Bone cutting device

• US 20080255564A1
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1993
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Karlin Technology, Inc. (Medtronic Plc), SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc), Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc), Sofamor Danek Holdings, Inc
• Inventors: Michelson, Gary Karlin
• Application Number:
  US12/012,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255564A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/79
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/908 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/1964 Arcuate cutting edge

Abstract

Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve.

Claims

1. A bone-cutting device adapted for use in forming an implantation space in between and at least in part into two adjacent vertebral bodies where adjacent a disc space formed by the removal of disc material from a disc between the adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said bone-cutting device comprising:

a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

a forward projecting portion proximate said distal end of said shaft being configured to fit into the disc space, said forward projecting portion being adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space; and

a cutting portion proximate said distal end of said shaft and proximate said forward projecting portion, said cutting portion having at least two opposed sharpened cutting surfaces adapted to cut bone from each of the adjacent vertebral bodies during advancement of said cutting portion into the spine behind said projecting portion, said forward projecting portion and said cutting portion being fixed relative to one another to permit simultaneous advancement of said forward projecting portion and said cutting portion into the spine.

2. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, wherein said forward projecting portion adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space includes opposed upper and lower surfaces configured to urge apart the adjacent vertebral bodies.

3. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, wherein said forward projecting portion adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space includes opposed upper and lower surfaces configured to align the adjacent vertebral bodies.

4. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, wherein said cutting surfaces are adapted to simultaneously cut bone from each of the adjacent vertebral bodies.

5. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, wherein said forward projecting portion has a reduced cross sectional dimension at its most distal aspect to facilitate introduction of said bone-cutting device into the disc space.

6. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, wherein said forward projecting portion is adapted to be self-centering along a mid-longitudinal axis of said device.

7. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, wherein said forward projecting portion is one of an alignment member, a distractor, a centering post, a maximum thickness of resected bone limiter, and a means for controlling maximum thickness of bone to be resected.

8. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, wherein said shaft has a longitudinal axis and said cutting portion has a maximum dimension measured from an outer aspect of one of said cutting surfaces to an outer aspect of the opposed one of said cutting surfaces that is greater than a maximum dimension measured between where said forward projecting portion contacts each of the adjacent vertebral bodies along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.

9. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, wherein said shaft has an enlarged portion between said cutting portion and said proximal end to limit the depth of penetration of said cutting portion into the spine.

10. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, further comprising a power unit operatively connected to said shaft for providing power to said bone-cutting device.

11. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, in combination with a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies and for guiding said bone-cutting device into contact with the adjacent vertebral bodies.

12. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, in combination with a spinal insert adapted for insertion at least in part into the implantation space formed by said bone-cutting device.

13. The bone-cutting device of claim 12, in combination with an implant driver configured to insert said spinal insert into the implantation space formed by said bone-cutting device.

14. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, in combination with an instrument for removing from the spine the bone cut by said bone-cutting device.

15. The bone-cutting device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said cutting surfaces has a portion parallel to a mid-longitudinal axis of said shaft and an angled portion converging toward said parallel portion away from the mid-longitudinal axis of said shaft.

16. A bone-cutting device adapted for use in forming an implantation space in between and at least in part into two adjacent vertebral bodies where adjacent a disc space formed by the removal of disc material from a disc between the adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said bone-cutting device comprising:

a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; and

a working end attached to said distal end of said shaft, said working end comprising a forward projecting portion being configured to fit into the disc space, said forward projecting portion being adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space, said working end further comprising a cutting portion proximate said forward projecting portion, said cutting portion having at least two opposed sharpened cutting surfaces adapted to cut bone from each of the adjacent vertebral bodies during advancement of said cutting portion into the spine behind said forward projecting portion, said forward projecting portion and said cutting portion being fixed relative to one another to permit simultaneous advancement of said forward projecting portion and said cutting portion into the spine.

17. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, wherein said forward projecting portion adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space includes opposed upper and lower surfaces configured to urge apart the adjacent vertebral bodies.

18. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, wherein said forward projecting portion adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space includes opposed upper and lower surfaces configured to align the adjacent vertebral bodies.

19. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, wherein said cutting surfaces are adapted to simultaneously cut bone from each of the adjacent vertebral bodies.

20. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, wherein said forward projecting portion has a reduced cross sectional dimension at its most distal aspect to facilitate introduction of said bone-cutting device into the disc space.

21. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, wherein said forward projecting portion is adapted to be self-centering along a mid-longitudinal axis of said device.

22. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, wherein said forward projecting portion is one of an alignment member, a distractor, a centering post, a maximum thickness of resected bone limiter, and a means for controlling maximum thickness of bone to be resected.

23. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, wherein said shaft has a longitudinal axis and said cutting portion has a maximum dimension measured from an outer aspect of one of said cutting surfaces to an outer aspect of the opposed one of said cutting surfaces that is greater than a maximum dimension measured between where said forward projecting portion contacts each of the adjacent vertebral bodies along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.

24. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, wherein said shaft has an enlarged portion between said cutting portion and said proximal end to limit the depth of penetration of said cutting portion into the spine.

25. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, further comprising a power unit operatively connected to said shaft for providing power to said bone-cutting device.

26. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, in combination with a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies and for guiding said bone-cutting device into contact with the adjacent vertebral bodies.

27. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, in combination with a spinal insert adapted for insertion at least in part into the implantation space formed by said bone-cutting device.

28. The bone-cutting device of claim 27, in combination with an implant driver configured to insert said spinal insert into the implantation space formed by said bone-cutting device.

29. The bone-cutting device of claim 16, in combination with an instrument for removing from the spine the bone cut by said bone-cutting device.