SPINAL IMPLANTS AND METHODS

• US 20090149959A1
• Filed: 11/19/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Magellan Spine Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magellan Spine Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lenker, Jay A., Conner, E. Scott, Davis, Peter Gregory, Valko, Jeffrey J., Nguyen, Khoi, Lake, Matthew Scott
• Application Number:
  US12/274,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20090149959A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1615 Drill bits, i.e. rotating tools extending from a handpiece to contact the worked material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• 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 2002/30112 Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30113 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30242 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30448 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30481 using a locking clip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30565 having spring elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30574 with an integral complete or partial collar or flange
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30576 with extending fixation tabs
• 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 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4435 : Support means or repair of the natural disc wall, i.e. annulus, e.g. using plates, membranes or meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 : connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4677 : using a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 : using adhesives
• 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 2230/0004 : Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 : circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0071 : spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys

Abstract

Spinal implants are disclosed that can be used for annular repair, facet unloading, disc height preservation, disc decompression, or for sealing a portal through which an intervertebral implant was placed. In some embodiments, an implant is placed within the intervertebral disc space, primarily within the region of the annulus fibrosus. In some embodiments, the implant is expandable. In some embodiments, the implant has a sealing tail structure comprising a tail flange and a linkage. In some embodiments, the sealing tail structure limits the extrusion or expulsion of disc material, either annulus fibrosus or nucleus, into the posterior region of the spine where it could impinge on nerves. In some embodiments, the tail structure is retained in place within the annulus fibrosus by means of an anchor. In some embodiments, the anchor is constructed from multiple components.

Claims

1. (canceled)

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10. (canceled)

11. An implant, for maintaining a height between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:

an expandable member, sized and shaped to be positioned between the adjacent vertebrae; and

an expander member configured to couple to the expandable member and to expand the expandable member radially when the expander member moves axially with respect to the expandable member;

wherein radial expansion of the expandable member is effective to anchor the implant between the adjacent vertebrae.

12. The implant of claim 11, wherein the expandable member and the expander member are sized and shaped to be inserted through a defect in the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc between the adjacent vertebrae.

13. The implant of claim 11, wherein the expandable member has a lumen within it, and the expander member moves axially within the lumen.

14. The implant of claim 11, wherein the expandable member comprises a screw thread, and the expander member moves axially within the lumen when the expander member is rotated.

15. The implant of claim 11, wherein the expandable member comprises a screw configured to foreshorten at least a portion of the implant, while effecting radial expansion of the expandable member.

16. The implant of claim 11, wherein the expandable member comprises a wedge, located within a lumen of the implant, the wedge configured to expand radially the expandable member as the wedge is moved within the lumen.

17. An implant, for maintaining a height between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:

a head, comprising a central portion and an expandable member, wherein the expandable member is radially disposed around at least part of the central portion;

wherein, when implanted in the patient, the expandable member resides within the intervertebral disc space and exerts an outward bias force on the adjacent vertebrae, resulting in anchoring of the implant within the intervertebral disc space; and

wherein, the central portion is configured to move axially with respect to the expandable member.

18. The implant of claim 17, wherein, when the expandable member is compressed by the adjacent vertebrae, the central portion moves axially with respect to the expandable member.

19. The implant of claim 17, wherein the at least one expandable member is self-expanding.

20. The implant of claim 17, wherein the central portion comprises a groove, configured to receive a portion of the expandable member.

21. The implant of claim 17, wherein the expandable member is sized and shaped to be inserted through a defect in an intervertebral disc between the adjacent vertebrae.

32. The implant of claim 17, wherein the expandable member fills a portion of the intervertebral disc space between the adjacent vertebrae and maintains a height between the vertebrae.

22. (canceled)

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28. (canceled)

29. A method for maintaining a height between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:

placing an implant into an intervertebral disc space between two adjacent vertebrae; and

actuating an adjustment member of the implant, thereby radially expanding at least a portion of an expandable member of the implant;

wherein, when radially expanded, the expandable member maintains the implant substantially in place between the adjacent vertebrae and prevents expulsion of the implant from the intervertebral disc space.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the placing comprises inserting the implant through a defect in the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc between the adjacent vertebrae.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the placing comprises positioning the implant entirely within the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc between the adjacent vertebrae.