ZERO-PROFILE INTERBODY SPACER AND COUPLED PLATE ASSEMBLY

• US 20100145460A1
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Pepe, Thomas, Kueenzi, Thomas, Ponzer, Rainer, Koch, David, Hunziker, Markus, Richter, Joern, Berger, Roger, Bonner, Christopher, McDonough, William P., Strausbaugh, William L., Meili, Ralph, Jeger, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/614,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1728 for holes for bone plates or plate screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8033 having indirect contact with screw heads, or having contact with screw heads maintained with the aid of additional components, e.g. nuts, wedges or head covers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8042 the additional component being a cover over the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8052 immobilised relative to screws by interlocking form of the heads and plate holes, e.g. conical or threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8057 the interlocking form comprising a thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/809 with bone-penetrating elements, e.g. blades or prongs bone staples A61B17/0642; intramedullary nails with a plate at an end A61B17/7233
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/88 Osteosynthesis instruments; Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal or external fixation devices A61B17/7074 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30505 spring biased
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 using a locking plate
• 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 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3079 : Stepped or enlarged apertures, e.g. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• 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 2002/4615 : of spacers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 : with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0034 : D-shaped
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00131 : Tantalum or Ta-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00407 : Coating made of titanium or of Ti-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite

Abstract

An implant for insertion into the disc space between vertebrae. The implant including a spacer portion, a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, a plurality of bone fixation elements for engaging the vertebrae and a retention mechanism for preventing the bone fixation elements from postoperatively uncoupling from the implant.

Claims

1. An implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between superior and inferior vertebral bodies, the implant comprising:

first and second bone fixation elements;

a spacer portion including a top surface for contacting the superior vertebral body, a bottom surface for contacting the inferior vertebral body, a first side surface, a second side surface, a leading surface and a trailing surface;

a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, the plate portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a leading surface and a trailing surface, the plate portion further including first and second bone fixation holes sized and adapted for receiving the first and second bone fixation elements, respectively, the first bone fixation hole being angled so that the first bone fixation element engages the superior vertebral body, the second bone fixation hole being angled so that the second bone fixation element engages the inferior vertebral body; and

a blocking plate having a pair of elastically deflectable spring fingers extending therefrom for engaging corresponding recesses formed in the plate portion.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the pair of elastically deflectable spring fingers engage corresponding recesses formed in the first and second side surfaces of the plate portion.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the pair of elastically deflectable spring fingers engage corresponding recesses formed in the first and second bone fixation holes formed in the plate portion.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the blocking plate is sized and configured to snap over the trailing surface of the plate portion.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein the blocking plate is coupled to the plate portion prior to the first and second bone fixation elements being inserted into the first and second bone fixation holes, respectively.

6. The implant of claim 5, wherein the blocking plate includes a retaining clip for covering at least a portion of the first and second bone fixation holes.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein a height of the plate portion is substantially equal to a height of the spacer portion and a width of the plate portion is substantially equal to a width of the spacer portion.

8. The implant of claim 1, further comprising first and second stops to prevent over-insertion of the implant during implantation and to assist in securing a position of the implant during insertion of the first and second bone fixation elements, the first stop extending superiorly of the top surface of the plate portion for contacting the superior vertebral body, the second stop extending inferiorly of the bottom surface of the plate portion for contacting the inferior vertebral body.

9. The implant of claim 8, wherein the first and second stops are integrally formed with the plate portion.

10. An implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between superior and inferior vertebral bodies, the implant comprising:

first and second bone fixation elements;

a spacer portion including a top surface for contacting the superior vertebral body, a bottom surface for contacting the inferior vertebral body, a first side surface, a second side surface, a leading surface and a trailing surface;

a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, the plate portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a leading surface and a trailing surface, the plate portion further including first and second bone fixation holes sized and adapted for receiving the first and second bone fixation elements, respectively, the first bone fixation hole being angled so that the first bone fixation element engages the superior vertebral body, the second bone fixation hole being angled so that the second bone fixation element engages the inferior vertebral body; and

first and second mechanically deformable fingers extending anteriorly from the trailing surface of the plate portion, the first and second mechanically deformable fingers circumferentially disposed about the first and second bone fixation holes, respectively, the first and second mechanically deformable fingers being deformable so that the first and second mechanically deformable fingers extend transversely across at least a portion of the first and second bone fixation holes to cover at least a portion of the first and second bone fixation elements inserted therein, respectively, to prevent backing-out.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein the first and second mechanically deformable fingers are machined into the trailing surface of the plate portion

12. The implant of claim 10, wherein the first and second mechanically deformable fingers are deformed by a forceps-like instrument.