Intervertebral implant for the lumbosacral articulation

• US 20070203491A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer SA (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Spine
• Inventors: Pasquet, Denis, Renaud, Christian, Le Couedic, Regis, Senegas, Jacques
• Granted Patent: US 7,704,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7053 with parts attached to bones or to each other by flexible wires, straps, sutures or cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7055 connected to sacrum, pelvis or skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7062 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs rib fixation devices A61B17/8076; Tools for such devices

Abstract

The invention provides an intervertebral implant for the lumbo-sacral joint, the implant consisting in a spacer suitable for being placed between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the sacral vertebra articulated thereto, the body of said spacer presenting in its top face a groove extending in the midplane of the spacer and suitable for receiving the spinous process of said lumbar vertebra. A longitudinal housing oriented orthogonally to said groove is formed in the bottom face and is suitable for receiving the top portion of the sacral vertebra. The longitudinal housing is defined by an extension and by a tab of which narrower than the width of the body of the spacer. The section of the housing in the midplane of the spacer is generally U-shaped, being inclined relative to the bottom groove.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. An intervertebral implant for the lumbo-sacral joint, comprising a spacer suitable for being placed between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the sacral vertebra articulated thereto, the body of said spacer presenting opposite top and bottom end faces, wherein a groove extending along a midplane of the spacer is formed in the top end face and is suitable for receiving the spinous process of said lumbar vertebra, and wherein a longitudinal housing extending orthogonally to said groove is formed in the bottom end face and is suitable for receiving the top portion of the sacral vertebra in such a manner that said spacer rests directly on said top portion.

16. The implant according to claim 15, wherein the body of said spacer presents first and second opposite side faces into which said groove opens out, and presents at its bottom end an extension having a first side extending along the first side face and a second side that is opposite from its first side and that defines a setback relative to the second side face of the body of the spacer, and wherein the spacer includes a tab of width narrower than the width of the body of the spacer in the direction orthogonal to the midplane of the spacer, connected to the body of the spacer, and extending facing the second side of said extension in such a manner that the inside face of said tab facing the second side of the extension cooperates with said second side to define the outline of said housing.

17. The implant according to claim 16, wherein a section of said housing in the midplane of the spacer is generally U-shaped, and the midplane of said housing is not orthogonal to the midplane defined by the bottom of said groove.

18. The implant according to claim 17, wherein the midplane of said housing is inclined relative to the midplane defined by the bottom of said groove by an angle lying in the range of 40°

to 80°

.

19. The implant according to claim 16, wherein the inside face of said tab is convex.

20. The implant according to claim 16, wherein a zone of the inside face of the tab is inclined relative to the midplane defined by the bottom of said groove by an angle A lying in the range of 60°

to 80°

.

21. The implant according to claim 20, wherein the angle A is about 70°

.

22. The implant according to claim 16, wherein a portion of the second side of the extension is inclined relative to the midplane defined by the bottom of said groove at an angle B lying in the range of 40°

to 70°

.

23. The implant according to claim 22, wherein the angle B lies in the range of 50°

to 60°

.

24. The implant according to claim 16, wherein a notch is formed in said extension facing said tab.

25. The implant according to claim 16, wherein the spacer further comprises first fastener means for fastening the body of the spacer to said spinous process of the lumbar vertebra.

26. The implant according to claim 16, wherein the spacer further comprises second fastener means for fastening the body of the spacer to said sacral vertebra.

27. The implant according to claim 26, wherein said fastener means comprises a strap and a fastener system secured to the body of said spacer.

28. The implant according to claim 27, wherein a hold is formed in the body of said spacer and opens out into the bottom of said housing in the vicinity of said tab, and is suitable for receiving a portion of a strap.

29. A method of limiting the displacement of the fifth lumbar vertebra relative to the sacral vertebra articulated to said fifth lumbar vertebra, the method comprising putting a intervertebral implant according to claim 15 into place between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the sacral vertebra, wherein the spacer of the implant is caused to rest directly on the top portion of the sacral vertebra in such a manner that the top portion is received in said longitudinal housing of the spacer.

30. A method of limiting the displacement of the fifth lumbar vertebra relative to the sacral vertebra articulated to said fifth lumbar vertebra, the method comprising putting an intervertebral implant according to claim 16 into place between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the sacral vertebra, wherein the spacer of the implant is caused to rest directly on the top portion of the sacral vertebra in such a manner that the top portion is received in said longitudinal housing of the spacer.