Implant with nested members and methods of use

• US 20080058930A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Walker, Don Byron, Edie, Jason A., Cooper, Lloyd Guyton Bowers, Patterson, Barry K., Windham, Jerrod Bradley, Dawson, John Caleb
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30156 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30398 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• 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 2230/0023 triangular

Abstract

The application is directed to implants that are adjustable between collapsed and expanded orientations. The collapsed orientation includes a smaller height to facilitate insertion into the patient. The expanded orientation includes a larger height for spacing and/or supporting the vertebral members. The implants generally include three or more separate sections that are nested together in the collapsed orientation. The sections move outward away from each other in the expanded orientation. An expansion means may be operatively connected to one or more of the sections to move the implants between the orientations. Methods of use are also included for moving the implants between the collapsed and expanded orientations.

Claims

1. An implant positionable between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:

a first member including first sidewalls that extend around and form a first interior space;

a second member including second sidewalls that extend around and form a second interior space;

a third member including third sidewalls that extend around and form a third interior space;

the members positionable between collapsed and expanded orientations;

the collapsed orientation comprising the third member nested within the second interior space and the second member nested within the first interior space with the first, second, and third sidewalls overlapping in a triple ply;

the expanded orientation comprising the third member extending from the second member and the second member extending from the first member with the third sidewall being spaced apart from the first sidewall.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein each of the members further comprises a wall positioned within the first, second, and third interior spaces that mate together to form an enclosed chamber.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the third interior space includes a greater height than either of the first and second interior spaces.

5. The implant of claim 1, further comprising an expansion means positioned within the first, second, and third interior spaces for moving the members between the collapsed and expanded orientations.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first interior space is larger than the second interior space, and the second interior space is larger than the third interior space.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third members each include a substantially similar shape.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein the third members has a first shape and the second member has a second shape that is different than the first shape.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first and third members further comprise contact surfaces that contact the first and second vertebral members.

4. The implant of 1, wherein the first sidewall includes a receiver and the second sidewall includes a rib, the rib sliding within the receiver while the members move between the collapsed and expanded orientations.

10. An implant positionable between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:

a first member comprising a first contact surface to contact the first vertebral member and first sidewalls that extend from the first contact surface;

a second member comprising second sidewalls that are positioned adjacent to the first member; and

a third member comprising a second contact surface to contact the second vertebral member and third sidewalls that extend outward from the second contact surface and are positioned adjacent to the second member;

the members being positionable between a collapsed orientation and an expanded orientation;

the collapsed orientation comprising the third member collapsed within the second member, and both the second and third members collapsed within the first member;

the expanded orientation comprising the third member extending outward from the second member and the second member extending outward from the first member;

a height measured between the first and second contact surfaces being greater in the expanded orientation than in the collapsed orientation.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein the first, second, and third members each include a substantially common shape.

12. The implant of claim 10, wherein the first, second, and third sidewalls are continuous.

13. The implant of claim 10, further comprising an enclosed chamber formed within the first, second, and third members.

14. The implant of claim 13, wherein each of the members comprises an inner wall that mate together in a telescoping manner to form the enclosed chamber.

15. The implant of claim 13, further comprising an expansion means operatively connected with the enclosed chamber for moving the members between the collapsed and expanded orientations.

16. The implant of claim 10, wherein the second contact surface extends above the first sidewall when the members are in the collapsed orientation.

17. An implant positionable within first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:

a first member including a first contact surface to contact the first vertebral member and a first sidewall that forms a first interior space;

a second member including a second contact surface to contact the second vertebral member and a second sidewall that forms a second interior space; and

two intermediate members positioned between the first and second members and being in a telescoping arrangement;

the members positionable in a collapsed orientation with the first member nested within the plurality of intermediate members and the intermediate members nested within the second member, and an expanded orientation with the first and second members extending outward away from the plurality of intermediate members;

a height formed between the first and second contact surfaces being greater in the expanded orientation than in the collapsed orientation.

18. The implant of claim 17, wherein the collapsed orientation comprises the first and second sidewalls and the sidewalls of the plurality of intermediate members overlapping in a four ply arrangement.

19. The implant of claim 17, wherein the first contact surface extends above the second sidewall in the collapsed orientation.

20. The implant of claim 17, further comprising a mechanical jack positioned between the first and second contact surfaces to move the members between the collapsed and expanded orientations.

21. The implant of claim 17, further comprising an enclosed chamber formed between the first and second contact surfaces and a port that leads into the chamber, the chamber adapted to contain fluid to move the device from the collapsed orientation towards the expanded orientation.

22. An implant positionable within first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:

a first member;

a second intermediate member;

a third member;

the members being positionable between a collapsed orientation with a first height and an expanded orientation with a second height greater than the first height;

the members forming a three-ply overlapping arrangement in the collapsed orientation;

in the expanded orientation the first member overlapping the second intermediate member and the third member overlapping the second intermediate member and the first member spaced away from the third member in a non-overlap arrangement.

23. The implant of claim 22, wherein in the collapsed orientation, the first member being nested within the second member, and the nested first and second members being nested in the third member.

24. A method of spacing first and second vertebral members, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning first, second, and third members in a collapsed orientation with the third member nested in the second member which itself is nested in the first member;

inserting the members between the first and second vertebral members;

moving the members towards an expanded orientation with the third member moving outward from the second member, and moving the second member outward from the first member; and

contacting a first contact surface on the first member against the first vertebral member and a second contact surface on the third member against the second vertebral member.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of positioning the first, second, and third members in a collapsed orientation comprises positioning the second and third members completely within the first member.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of moving the members towards the expanded orientation comprises initially moving the third member outward from the second member before moving the second member outward from the first member.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of moving the members towards the expanded orientation comprises moving the members simultaneously.