Posterior modular disc replacement system

• US 20070129730A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K2M, Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: K2M, Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Woods, Richard, Mathews, Hallett, Donald, Gordon, Guyer, Richard, Abitol, Jean-Jaques, Theofolis, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,603,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/99
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30622 Implant for fusing a joint or bone material
• 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 2002/30672 temporary
• 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 2002/4677 using a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable

Abstract

Provided is a system and devices for use in the treatment and repair of moveable skeletal joints in the body of a subject. In particular, the present invention relates to the complete or partial posterior modular disc replacement of damaged or diseased fibrocartilage intervertebral discs in a subject wherein the replacement disc is capable of rotation and translation articulation.

Claims

1. A novel system for posterior modular disc replacement, comprising:

a guide wire,

an insertion cannula having a through lumen through which said guide wire is capable of slidably passing,

at least one end plate element that is capable of slidably passing circumferentially along the length of said guide wire and is sized and configured to slidably pass through said lumen, said end plate comprising at least two opposing bodies adjacent one to the other,

at least one spreader bearing that is capable of slidably passing circumferentially along the length of said guide wire and is sized and configured to slidably pass through said lumen, said bearing also being sized and configured to be inserted between said opposing bodies.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said spreader bearing is capable of effecting the spreading apart of said opposing bodies relative to each other,

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising at least one insertion tool that is sized and configured to pass along said guide wire so as to make forceful contact with said spreader bearing,

whereby said spreader bearing can be forced into a position between said opposing bodies so as to effect the spreading apart of said opposing bodies one from the other.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one locking element sized and configured to slidably pass circumferentially over said guide wire, said at least one locking element being capable of being selectively secured to said guide wire.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said at least one locking element can be selectively released from a locked position on said guide wire.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one banding element positioned around said opposing bodies to hold said opposing bodies in relative position one to the other.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said at least one banding element is elastic and capable of allowing movement of said opposing bodies away from each other when force is applied to said opposing bodies through said spreader bearing.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said at least one banding element is bio-absorbable after said opposing bodies have been spread apart one from the other.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second guide wire, said second guide wire being capable of insertion from an opposing direction to said first guide wire and being configured for connection to said first guide wire.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said connection of said first guide wire to said second guide wire is a connection type selected from the group consisting of quick release, bayonet fitting, leur-lock, and screw-type fitting.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said connection of first and second guide wires is a releasable attachment.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a scooping element sized and configured to be inserted from the opposite direction of said guide wire and configured to receive a terminal end of said guide wire during the insertion process and direct the path of side guide wire.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said terminal end of said guide wire is a blunt end.

15. The system of claim 1, comprising two end plate elements, each of said end plate elements being aligned sequentially along said guide wire.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said two end plates are separated one from the other by an end plate spacer element.

26. A method of using the novel system of claim 1, the method comprising:

positioning said guide wire in a joint space of a moveable joint of a subject,

slidably moving said at least one end plate along said guide wire into a desired position within said joint space,

slidably moving said at least one spreader bearing along said guide wire until said spreader bearing makes contact with said end plate and effects the spreading apart of said opposing bodies of said end plate relative one to the other,

removing said guide wire.

8. The system of claim 46 wherein said at least one banding element is capable of fracturing and allowing movement of said opposing bodies away from each other when force is applied to said opposing bodies through said spreader bearing.

17. A novel device for replacing all or a portion of fibrocartilage tissue within a moveable joint of a subject, comprising:

at least one end plate element that is sized and configured for placement with a moveable joint space of a subject, said end plate comprising at least two opposing bodies adjacent one to the other,

at least one spreader bearing that is sized and configured to be inserted between said opposing bodies.

18. The device of claim 18, wherein said spreader bearing provides an articulation surface between the opposing inner surfaces of said opposing bodies.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said spreader bearing is sized and configured to effect a spreading apart of said opposing bodies one form the other.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein said opposing bodies comprise gripping elements on the respective outer surfaces of said opposing bodies, said gripping elements being capable of providing a secure contact with adjacent vertebral bone material.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein said fibrocartilage tissue is an intervertebral disc.

23. The device of claim 18, further comprising at least one banding element positioned around said opposing bodies to hold said opposing bodies in relative position one to the other.

19. The device of claim 19, wherein said articulation of said opposing bodies one in relation to each other comprise rotation and translation.

24. The device of claim 24, wherein said at least one banding element is capable of fracturing and allowing movement of said opposing bodies away from each other when force is applied to said opposing bodies through said spreader bearing.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said at least one banding element is bio-absorbable after said opposing bodies have been spread apart one from the other.

27. A kit for use in a surgical procedure, said kit comprising:

a guide wire,

an insertion cannula having a through lumen along its longitudinal axis through which said guide wire is capable of slidably passing,

at least one end plate element that is capable of slidably passing circumferentially along the length of said guide wire and is sized and configured to slidably pass through the lumen of said insertion cannula, said end plate comprising at least two opposing bodies adjacent one to the other.

28. The kit of claim 28, further comprising at least one spreader bearing that is capable of slidably passing circumferentially along the length of said guide wire and is sized and configured to slidably pass through the lumen of said insertion cannula, said bearing also being sized and configured to be forcefully inserted between said opposing bodies so as to effect the spreading apart of said opposing bodies relative to each other.

29. The kit of claim 29, further comprising at least one insertion tool that can be manually operated and is sized and configured to pass along said guide wire so as to make forceful contact with said spreader bearing, and a sealable packaging container.