Prosthetic Intervertebral Discs Having Balloon-Based Fillable Cores That are Implantable By Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques

• US 20090076610A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spinal Kinetics LLC (Orthofix Medical Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spinal Kinetics Incorporated (Orthofix Medical Inc.)
• Inventors: Afzal, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,687,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.160
• 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 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30461 sutured, ligatured or stitched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30581 having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30586 having two or more inflatable pockets or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30784 Plurality of holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• 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 2002/4495 having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 swellable
• 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 2250/0009 for adjusting thickness

Abstract

The described devices are spinal implants that may be surgically implanted into the spine to replace damaged or diseased discs using a posterior approach. The discs are prosthetic devices that approach or mimic the physiological motion and reaction of the natural disc.

Claims

1. A prosthetic intervertebral disc, comprising:

a first end plate;

a second end plate;

at least one core member comprising a fillable member, positioned between said first and second end plates; and

at least one fiber extending between and engaged with said first and second end plates; and

wherein said end plates and said core member are held together by said at least one fiber.

2. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the fibers have been placed to extend between the first end plate and said second end plate in a form including the fillable member.

3. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 further including an amount of at least one curable polymer system, curable within the fillable member.

4. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 further including an amount of at least one hydrogel.

5. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the fillable member comprises a pre-formed balloon.

6. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the fillable member comprises a pre-shaped balloon.

7. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the fillable member comprises a noncompliant balloon.

8. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 7 wherein the noncompliant balloon comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyimides, polyolefins, and polyethylene-block amides.

9. A kit for surgically replacing a disc in a spine with a posterior approach, comprising exactly two of the prosthetic discs of claim 1.

10. The kit of claim 9 further comprising at least one cannula suitable for a posterior approach configured to access a disc to be replaced and to bypass the spinal cord and local nerve roots and further sized for passage of at least one of the prosthetic discs of claim 1.

11. The kit of claim 10 wherein the first and second end plates of each of the prosthetic discs have a length and a width, and wherein the length is greater than the width.

12. The kit of claim 11 wherein the first and second end plates of each of the prosthetic discs have a length:

width aspect ratio of the first and second end plates is in the range of about 1.5 to 5.0.

13. A kit for surgically replacing multiple discs in a spine with a posterior approach, comprising at least four of the prosthetic discs of claim 1.

14. The kit of claim 13 further comprising at least one cannula suitable for a posterior approach configured to access a disc to be replaced and to bypass the spinal cord and local nerve roots and further sized for passage of at least one of the at least four of the prosthetic discs of claim 1.

15. The kit of claim 14 wherein the first and second end plates of each of the at least four of the prosthetic discs have a length and a width, and wherein the length is greater than the width.

16. The kit of claim 15 wherein the first and second end plates of each of the at least four prosthetic discs have a length:

width aspect ratio of the first and second end plates is in the range of about 1.5 to 5.0.