Expandable vertebral body implants and methods of use

• US 20080021555A1
• Filed: 07/19/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Edie, Jason A., White, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,862,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3071 Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30795 Blind bores, e.g. of circular cross-section
• 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 2002/4628 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 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0085 : Identification means; Administration of patients

Abstract

A vertebral implant for insertion into a patient includes first and second end members that include recesses for engaging a spacer member and a distractor. The end plates include a bone contact surface and an oppositely facing surface. A peripheral surface extends around a perimeter of the end members. The recesses may extend inward from the oppositely facing surfaces. Further, the recesses may extend inward from the peripheral surfaces. The recesses for engaging the spacer member and distractor may be separate from each other or may intersect one another. A spacer may engage the end plates to establish a desired vertebral spacing. The spacer may be positioned between the implants after a desired distraction is obtained with a distractor that engages the end plates.

Claims

1. A vertebral implant for insertion between vertebral bodies in a patient, the vertebral implant comprising:

a first end member and a second end member, each end member including a bone contact surface to contact an endplate of one of the vertebral bodies, an opposing surface, and a perimeter surface extending therebetween, the end members further comprising a spacer recess and a distractor recess extending inward from the perimeter surface and the opposing surface; and

a spacer member positionable between the end members and having opposing ends sized to engage the spacer recesses of the first and second end members.

2. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the spacer recess and the distractor recess are separate from one another.

3. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the spacer recess and the distractor recess intersect one another.

4. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the first end member and the second end member are coupled to one another.

5. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the spacer recess and the distractor recess are separate from one another.

6. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the spacer implant includes a fixed height.

7. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the spacer implant includes an adjustable height.

8. A vertebral implant for insertion between vertebral bodies in a patient, the vertebral implant comprising:

a first end member and a second end member, each end member including a bone contact surface to contact an endplate of one of the vertebral bodies, an opposing surface, and a perimeter surface extending therebetween, the end members further comprising a spacer recess and a distractor recess extending inward from the perimeter surface and the opposing surface;

a first spacer member positionable within the cavity and having opposing ends sized to engage the spacer recesses of the first and second end members and having a first height when inserted into the spacer recesses of the first and second end members,

a second spacer member positionable within the cavity and having opposing ends sized to engage the spacer recesses of the first and second end members and having a second height when inserted into the spacer recesses of the first and second end members.

9. The vertebral implant of claim 8 further comprising a third spacer member positionable within the cavity and having opposing ends sized to engage the spacer recesses of the first and second end members and having a third height when inserted into the spacer recesses of the first and second end members.

10. The vertebral implant of claim 8 wherein the spacer recess and the distractor recess intersect one another.

11. A vertebral implant for insertion between vertebral bodies in a patient, the vertebral implant comprising:

a first end member and a second end member, each end member including a bone contact surface to contact an endplate of one of the vertebral bodies, an opposing surface, and a perimeter surface extending therebetween, the end members further comprising a spacer recess and a distractor recess;

a spacer member positionable between the end members and having opposing ends sized to engage the spacer recesses of the first and second end members, and

attachment members coupled to the first and second end plates to limit the motion of the first end plate relative to the second end plate.

12. The vertebral implant of claim 11 wherein the attachment members limit motion of the first end plate relative to the second end plate along a distraction direction.

13. The vertebral implant of claim 11 wherein the attachment members are slidably coupled to one another.

14. The vertebral implant of claim 11 wherein the attachment members are flexible tethers.

15. A method of inserting a vertebral implant between first and second vertebral bodies in a patient, the method comprising:

inserting a first end member with a first bone contact surface in contact with an endplate of the first vertebral body, the first end member including a first opposing surface facing substantially opposite the first bone contact surface and a first perimeter surface extending therebetween, the first end member further comprising a first spacer recess and a first distractor recess extending inward from the first perimeter surface and the first opposing surface;

inserting a second end member with a second bone contact surface in contact with an endplate of the second vertebral body, the second end member including a second opposing surface facing opposite the second bone contact surface and a second perimeter surface extending therebetween, the second end member further comprising a second spacer recess and a second distractor recess extending inward from the second perimeter surface and the second opposing surface;

inserting a distractor through the first and second peripheral walls to engage the first and second distractor recesses;

distracting the first and second vertebral bodies to a desired position by applying a distraction force to the first and second end plates with the distractor;

inserting a spacer member through the first and second peripheral walls to engage the first and second spacer recesses; and

removing the distractor through the first and second peripheral walls.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising removing the spacer member, distracting the first and second vertebral bodies to a second position, and inserting a second spacer member through the first and second peripheral walls to engage the first and second spacer recesses, the second spacer member having a height that is different than the spacer member.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of inserting a spacer member through the first and second peripheral walls to engage the first and second spacer recesses further comprises selecting the spacer member from a set comprising a plurality of spacer members, each including a different height.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the steps of inserting the distractor and inserting the spacer member comprise inserting each in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the distraction force is applied.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of distracting the first and second vertebral bodies to a desired position by applying a distraction force to the first and second end plates with the distractor further comprises constraining the relative motion of the first and second end plates to a distraction direction.

20. A method of inserting a vertebral implant between first and second vertebral bodies in a patient, the method comprising:

inserting a first end member with a first bone contact surface in contact with an endplate of the first vertebral body, the first end member including a first opposing surface facing substantially opposite the first bone contact surface and a first perimeter surface extending therebetween, the first end member further comprising a first spacer recess and a first distractor recess intersecting one another and extending inward from the first opposing surface;

inserting a second end member with a second bone contact surface in contact with an endplate of the second vertebral body, the second end member including a second opposing surface facing opposite the second bone contact surface and a second perimeter surface extending therebetween, the second end member further comprising a second spacer recess and a second distractor recess intersecting one another and extending inward from the second opposing surface;

engaging a distractor with the first and second distractor recesses;

distracting the first and second vertebral bodies to a desired position by applying a distraction force to the first and second end plates with the distractor;

inserting a spacer member to engage the first and second spacer recesses while the distractor remains engaged with the distractor recesses; and

removing the distractor after the spacer member engages the first and second spacer recesses.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein each of the first and second end members include respective first and second perimeter surfaces, the first and second spacer recesses and first and second distractor recesses extending inward from the first and second perimeter surfaces.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of inserting a spacer member to engage the first and second spacer recesses further comprises increasing a height of the spacer member from a first height at which the spacer member is inserted to a second height in which the spacer member engages the first and second spacer recesses.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of distracting the first and second vertebral bodies to a desired position by applying a distraction force to the first and second end plates with the distractor further comprises constraining the relative motion of the first and second end plates to a distraction direction.