EXPANDABLE SUPPORT DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20080183204A1
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P. (Alphatec Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P. (Alphatec Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Igoe, Michael P., GREENHALGH, E. Skott, Romano, John-Paul, Kiefer, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,770,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7098 wherein the implant is permeable or has openings, e.g. fenestrated screw hollow surgical screws A61B17/864
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8858 laterally or radially expansible inflatable A61B17/8855
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• 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 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30136 undulated or wavy, e.g. serpentine-shaped or zigzag-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30166 H-shaped or I-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30176 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30177 W-shaped, M-shaped or sigma shaped
• 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 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3097 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30978 using electrical discharge machining [EDM]
• 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 2002/4629 connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0004 : Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0028 : Shapes in the form of latin or greek characters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 : V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0056 : W-shaped, e.g. M-shaped, sigma-shaped
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00137 : Tungsten or W-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00952 : Coating, pre-coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of bone cement, e.g. pre-applied PMMA cement mantle

Abstract

An expandable support device for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. The device can have multiple flat sides that remain flat during expansion. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. Devices and methods for adjusting (e.g., removing, repositioning, resizing) deployed orthopedic expandable support devices are also disclosed. The expandable support devices can be engaged by an engagement device. The engagement device can longitudinally expand the expandable support device. The expandable support device can be longitudinally expanded until the expandable support device is substantially in a pre-deployed configuration. The expandable support device can be then be physically translated and/or rotated.

Claims

1. An expandable support device for placement within or between spinal vertebral bodies, comprising:

a near end portion, a far end portion and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;

backbone struts substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the backbone struts each having a near end integral with the near end portion and a far end integral with the far end portion;

deformable support struts located between each adjacent backbone strut, such that each adjacent backbone strut and the respective support struts located therebetween form a plurality of sides of the device; and

where each support strut is deformable such that, upon longitudinal expansion of the expandable support device from a radially expanded configuration, the adjacent backbone struts approach each other while the support struts deform.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein upon radial expansion of the device the near end and far ends of the backbone struts do not expand as much as the remainder of the backbone strut such that they form a taper while the remainder of the backbone strut remain substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the near end portion comprises an opening, wherein the opening, in the near end comprises a threaded portion for receipt of a threaded member.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the far end portion comprises an opening.

5. The device of claim 1, comprising at least two support struts per adjacent backbone struts.

6. The device of claim 1, comprising at least three backbone struts forming at least three sides of the implant.

7. The device of claim 1, where a cross sectional wall thickness of each support strut is less than a cross sectional wall thickness of the backbone strut so that the support strut deforms at a lower expansive force than the backbone strut.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein when the expandable support device is in the radially expanded configuration, the cross section of the implant comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a triangle, a rectangle, a square, and a polygon.

9. A method for adjusting an expandable support device deployed in an orthopedic treatment site, the method comprising:

engaging the expandable support device with an engagement device;

delivering a force through the engagement device to the expandable support device; and

contracting the expandable support device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising withdrawing the expandable support device from the orthopedic treatment site.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising reshaping the expandable support device within the orthopedic treatment site.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising repositioning the expandable support device within the orthopedic treatment site.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein contracting comprises radially contracting.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the force comprises a longitudinally tensile force applied to the expandable support device.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising detaching the engagement device from the expandable support device.

16. A method for removing an expandable support device deployed in an orthopedic treatment site, the method comprising:

applying a longitudinal tension to the expandable support device;

radially contracting the expandable support device; and

withdrawing the expandable support device from the orthopedic treatment site.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising engaging the expandable support device with an engagement device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the applying a longitudinal tension to the expandable support device comprises delivering a force through the engagement device to the expandable support device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the longitudinal tensioning causes the radially contracting.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising longitudinally expanding the expandable support device.