Artificial total lumbar disc for unilateral safe and simple posterior placement in the lumbar spine, and removable bifunctional screw which drives vertical sliding expansile plate expansion, and interplate widening,and angled traction spikes

• US 20070198089A1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moskowitz Family LLC
• Original Assignee: Nathan C. Moskowitz
• Inventors: Glozman, Daniel, Moskowitz, Nathan, Moskowitz, Mosheh
• Granted Patent: US 7,854,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• 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 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30242 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30525 Worm gears
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• 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 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• 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 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0071 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 for adjusting thickness
• 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

Abstract

A total artificial expansile disc and a method for posterior insertion between a pair of vertebral endplates are disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc includes at least one pair of substantially parallel plates that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by the vertebral endplates. In another embodiment, each of substantially parallel plates includes a first plate and a second sliding plate. An expansion device or tool is used to move the substantially parallel pair of plates apart along the first axis. A core is disposed between the pair of plates, and the core permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. A ball limiter or ball extender prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates.

Claims

1. A total artificial expansile disc, comprising:

at least one pair of substantially parallel plates, that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates, each of said parallel plates including a first plate and a second sliding plate that moves along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis;

an expansion device, that moves the pair of plates along the first and second axes;

a core, disposed between the pair of plates, that permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another; and

a limiter which prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates.

2. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 1, wherein the limiter includes a substantially ring shaped member having a raised edge, and the core is disposed within said limiter.

3. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 2, wherein the limiter includes two substantially ring shaped members, wherein the core includes a pair of overhangs at the top and bottom of the core, and wherein the overhangs of the core are ensconced within the two ring shaped members of said limiter.

4. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 3, which further includes a trough disposed in the center of each parallel plate.

5. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 1, wherein the expansion device includes a plurality of bifunctional screws that move the substantially parallel plates along the first axis, and that move the second sliding plates with respect to the first plates along the second axis.

6. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 5, wherein the expansion device further includes a plurality of adjustment screws and worm nuts that have slots which cooperate with the bifunctional screws.

7. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 6, wherein the bifunctional screws include threads which cooperate with openings disposed on said first plate and which cooperate with the slots on the worm nuts, said worm nuts being internally threaded and cooperating with threads disposed on the adjustment screws.

8. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 7, wherein the expansion device expands the artificial expansile disc, and upon completion of the expansion, the expansion device is removed from the artificial expansile disc.

9. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 8, which further includes a pair of troughs that disposed between the substantially parallel plates and that receive the core.

10. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 1, wherein the substantially parallel plates include a plurality of obliquely oriented spikes.

11. A total artificial expansile disc, comprising:

a pair of substantially parallel plates, that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates;

an expansion device, that moves the pair of plates along the first axis;

a core, disposed between the pair of plates, that permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another; and

a limiter which prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates.

12. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 11, wherein the limiter includes at least a first substantially ring shaped member having a raised edge, and the core is disposed within said limiter.

13. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 12, wherein the limiter includes a second substantially ring shaped member, said first and second substantially ring shaped members include raised barriers that prevent the extrusion of the core.

14. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 13, wherein the first and second substantially ring shaped members rotate with respect to each other and at least one of the substantially ring shaped members fits into a groove formed in the core.

15. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 14, wherein the core includes an ellipsoidal shaped member having superior and inferior domes, and the groove is formed in the exterior periphery of the core.

16. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 15, wherein the substantially parallel plates include alignment holes.

17. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 11, wherein the substantially parallel plates an array of spikes, said spikes include pyramidal spikes disposed at the periphery of the plates, at least one conical spike disposed in the center of the plates and angled spikes surrounding the conical spike.

18. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 11, wherein the limiter includes a ring shaped member having raised edges that surround said core.

19. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 18, wherein the limiter includes a radiographic material surrounding said ring shaped member.

20. A total artificial expansile disc according to claim 19, wherein the core includes superior and inferior domes.

21. A tool for posteriorly inserting a total artificial expansile disc between vertebral endplates, said total artificial expansile disc including a pair of plates with first alignment members and with a plurality of spikes, comprising:

a pair of manipulators each having a cradle for each of said plates, said cradles including second alignment members for cooperating with the first alignment members of the plates; and

a wedge separator disposed between said pair of manipulators;

wherein the tool is used to posteriorly insert the pair of plates, disposed in the cradles of the separators, between a pair vertebral endplates;

wherein said wedge separator is used to separate said pair of plates; and

wherein the manipulators force the spikes of said plates into the vertebral end plates.

22. A tool for posteriorly inserting a total artificial expansile disc according to claim 21 wherein the separators include digit inserts for operator of the tool.

23. A tool for posteriorly inserting a total artificial expansile disc according to claim 22 wherein the wedge separator is attached by a transmission linkage to one of the manipulators.