Intervertebral Prosthesis

• US 20080103597A1
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Frigg, Robert, Lechmann, Beat, Appenzeller, Andreas
• Application Number:
  US11/722,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20080103597A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30125 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30649 Ball-and-socket joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• 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 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0058 Coating made of diamond or of diamond-like carbon DLC
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00748 : Coating made of titanium carbide

Abstract

Intervertebral prosthesis (1), in particular intervertebral disk prosthesis, with a central axis (6) and comprising A) a first prosthetic component (2) having a first apposition surface (4) and a first inner surface (7), both being disposed transversely to the central axis (6) and having a spherical recess (11); B) a second prosthetic component (3) having a second apposition surface (5) and a second inner surface (8) both being disposed transversely to the central axis (6) and having a calotte (9) congruent with said recess (11); C) the first and second prosthetic components (2;3) being connectable in an articulated manner by means of the calotte (9) which may be slidably received in the recess (11); whereby D) the first and second prosthetic components (2;3) have a width B and a length H each being transverse to the central axis (6), said first and second prosthetic components (2;3) further comprise a longitudinal axis L₁, respectively L₂ extending parallel to the respective length H; and whereby E) the length H is greater than the width B, such that the prosthetic components (2;3) may be put into a position in the intervertebral space in which the two longitudinal axes L₁ and L₂ intersect each other at an angle α>0° when being projected in a plane being orthogonal to the central axis (6).

Claims

1. An intervertebral disk prosthesis comprising:

a first prosthetic component with a first width, a first length and a first longitudinal axis, the first prosthetic component comprising a first apposition surface disposed transversely to a central axis for contacting an end plate of a first adjoining vertebral body and further comprising a first inner surface disposed transversely to the central axis and having a spherical recess;

a second prosthetic component with a second width, second length and a second longitudinal axis, the second prosthetic component comprising a second apposition surface disposed transversely to the central axis for contacting an end plate of a second adjoining vertebral body and further comprising a second inner surface disposed transversely to the central axis and having a calotte congruent with said recess wherein the calotte can be slidably received in the recess;

wherein;

the first and second prosthetic components are connectable in an articulated manner by means of the calotte being slidably received in the recess; and

the first length is greater than the first width such that the first and second prosthetic components are in position in the intervertebral space in which the first and second longitudinal axes intersect each other at an angle greater than zero degrees when being projected in a plane being orthogonal to the central axis.

2. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first length to the first width is between 3:

1 and 5;

1.

3. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second prosthetic components and the calotte consist of one piece.

4. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intervertebral prosthesis consists of at least three pieces with the calotte being the third piece attachable to one of said first and second prosthetic components.

5. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intervertebral prosthesis consists of at least three pieces and comprises an articular shell including the recess which is attachable to one of said first and second prosthetic components as a third piece.

6. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 5, wherein the calotte and the articular shell consist of a material pairing of metal and plastic.

7. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 5, wherein the calotte and the articular shell consist of a ceramic-to-ceramic material pairing.

8. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the calotte and of the recess are coated with titanium carbide or with an amorphous carbon.

9. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the calotte is made of a memory metal.

10. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the calotte is made of a material capable of swelling.

11. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the calotte is made of a flowable, thermosetting material.

12. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least the calotte is made of a monomer, comonomer, homopolymer, oligomer, or mixture which contains a thermosetting, flowable substance.

13. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 12, wherein the thermosetting, flowable substance is selected from the group of:

a) polyethylene glycols;

b) n-vinylpyrrolidones;

c) vinyls; and

d) styrenes.

14. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first prosthetic component is selected from a group of at least two first prosthetic components.

15. The intervertebral prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second prosthetic component is selected from a group of at least two second prosthetic component.

16. A method of implanting an intervertebral disk prosthesis into an intervertebral space, which comprises a first and a second prosthetic component articulately connectable with each other and which presents a central axis extending coaxially or parallel to the longitudinal axis of a vertebral column, comprising the steps of:

implanting the first prosthetic component via a first access into a first intervertebral region that is transverse to the central axis of the intervertebral prosthesis, the first prosthetic component having a first width and a first length, wherein the first length is greater than the first width;

implanting the second prosthetic component via a second access into a second intervertebral region that is transverse to the central axis of the intervertebral prosthesis;

the second prosthetic component having a second width and a second length, the second length being greater than the second width;

wherein the longitudinal axes of the first and second prosthetic components extend parallel to the first length and intersect each other at an angle greater than zero degrees; and

coupling the second prosthetic component to the first prosthetic component in an articulated manner during the implantation.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the two accesses are located posteriorly.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first access is located transforaminally.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second access is located extraforaminally.

21. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first access and second access each have one entrance point that is spaced apart from the sagittal axis extending centrally in an antero-posterior direction in such a way that the longitudinal axes of the two implanted prosthetic components form an angle greater than zero degrees.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the angle is in a range of between 25°

and 120°

.

20. (canceled)