EXPANDABLE CAGE

• US 20100179594A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K2M, Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: K2M, Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Strauss, Kevin R., McClintock, Larry, Wallenstein, Todd, Wassinger, Adam, Theofilos, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,673,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal 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 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30373 with additional means for preventing said translation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30561 breakable or frangible
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30594 slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30779 arcuate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30789 perpendicular with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0071 : breakable or frangible
• 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 2310/00359 : Bone or bony tissue

Abstract

An apparatus supports the spine between vertebrae and promotes spinal fusion. The apparatus generally includes a first supporting member, a second support member, and an expansion member. The first support member has a first longitudinal passage extending therethrough, a first supporting end configured to engage tissue, and a rack configured to engage a tool. The second supporting member contains a second longitudinal passage extending therethrough and a second supporting end configured to engage tissue. The second longitudinal passage is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the first supporting member. The first and second supporting members are configured to move with respect to each other. The expansion member is removably positioned between the first and second supporting members and is adapted to maintain the first and second supporting members in a fixed relative position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for spinal surgery, comprising:

a first supporting member having a first longitudinal passage extending therethrough, a first supporting end configured to engage tissue and a rack configured to engage a tool;

a second supporting member having a second longitudinal passage extending therethrough and a second supporting end, the second longitudinal passage being dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the first supporting member, the second supporting end being configured to engage tissue, wherein the first and second supporting members are configured to move with respect to each other; and

an expansion member removably positionable between the first and second supporting members, the expansion member being configured and adapted to maintain the first and second supporting members in a fixed relationship.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second supporting ends includes a plurality of inclined teeth adapted to engage tissue.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pin and a slot formed on the first and second supporting members, wherein the slot is adapted to slidably receive the pin to facilitate relative movement of the first and second supporting members.

4. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the expansion member includes a locking portion and a pair of legs extending from the locking portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the locking portion includes at least one snap-fit arm adapted to releasably secure the expansion member to at least one of the first and second supporting member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first supporting member includes a first locking recess and the second supporting member includes a second locking recess, the first and second locking recesses being adapted to securely receive the at least one snap-fit arm of the expansion member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second locking recesses includes an engagement wall configured to securely engage the at least one snap-fit arm to couple the expansion member to the first and second supporting members.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first supporting member includes a first elongate body extending from first supporting end, the first elongate body defining the first longitudinal passage and the second supporting member includes a second elongate body extending from second supporting end, the second elongate body defining the second longitudinal passage, wherein the second longitudinal passage is configured to receive the first elongate body.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first elongate body includes at least one slot defined therealong, the at least one slot being adapted to slidably receive a pin.

10. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the rack is disposed along an inner surface the first supporting member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second supporting member includes an opening providing access to the rack.

12. A system for performing spinal surgery, comprising:

an expandable cage including a first supporting member having a rack extending along an inner surface thereof and a second supporting member having a second longitudinal passage dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the first supporting member, wherein the first and second supporting members are configured to move with respect to each other;

an expansion member configured for placement between the first and second supporting members, wherein the expansion member is adapted to maintain the first and second supporting members in a fixed relationship; and

a tool assembly including a handle, an elongate section extending from the handle, a holding section operatively coupled to the elongate section and a bar at least partially disposed within the holding section, the bar including a head having a plurality of teeth and being configured to rotate relative to the holding section;

the head of the bar being adapted to engage the rack of the first supporting member, wherein the first and second supporting members are configured to move relative to each other upon rotation of the bar when the head is engaged to the rack.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the expansion member includes a locking portion and first and second legs extending from the locking portion.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second supporting members includes a locking recess configured to securely receive the locking portion of the expansion member.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the tool assembly includes a rod extending through the elongate section, the rod including a threaded tip positioned at a distal end thereof.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the expansion member includes a threaded bore configured to threadedly engage the threaded tip of the tool assembly.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the holding section includes first and second arms defining a gap therebetween, the first and second arms extending distally from the holding section.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the holding section is adapted to engage the second supporting member with the bar in engagement with the rack.

19. An apparatus for spinal surgery, comprising:

a first supporting member having a first longitudinal passage extending therethrough, and having a first supporting end configured to engage tissue;

a second supporting member having a second longitudinal passage extending therethrough and a second supporting end, the second longitudinal passage being dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the first supporting member, the second supporting end being configured to engage tissue, wherein the first and second supporting members are configured to move with respect to each other; and

an expansion member configured for removable placement between the first and second supporting members to maintain the first and second supporting members in a fixed relationship, the expansion member including a locking portion with first and second legs extending from the locking portion, the locking portion including first and second movable cantilevered arms coupled to the locking portion, each of the first and second movable cantilevered arms being configured to engage the first and second supporting members to releasably secure the expansion member between the first and second supporting members.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of the first and second movable cantilevered arms includes a snap-fit detent.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each of the first and second supporting members includes a locking receiver, each locking receiver being adapted to securely engage the snap-fit detent of the corresponding movable cantilevered arm.