SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VERTEBRAL INTERBODY FUSION
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a fusion cage sized to be inserted between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the fusion cage comprising;
an outer wall comprising;
a distal portion; and
a proximal portion comprising;
a proximal wall; and
an inserter interface shaped to facilitate attachment of an inserter to the fusion cage, the inserter interface comprising a head with a rectangular cross section, the head protruding from the proximal wall to define a shoulder at a juncture with a proximal wall.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical inserter and a fusion cage system which may provide for simplified fusion cage attachment and positioning. The inserter may comprise a collapsible collet with a locking rod. The fusion cage with a rectangular cross-section head may be secured to the inserter through the reverse tapered aperture of the fusion cage. The collet may be inserted into the reverse tapered aperture and the locking rod may control collapse of the collet. The collet may lock the fusion cage to the inserter allowing simplified manipulation of the collet with the inserter. The inserter with the attached fusion cage is inserted into a surgical patient. The fusion cage may be positioned within an intervertebral space. The locking rod may be withdrawn from the collet allowing collapse and withdrawal of the collet from the fusion cage leaving the fusion cage positioned between two vertebrae and the inserter withdrawn from the surgical patient.
97 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
a fusion cage sized to be inserted between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the fusion cage comprising; an outer wall comprising; a distal portion; and a proximal portion comprising; a proximal wall; and an inserter interface shaped to facilitate attachment of an inserter to the fusion cage, the inserter interface comprising a head with a rectangular cross section, the head protruding from the proximal wall to define a shoulder at a juncture with a proximal wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a fusion cage inserter comprising; a proximal handle portion; and an insertion component comprising; a hollow outer shaft comprising an outer wall defining a bore; a hollow interference shaft positioned at least partially within the bore, the hollow interference shaft comprising an interference shaft wall defining an interference shaft bore and a collapsible collet positioned at a distal end of the interference shaft; and a locking rod positioned at least partially within the interference shaft bore, wherein the locking rod is positionable to at least partially protrude from the interference shaft bore to control collapse of the collet. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
a fusion cage inserter comprising; a proximal handle portion; an insertion component comprising; a collapsible collet; an interference shaft; and a locking rod at least partially within the interference shaft; and a locking sleeve at least partially encircling a proximal portion of the insertion component, wherein the locking sleeve is slidable relative to the proximal handle portion to control coupling of the collet by moving the locking rod relative to the collet. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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positioning a fusion cage adjacent to an inserter; coupling the fusion cage to the inserter, the fusion cage comprising an outer wall with a distal portion and a proximal portion comprising a proximal wall and an inserter interface comprising a head with a rectangular cross section, the head protruding from the proximal wall to define a shoulder at a juncture with a proximal wall; and using the inserter to insert the fusion cage into an intervertebral space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra; wherein coupling the fusion cage to the inserter comprises inserting the head into a recess formed in a distal end of the inserter, wherein the recess comprises a rectangular cross section. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method comprising:
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positioning a fusion cage adjacent to an inserter, the fusion cage comprising an aperture, the inserter comprising a proximal handle portion and an insertion component comprising a hollow outer shaft, a hollow interference shaft, and a locking rod; coupling the fusion cage to the inserter; and using the inserter to insert the fusion cage into an intervertebral space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra; wherein the hollow outer shaft comprises an outer wall defining a bore; wherein the hollow interference shaft is positioned at least partially within the bore and comprises an interference shaft wall defining an interference shaft bore and a collapsible collet positioned at a distal end of the interference shaft; wherein coupling the fusion cage to the inserter comprises; inserting the collapsible collet into the aperture; and moving the locking rod into the collapsible collet to prevent collapse of the collapsible collet, thereby preventing withdrawal of the collapsible collet from the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method comprising:
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positioning a fusion cage adjacent to an inserter, the fusion cage comprising an aperture, the inserter comprising a proximal handle portion, a locking sleeve, and an insertion component comprising a collapsible collet, a hollow interference shaft, and a locking rod; coupling the fusion cage to the inserter; and using the inserter to insert the fusion cage into an intervertebral space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra; wherein the locking sleeve at least partially encircles a proximal portion of the insertion component; wherein coupling the fusion cage to the inserter comprises; inserting the collapsible collet into the aperture; and sliding the locking sleeve relative to the proximal handle portion to couple the collet to the fusion cage by moving the locking rod relative to the collet. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification