METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AN INTERVERTEBRAL DISC IMPLANT

• US 20070198025A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lim, Roy, Justis, Jeff, Trieu, Hai
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• 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 2002/30056 differing in radiographic density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• 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 2002/30179 X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30291 spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2D spiral cross-section
• 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 2002/30594 slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30719 : Means for cleaning prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30827 : Plurality of grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30838 : Microstructures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30891 : Plurality of protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30906 : shot- sand- or grit-blasted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30909 : Nets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30925 : etched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30957 : using a positive or a negative model, e.g. moulds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 : elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 : for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4495 : having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4622 : having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• 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 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0058 : X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0032 : differing in radiographic density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0092 : Means for cleaning prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• 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

Abstract

A method for implanting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus in an intervertebral disc nucleus space includes: (a) providing a disc nucleus implant instrument having a passageway for passing a prosthetic disc nucleus, and a dilator for dilating an opening in a disc annulus; (b) providing a prosthetic disc nucleus having a first configuration and a second configuration, where the first configuration presents a first cross-sectional size and said second configuration presents a second cross-sectional size, with the first cross-sectional size being larger than the second cross-sectional size; (c) making a hole in the annulus of a disc receiving the prosthetic disc nucleus, with the hole having an undilated size that is smaller than the first cross-sectional size of said prosthetic disc nucleus; (d) providing the prosthetic disc nucleus in its second configuration in the passageway of said disc nucleus implant instrument; (e) introducing the dilator of the disc nucleus implant instrument into the hole in the disc annulus while said hole is not fully dilated; (f) causing the dilator to dilate the hole in the disc annulus; (g) passing the prosthetic disc nucleus through the dilator and into the disc nucleus space while the disc annulus is dilated and the prosthetic disc nucleus is in its second configuration; (h) withdrawing the disc nucleus implant instrument and allowing the disc annulus to return to a size smaller that its dilated size; and (i) causing or allowing the prosthetic disc nucleus to assume its first configuration. The disc nucleus implant instrument may also include an activator for causing the dilator to dilate.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A disc nucleus implant instrument comprising:

(a) a passageway effective for passing a material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, said passageway having a proximal end and a distal end; and

(b) a dilator at the distal end of said passageway, said dilator being effective for dilating an opening in a disc annulus.

40. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 39 wherein said disc nucleus implant instrument further includes an activator for causing the dilator to dilate.

41. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 40 wherein said activator includes a lever for activating said dilator.

42. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 40 wherein said activator includes an inclined plane for activating said dilator.

43. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 40 wherein said activator includes a screw for activating said dilator.

44. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 39 wherein said dilator comprises at least two arms for dilating a hole in a disc annulus.

45. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 44 wherein at least one of said at least two arms is fixed with respect to said passageway for passing a prosthetic disc nucleus.

46. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 44 wherein at least two of said at least two arms are movable with respect to said passageway for passing a prosthetic disc nucleus.

47. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 44 wherein said disc nucleus implant instrument further includes an activator for causing the dilator to dilate.

48. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 47 wherein at least one of said at least two arms is fixed with respect to said passageway for passing a prosthetic disc nucleus.

49. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 47 wherein at least two of said at least two arms are movable with respect to said passageway for passing a prosthetic disc nucleus.

50. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 47 wherein said activator includes a lever for activating said dilator and for causing at least one of said at least two arms to move and to dilate a hole in a disc annulus.

51. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 47 wherein said activator includes an inclined plane for activating said dilator and for causing at least one of said at least two arms to move and to dilate a hole in a disc annulus.

52. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 47 wherein said activator includes a screw for activating said dilator and for causing at least one of said at least two arms to move and to dilate a hole in a disc annulus.

53. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 39 wherein said disc nucleus implant instrument further includes a locking mechanism for holding said dilator in a dilating position.

54. The device of claim 44 wherein at least one of said pair of opposing arms is shorter than the other of said pair of opposing arms.

55-58. -58. (canceled)