DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN EXPANDABLE VERTEBRAL IMPLANT

• US 20100268338A1
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: MELKENT, Anthony J., Miller, Keith E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,123,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30742 Bellows or hose-like seals; Sealing membranes A61B17/8808 takes precedence; sealing membranes for retaining bone substitute A61F2/2846
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2/4611 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 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30545 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30566 Helical springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30588 filled with solid particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4495 having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• 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 2250/001 : for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• 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 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00293 : containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00329 : Glasses, e.g. bioglass
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00359 : Bone or bony tissue

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include expandable implants incorporated into a system for deploying the expandable implants to replace skeletal structures such as one or more vertebrae or portions of the spine or vertebrae. Some embodiments include related methods of implanting devices using deployment systems.

Claims

1. A system for deploying an expandable medical implant comprising:

an expandable medical implant with a base and an expandable end and an enclosed volume between the base and the expandable end; and

an elongated member with a distal end and a proximal end wherein the distal end is coupled to the expandable end of the expandable medical implant, and the elongated member is in contact with the base of the expandable medical implant to provide a connection between the expandable end and the base;

wherein the proximal end extends from the expandable implant and the proximal end is configured to receive a force applied along its length.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the base of the expandable medical implant is configured to couple with a vertebral endplate and the expandable end of the expandable medical implant is configured to couple with an opposite vertebral endplate.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the elongated member passes through an opening in the base of the expandable medical implant, through the enclosed volume, and couples with the expandable end of the expandable medical implant.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the elongated member is a wire configured to transmit tensile and compressive forces.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the elongated member is a strand configured to transmit tensile forces.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the connection between the base and the expandable end is a sliding connection along the elongated member.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the expandable medical implant is made with a bias that pushes apart the base and the expandable end of the expandable medical implant.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the expandable medical implant is made with a bias that pulls together the base and the expandable end of the expandable medical implant.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the biasing member is a spring configured to push apart the base and the expandable end of the expandable medical implant.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the biasing member is a spring configured to pull together the base and the expandable end of the expandable medical implant.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fill material for introduction into the volume between the base and the expandable end of the expandable medical implant.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a stabilizing structure to maintain a substantially linear expansion of the expandable medical implant while the base and the expandable end are moved toward or away from each other.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the stabilizing structure is within the enclosed volume.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the stabilizing structure comprises a first channel coupled with the base and a second channel coupled with the expandable end, wherein the first channel interdigitates with a portion of the expandable end and the second channel interdigitates with a portion of the base.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an opposite expandable end that extends from the base in a direction opposite from the expandable end.

17. The system or claim 16, further comprising an opposite elongated member that couples with the opposite expandable end, the opposite elongated member being configured to extend from the base and receive a force applied along a length of the opposite elongated member.

18. A method of implanting an expandable medical implant comprising:

providing the expandable medical implant wherein the expandable medical implant comprises;

a base and an expandable end and an enclosed volume between the base and the expandable end, and

an elongated member with a distal end and a proximal end wherein the distal end is coupled to the expandable end of the expandable medical implant and the elongated member is in contact with the base of the expandable medical implant;

introducing the expandable medical implant through an incision in a patient; and

applying a compressive force to the elongated member to push apart the base and the expandable end of the expandable medical implant.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising introducing a fill material into the enclosed volume between the base and the expandable end.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising removing at least a portion of the elongated member from the expandable medical implant.

21. A method of implanting an expandable medical implant comprising:

providing the expandable medical implant wherein the expandable medical implant comprises;

a base and an expandable end and an enclosed volume between the base and the expandable end, and

an elongated member with a distal end and a proximal end wherein the distal end is coupled to the expandable end the expandable medical implant and the elongated member is in contact with the base of the expandable medical implant;

applying a tensile force to the elongated member to pull together the base and the expandable end of the expandable medical implant;

introducing the expandable medical implant through an incision in a patient; and

releasing the tensile force applied to the elongated member to allow the base and the expandable end of the expandable medical implant to separate.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising introducing a fill material into the enclosed volume between the base and the expandable end.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising removing at least a portion of the elongated member from the expandable medical implant.