ARTICULATING INTERBODY SPACER, VERTEBRAL BODY REPLACEMENT

• US 20080125865A1
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Custom Spine Acquisition, Inc. (Spinal Elements, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Custom Spine, Inc. (Spinal Elements, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abdelgany, Mahmoud F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,025,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30354 Cylindrically-shaped protrusion and recess, e.g. cylinder of circular basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• 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 2002/4629 connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• 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 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

An interbody spacer implant assembly for interbody fusion in a vertebral body and a method of insertion comprises a plurality of links and an elongated connector mechanism adapted to retain the plurality of links and allow the plurality of links to articulate with respect to one another. An interbody spacer implant apparatus for interbody fusion in a vertebral body comprises a plurality of individually articulating links and a connector mechanism adapted to retain the plurality of links and allow the plurality of links to articulate with respect to one another, wherein the connector mechanism is dimensioned and configured to have a length-to-width ratio greater than a length-to-width ratio of each of the plurality of links. The apparatus may further comprise an insertion rod adapted to insert the plurality of links and the connector mechanism into the vertebral body.

Claims

1. An interbody spacer implant assembly for interbody fusion in a vertebral body, said assembly comprising:

a plurality of links; and

an elongated connector mechanism adapted to retain said plurality of links and allow said plurality of links to articulate with respect to one another.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of links comprises a body portion comprising:

partially serrated sides;

at least one first hole configured through a top of said body portion;

a second hole configured through a side of said body portion and transverse to said at least first hole;

a third hole configured through said body portion and transverse to said second hole;

a fourth hole configured substantially parallel to said at least one first hole;

a connector mechanism positioned transverse to said partially serrated sides; and

a fifth hole configured through said connector mechanism.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of links comprises a body portion comprising:

serrated sides;

at least one first hole configured through a top of said body portion;

a second hole configured through a side of said body portion and transverse to said at least first hole;

a third hole configured through said body portion and transverse to said second hole;

a pair of connector flanges positioned transverse to said serrated sides;

a fourth hole configured through each of said pair of connector flanges;

a connector mechanism positioned transverse to said serrated sides; and

a fifth hole configured through said connector mechanism.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of links comprises a body portion comprising:

serrated sides;

at least one first hole configured through a top of said body portion;

a second hole configured through a side of said body portion and transverse to said at least first hole;

a third hole configured through said body portion and transverse to said second hole;

a pair of connector flanges positioned transverse to said serrated sides;

a fourth hole configured through each of said pair of connector flanges; and

a fifth hole configured through a rear portion of said body portion.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hinge pin adapted to connect a first link of said plurality of links to a second link of said plurality of links.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said elongated connector mechanism comprises a plurality of pivoting connecting rods pivotally connected to one another.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of pivoting connecting rods comprises:

a body portion;

a peg; and

a hole,

wherein said peg and said hole are positioned on opposite sides of said body portion.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said body portion comprises a pair of substantially flat side surfaces.

9. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising a retaining pin adapted to retain said elongated connector mechanism to one of said plurality of links.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a first link of said plurality of links is pivotally connected to a second link of said plurality of links.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said second link of said plurality of links is pivotally connected to a third link of said plurality of links.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said elongated connector mechanism is flexible.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of links comprise:

a groove; and

a hole configured through a side of said each of said plurality of links.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said elongated connector mechanism comprises a substantially J-shaped mechanism adapted to allow said plurality of links to slide thereon.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of links comprise a continuous flexible structure.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said connector mechanism is dimensioned and configured to have a length-to-width ratio greater than a length-to-width ratio of each of said plurality of links.

17. An interbody spacer implant apparatus for interbody fusion in a vertebral body, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of individually articulating links; and

a connector mechanism adapted to retain the plurality of links and allow said plurality of links to articulate with respect to one another,

wherein said connector mechanism is dimensioned and configured to have a length-to-width ratio greater than a length-to-width ratio of each of said plurality of links.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising an insertion rod adapted to insert said plurality of links and said connector mechanism into said vertebral body.

19. A method of inserting an interbody spacer implant assembly for interbody fusion into a vertebral body, said method comprising:

connecting an elongated connector mechanism to a plurality of links; and

inserting said elongated connector mechanism and said plurality of links into said vertebral body,

wherein specified ones of individual links of said plurality of links are adapted to articulate individually with respect to other individual links upon insertion into said vertebral body.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

attaching an insertion rod to said elongated connector mechanism;

using said insertion rod to push said elongated connector mechanism and said plurality of links into said vertebral body; and

removing said insertion rod from said elongated connector mechanism upon full insertion and final positioning of said elongated connector mechanism and said plurality of links into said vertebral body.