of the surfaces is curved to further permit lateral bending motion.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the upper and lower components of both halves are oval shaped.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of the lower components comprises a post and the corresponding central body comprises a recess for receiving the post.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the upper curved surfaces are curved to produce a single arc of motion between the halves when implanted.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the lower curved surfaces are curved to produce a single arc of motion between the halves when implanted.

22. A method of implanting a vertebral disc prosthesis comprising:

inserting a first kidney-shaped component of the vertebral disc prosthesis through a lateral opening in an annulus wall into a first position and

inserting a second kidney-shaped component of the vertebral disc prosthesis through the lateral opening in the annulus wall to contact the first component and move the first component from the first position.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the first component moves from the first position along a curved path.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the first component moves from the first position along a generally linear path transversing an intervertebral disc space.

25. An intervertebral implant for implantation between a pair of adjacent vertebral endplates, the implant comprising:

a first spring member comprising a first pair of bone contacting elements and

a polymeric body encasing at least a portion of the first spring member, wherein the bone contacting elements are adapted to directly engage the adjacent vertebral endplates.

26. The implant of claim 25 wherein the first spring member is encased by being integrally molded into the polymeric body.

27. The implant of claim 25 further comprising a second spring member comprising a second pair of bone contacting elements.

28. The implant of claim 25 wherein the first spring member is encased in an at least partial compression.

29. The implant of claim 25 wherein the polymeric body is formed to provide a lordotic angle between 8 and 12 degrees.

30. The implant of claim 25 wherein the first spring member comprises an angled spring arm extending between the bone contacting elements.

31. The implant of claim 25 wherein the bone contacting elements are adapted for insertion into corresponding prepared recesses in the adjacent vertebral endplates.

32. The implant of claim 25 wherein the bone contacting elements comprise a titanium ingrowth surface.

33. A method for implanting an intervertebral disc prosthesis into an intervertebral disc space, the method comprising:

surgically accessing the intervertebral disc space through an opening on a first lateral side of the intervertebral disc space;

inserting a component of the articulating intervertebral disc prosthesis through the opening and into the intervertebral disc space;

guiding a leading end of the component along a curved path; and

lodging a protrusion extending from the component into an adjacent vertebral endplate.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of lodging further comprises lodging the protrusion into a prepared pocket in the adjacent vertebral endplate.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

removing bone along the curved path.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the protrusion extends from a trailing end portion of the first component.

37. The method of claim 33 further comprising lodging a plurality of protrusions into the adjacent vertebral endplate.