Anterior Spinal Fusion and Fixation Cage with Integrated Plate and Method of Use

• US 20080312742A1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dennis Lee Abernathie
• Original Assignee: Dennis Lee Abernathie
• Inventors: Abernathie, Dennis Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/762,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20080312742A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8057 the interlocking form comprising a thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a fixation and fusion cage with interlocking plate comprising a central cage portion and interlocking plate that rigidly attaches to the front of the cage. The cage can be varied in shape to account for various clinical necessities such as lordosis. The invention may be installed in an offset configuration so as to avoid damage to blood vessels. The device may be constructed from radiolucent material to allow for visualization of bone fusion within the cage.

Claims

1. A fixation and fusion cage comprising:

an upper contoured surface;

a lower contoured surface; and

first and second side portions, said first and second side portions joining said upper and lower contoured surfaces such that said first and second contoured surfaces form opposing upper and lower surfaces of said fixation and fusion cage and said first and second side portions form opposing side walls of said fixation and fusion cage,

wherein an edge of at least one of said first contoured surface, said second contoured surface, said first side portion, or said second side portion is sized and shaped to form an interlocking portion for attachment of a plate portion thereto.

2. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 1, further comprising an interlocking plate portion having at least one mating portion adapted to engage said at least one interlocking portion such that said interlocking plate is rigidly attached thereto.

3. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 2 wherein said interlocking plate further comprises a central opening formed therein.

4. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 1 wherein each of said upper and lower contoured surfaces further comprise at least one opening formed therein.

5. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second side portions further comprise at least one opening formed therein.

6. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 1 wherein said fixation and fusion cage is constructed from titanium, bone, carbon fiber, polyetheretherketone, nylon, polycarbonate, stainless steel, chromium-cobalt, or combinations thereof.

7. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 2 wherein said fixation and fusion cage is constructed from titanium, bone, carbon fiber, polyetheretherketone, nylon, polycarbonate, stainless steel, chromium-cobalt, or combinations thereof.

8. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 1 wherein said fixation and fusion cage is constructed from at least one radiolucent compound.

9. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 2 wherein said fixation and fusion cage is constructed from at least one radiolucent compound.

10. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 1 further comprising bone morphogenic protein provided in said interior space of said cage.

11. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 1 wherein a contour of at least one of said upper and lower contoured surfaces is derived from data obtained from multiple patient anatomies, said contour being shaped to mate with an adjacent vertebral surface during normal use of said fixation and fusion cage.

12. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 2 wherein said interlocking plate portion is sized and shaped such that when said interlocking plate portion is affixed to said cage and said cage is inserted into an intervertebral space, said cage is offset relative to the midline of the vertebral column.

24. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 1 wherein said plate portion comprises at least one opening adapted to receive a screw portion having a plurality of threads, and wherein an interior edge of said at least one opening is adapted to engage said plurality of threads.

13. A fixation and fusion cage comprising:

an upper contoured surface;

a lower contoured surface;

first and second side portions, said first and second side portions joining said upper and lower contoured surfaces such that said first and second contoured surfaces form opposing upper and lower surfaces of said fixation and fusion cage and said first and second side portions form opposing side walls of said fixation and fusion cage; and

at least one interlocking portion fixedly attached to an edge of at least one of said first contoured surface, said second contoured surface, said first side portion, or said second side portion, said interlocking portion sized and shaped for attachment of a plate portion thereto.

14. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 13, further comprising an interlocking plate portion having at least one mating portion adapted to engage said at least one interlocking portion such that said interlocking plate is rigidly attached thereto.

15. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 14 wherein said interlocking plate further comprises a central opening formed therein.

16. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 13 wherein each of said upper and lower contoured surfaces further comprise at least one opening formed therein.

17. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 13 wherein each of said first and second side portions further comprise at least one opening formed therein.

18. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 13 wherein said cage is constructed from at least one radiolucent material.

19. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 14 wherein said interlocking plate portion is sized and shaped such that when said interlocking plate portion is affixed to said cage and said cage is inserted into an intervertebral space, said cage is offset relative to the midline of the vertebral column.

20. A fixation and fusion cage comprising:

an upper surface;

a first side wall fixedly attached to said upper surface and extending away at an angle therefrom;

a lower surface fixedly attached to said first side wall and extending away at an angle therefrom;

a second side wall fixedly attached to said lower surface and to said upper surface; and

a plate portion,

wherein said upper surface, first side wall, lower surface, and second side wall define an interior space of said cage, and further wherein said cage comprises first and second end portions at opposing ends of a longitudinal axis thereof, and further wherein said plate portion is adapted to be removably engaged with either of said first or second end portions of said cage.

21. The fixation and fusion cage according to claim 20 wherein said fixation and fusion cage is constructed from at least one radiolucent material.

22. The fixation and fusion cage according to claim 20 wherein at least one of said upper and lower surfaces is shaped to mate with an adjacent vertebral surface during normal use of said fixation and fusion cage.

23. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 20 wherein said fusion cage is offset relative to the midline of the vertebral column when inserted into an intervertebral space.

25. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 20 wherein said plate portion comprises at least one opening adapted to receive a screw portion having a plurality of threads, and wherein an interior edge of said at least one opening is adapted to engage said plurality of threads.

33. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 20 wherein said plate portion comprises at least one opening for receiving a fastener therethrough, said fastener adapted to fasten said plate portion to a vertebrae of a patient.

34. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 33 wherein said at least one opening is positioned such that said fastener enters said vertebrae at about a forty-five degree angle relative to a longitudinal plane of said plate.

35. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 33 wherein said at least one opening is positioned such that said fastener enters said vertebrae at about a ninety-degree angle relative to a longitudinal plane of said plate.

36. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 33 wherein said plate portion further comprises:

a first opening for receiving a fastener therethrough, said first opening being positioned such that said fastener enters said vertebrae at about a forty-five degree angle; and

a second opening for receiving a fastener therethrough, said second opening being positioned such that said fastener enters said vertebrae at about a ninety degree angle.

37. The fixation and fusion cage of claim 33 wherein said plate portion further comprises:

a first edge, said first edge sized and shaped to snugly engage a first portion of at least one vertebrae of a patient receiving said fixation and fusion cage; and

a second edge, said second edge sized and shaped to snugly engage a second portion of at least one vertebrae of a patient receiving said fixation and fusion cage.

26. A screw for attaching a medical implant to a bony portion of a patient'"'"'s anatomy, said screw comprising:

a first plurality of threads, said plurality of threads sized and shaped to engage an interior surface of said bone portion;

an

a second plurality of threads, said plurality of threads sized and shaped to engage an interior surface of an opening said medical implant.

27. The screw of claims 26 wherein said medical implant is a plate physically associated with a spinal fusion cage.

28. The screw of claim 26 further comprising a bullet tip portion for aligning said screw prior to inserting said screw in an opening in said bony portion.

29. The screw of claim 26 further comprising a tool-receiving portion sized and shaped to receive a tool therein for tightening or loosening said screw.

30. The screw of claim 26 wherein said screw is self-tapping.

31. The screw of claim 29 wherein said medical implant is a plate physically associated with a spinal fusion cage.

32. The screw of claim 30 wherein said medical implant is a plate physically associated with a spinal fusion cage.