Expandable vertebral implant and methods of use

• US 20080021556A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Edie, Jason A.
• Application Number:
  US11/491,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30742 Bellows or hose-like seals; Sealing membranes A61B17/8808 takes precedence; sealing membranes for retaining bone substitute A61F2/2846
• 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 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30113 circular
• 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 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30476 locked by an additional locking mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30584 filled with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30588 filled with solid particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4495 : having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4693 : hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• 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 2230/0006 : circular
• 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 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped

Abstract

An implant for insertion between vertebral body endplates includes first and second end members, each with a respective endplate contact surface. The implant further includes a collapsible intermediate section disposed between the first and second end members and an inflatable member contained within the intermediate section. The intermediate section may be expandable upon the introduction of a substance into the inflatable member between a first size to space the first and second end members a first distance apart and a second enlarged size to space the first and second end members a second greater distance apart. The inflatable member may increase in size from a compressed size in which the inflatable member will pass through an opening in the intermediate section and an expanded size in which the inflatable member will not pass through the opening and is thereby captively retained within the intermediate section.

Claims

1. An implant for insertion between vertebral body endplates in a patient, the implant comprising:

a first end member including a first endplate contact surface;

a second end member including a second endplate contact surface;

a collapsible intermediate section disposed between the first and second end members; and

an inflatable member contained within the intermediate section,

the intermediate section being expandable upon the introduction of a substance into the inflatable member, the intermediate section being expandable between a first size to space the first and second end members a first distance apart and a second enlarged size to space the first and second end members a second greater distance apart.

2. The implant of claim 1 wherein the collapsible intermediate section is flexible.

3. The implant of claim 1 wherein the collapsible intermediate section comprises a plurality of tethers secured about a perimeter of the first and second end members.

4. The implant of claim 1 wherein the collapsible intermediate section comprises a single tether coupled between a perimeter of the first and second end members.

5. The implant of claim 4 wherein the single tether is coupled to the first and second end members with the tether disposed beneath the first and second endplate contact surfaces.

6. The implant of claim 1 wherein the collapsible intermediate section comprises a mesh member secured about a perimeter of the first and second end members.

7. The implant of claim 1 wherein the collapsible intermediate section maintains the first size to space the first and second end members the first distance apart when the inflatable member is not expanded through the introduction of the substance.

8. The implant of claim 1 wherein the collapsible intermediate section comprises attachment members slidably engaged to permit movement of the end members in an expansion direction, the attachment members including position locks at predetermined heights to stabilize the implant.

9. An implant for insertion between vertebral body endplates in a patient, the implant comprising:

a first end member including a first endplate contact surface;

a second end member including a second endplate contact surface;

a collapsible intermediate section disposed between the first and second end members, the intermediate section including an opening; and

an interior member positionable within the intermediate section, the interior member inflatable between a compressed size in which the interior member will pass through the opening and an expanded size in which the interior member will not pass through the opening.

10. The implant of claim 9 wherein the collapsible intermediate section is flexible.

11. The implant of claim 9 wherein the collapsible intermediate section comprises a plurality of tethers secured about a perimeter of the first and second end members, the distance between adjacent tethers forming the opening.

12. The implant of claim 9 wherein the collapsible intermediate section comprises a single tether coupled between a perimeter of the first and second end members in a plurality of runs, the distance between adjacent runs forming the opening.

13. The implant of claim 12 wherein the single tether is coupled to the first and second end members with the tether disposed beneath the first and second endplate contact surfaces.

14. The implant of claim 9 wherein the collapsible intermediate section comprises a mesh member secured about a perimeter of the first and second end members.

15. The implant of claim 9 wherein when the interior member is at the compressed size, the first and second end members are a first distance apart and when the interior member is at the expanded size, the first and second end members are a second greater distance apart.

16. The implant of claim 15 wherein the collapsible intermediate section maintains the first and second end members the first distance apart when the interior member is at the compressed size.

17. The implant of claim 9 wherein the collapsible intermediate section comprises attachment members slidably engaged to permit movement of the end members in an expansion direction, the attachment members including position locks at predetermined heights to stabilize the implant.

18. A method of supporting vertebral bodies, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning an implant between endplates of the vertebral members while the implant is in a first orientation having a first height;

inserting an inflatable member through an opening in the implant;

introducing a substance into the inflatable member;

inflating the inflatable member to an expanded size in which the inflatable member is captively retained within the implant; and

separating first and second end members and increasing a height of the implant.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the substance includes a bone growth promoting substance.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of separating first and second end members and increasing a height of the implant comprises forcing a bone-contact surface of the first and second end members into contact with the endplates of the vertebral members.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of separating first and second end members and increasing a height of the implant comprises extending a collapsible intermediate section that is coupled between the end members.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of separating first and second end members and increasing a height of the implant comprises extending a tether that is coupled between the end members.

23. A method of supporting vertebral members, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling first and second end members with a collapsible intermediate section;

positioning an inflatable member within the collapsible intermediate section;

inserting an amount of a substance into the inflatable member;

filling the inflatable member with the substance and causing the inflatable member to contact faces of the first and second end members;

exerting an expansion force at the faces and expanding the collapsible intermediate section and separating the first and second end members to an increased height; and

further expanding the first and second members into contact with the vertebral members.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the substance includes a bone growth promoting substance.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein prior to filling the inflatable member with the substance and causing the inflatable member to contact faces of the first and second end members, the inflatable member is sized to pass through an opening in the collapsible intermediate section.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of exerting an expansion force at the faces and expanding the collapsible intermediate section comprises extending a tether that is coupled between the first and second end members.