Prosthetic Spinal Disc

• US 20080306593A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Inventors: Reah, Christopher, McLeod, Alan Rory Mor
• Application Number:
  US10/594,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20080306593A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30724 Spacers for centering an implant in a bone cavity, e.g. in a cement-receiving cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• 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 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30069 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30146 octagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30242 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30291 spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30298 Parallelepipedal body made by spirally rolling up a sheet or a strip around itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30461 sutured, ligatured or stitched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30588 filled with solid particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4495 having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• 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 2230/0017 : Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0071 : spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00329 : Glasses, e.g. bioglass

Abstract

Disc prostheses, particularly for use in the lumbar region of the spine are provided. The disc prosthesis includes a core of elastomeric material provided within an inner component of fabric. The inner component is provided within an outer component of fabric. By providing a smooth inner contact surface between the inner component and the core, movement between the inner and outer components is facilitated in preference to movement between the inner component and core. Core abrasion is thus avoided. The use of an inner component and an outer component also means that the characteristics of each can he optimized to meet different aims.

Claims

1. A disc prosthesis, comprising

a core, the core being of elastomeric material;

an inner component encapsulating said core, the inner component being of fabric and providing a smooth inner contact surface for said core;

an outer component surrounding said inner component, the outer component being of fabric;

wherein movement between the inner and outer components being is facilitated in preference to movement between the inner component and core.

3. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the core is a single elastomeric component.

4. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the core is formed of multiple elastomeric components, with each provided within its own inner component.

5. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the core provides a planar top surface and planar lower surface, the top and bottom surfaces not being parallel to one another, the separation of the top and bottom surfaces increasing from one side of the core to the other.

6. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the core is at least one of octagonal, hexagonal, round, and elliptic.

8. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein any movement, particularly sliding movement, within the disc is greater between the outer component and inner component than between the inner component and core.

9. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the inner component is at least one of configured to and formed of one or more materials intended to promote tissue growth.

10. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein one or more materials used in the inner component are bio-absorbable.

11. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said smooth inner contact surface provides uniform contact between the inner surface of the inner component and the core.

12. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein a top wall of the inner component is connected to a side wall and hence to a bottom wall, with one or more further side walls being connected to at least one of the top wall, side wall, and bottom wall.

13. The disc prosthesis according to claim 12, wherein in the inner component is formed from an element including a side wall connected on one edge to a top wall and connected on an opposing edge to a bottom wall, the side wall being connected on one side edge to one other side wall and the side wall being connected on the other side edge to one or more other walls.

14. The disc prosthesis according to claim 12, wherein the side walls of the inner component are contacted additional elements, provided by a continuous band extending around the side of the inner component.

16. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the outer component is at least one of configured and formed of one or more materials intended to promote tissue growth, particularly tissue ingrowth at least one of through the outer component, between the inner component and the core, and through the inner component.

17. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein one or more materials used in the outer component are bio-absorbable.

18. The disc prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the outer component is formed from an element including a side wall connected on one edge to a top wall and connected on an opposing edge to a bottom wall, the side wall being connected on one side edge to two other side walls, the side wall being connected on the other side edge to two other side walls, a further side wall being connected to the opposite edge of the top wall or bottom wall to the edge to which the side wall linking the top wall and bottom wall is provided.

19. The disc prosthesis according to claim 18, wherein one or more edges of at least one of the top wall and of the bottom wall of the outer component are provided with flanges, the flanges providing anchor locations for attaching the outer component to one or more vertebrae.

2. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

20. A kit for use in providing a disc prosthesis, the kit including a series of different sized prostheses, one or more of the prostheses including a core formed of elastomeric material, an inner fabric component encapsulating said core and providing a smooth inner contact surface for said core, and an outer fabric component surrounding said inner component, wherein movement between the inner and outer components is facilitated in preference to movement between the inner component and core.

24. The kit of claim 20, wherein at least one of said prostheses includes an outer component provided with flanges, the flanges providing anchor locations for attaching the outer component to one or more vertebrae.

21. (canceled)

22. A method of performing spine surgery, comprising

providing a disc prosthesis, the disc prosthesis including a core formed of elastomeric material, a fabric inner component encapsulating said core and providing a smooth inner contact surface for said core, and an outer fabric component surrounding said inner component, wherein movement between the inner and outer components is facilitated in preference to movement between the inner component and core;

removing at least part of the natural disc in a spine; and

implanting said a disc prosthesis in the spine, into the area formerly occupied by the removed natural disc.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said disc prosthesis includes an outer component provided with flanges, the flanges providing anchor locations for attaching the outer component to one or more vertebrae.

23. (canceled)