Implant Kit For Supporting A Spinal Column

• US 20090222042A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy International Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy International Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Firkins, Paul, Sanders, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 8,414,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7004 with a cross-section which varies along its length A61B17/7019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7005 Parts of the longitudinal elements, e.g. their ends, being specially adapted to fit in the screw or hook heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/701 Longitudinal elements with a non-circular, e.g. rectangular, cross-section A61B17/7005, A61B17/7007 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7011 Longitudinal element being non-straight, e.g. curved, angled or branched adjustable length longitudinal elements A61B17/7014; A61B17/7019 takes precedence, e.g. coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7014 with means for adjusting the distance between two screws or hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7032 Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7043 with a longitudinal element fixed to one or more transverse elements which connect multiple screws or hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/705 for linking adjacent ends of longitudinal elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014

Abstract

An implant kit for supporting a spinal column comprises at least first and second support elements (8, 10, 12) for fixation to vertebrae of a spinal column, extending generally along the spinal column between spaced apart vertebrae. The kit includes a plurality of fixation devices for (i) fixing the support elements to one another in an end-to-end arrangement and (ii) fixing the support elements to the vertebrae. At least the first support element is formed from a material which exhibits shape memory properties.

Claims

1. An implant kit for supporting a spinal column, which comprises:

a. at least first and second support elements for fixation to vertebrae of a spinal column, extending generally along the spinal column between spaced apart vertebrae,

b. a plurality of fixation devices for (i) fixing the support elements to one another in an end-to-end arrangement and (ii) fixing the support elements to the vertebrae,

in which at least the first support element is formed from a material which exhibits shape memory properties.

2. A kit as claimed in claim 1, which includes a first support element which is formed from a shape memory alloy which has been treated so that it exhibits thermally initiated shape recovery properties, and a second support element which is formed from a shape memory alloy which has been treated so that it exhibits enhanced elastic properties.

3. A kit as claimed in claim 1, which includes a first support element which is formed from a shape memory alloy which has been treated so that it exhibits enhanced elastic properties, and a second support element which is formed from a metal which does not exhibit shape memory properties.

4. A kit as claimed in claim 1, which includes a first support element which is formed from a shape memory alloy which has been treated so that it exhibits thermally initiated shape recovery properties, and a second support element which is formed from a metal which does not exhibit shape memory properties.

5. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the first support element is longer than the second support element.

6. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the angle between the end portions of the first support element is greater than the angle between the end portions of the second support element, the angles being measured prior to implantation.

7. A kit as claimed in claim 6, in which the difference between (a) the angle between the end portions of the first support element and (b) the angle between the end portions of the second support element is at least about 20°

.

8. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the fixation devices includes (a) a first connection feature by which the device can be connected to the first support element, and (b) a second connection feature by which the device can be connected to the second support element.

9. A kit as claimed in claim 8, in which the said fixation device includes a third connection feature by which the device can be fixed to a vertebra.

10. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the fixation devices comprises a socket portion which is located at or towards one end of one of the support elements, into which the end of the other of the support elements can be inserted in order to fix the support elements to one another in an end-to-end arrangement.

11. A kit as claimed in claim 10, in which the said socket portion is permanently attached to the support element on which it is located.

12. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the fixation devices includes (a) a first connection feature by which the device can be connected to one of the first and second support elements, and (b) a second connection feature by which the device can be fixed to a vertebra.

13. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the material of the first support element is different from the material of the second support element.

14. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the shape of the first support element when viewed in cross section is different from the shape of the second support element when viewed in cross-section.

15. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the cross-section of at least one of the first and second support elements is non-round.

16. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the second support element is formed from a material which exhibits shape memory properties.

17. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the first support element is formed from a nickel-titanium based alloy.

18. A spinal support rod for use in the treatment of spinal column shape deformations, in which the cross-sectional shape of the spinal support rod taken perpendicular to its length, comprises a planar top surface and two side surfaces, each side surface has at least a segment oriented at an angle other than 90°

relative to the top surface.

19. The spinal support rod of claim 18, wherein the spinal support rod is constructed from a nickel-titanium based alloy.

20. The spinal support rod of claim 18, wherein the cross sectional shape of the spinal support rod is trapezoidal.