Spinal Disc Prosthesis Apparatus and Placement Method

• US 20110077654A1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lamprich Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lamprich Medical, LLC
• Inventors: Lamprich, Bradley Keith, Lamprich, Lonnie Jay
• Application Number:
  US12/960,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077654A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/85
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1615 Drill bits, i.e. rotating tools extending from a handpiece to contact the worked material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1659 Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2808 Clamp, e.g. towel clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30217 hollow cones, e.g. tubular-like cones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30614 Sets comprising both primary and revision endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3069 Revision endoprostheses
• 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 2002/4622 having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4628 with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 : conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 7/02 : Jaws

Abstract

A spinal disc prosthesis and method of placing a spinal disc prosthesis between adjacent vertebrae are provided. The inventive spinal disc prosthesis can comprise one or more solid, compressible prosthesis elements that are formed prior to the method of placing the prosthesis, or one or more solid prosthesis elements that are formed in situ. The inventive method of placing a spinal disc prosthesis between adjacent vertebrae of a patient is based on a posterior approach. The invention also includes a spinal disc prosthesis insertion apparatus and specially constructed surgical instruments for use in carrying out the method.

Claims

1. A router for forming additional spaces within the interiors of adjacent spinal vertebrae that intersect an enlarged partially circular space formed from the back and to one side of a space between the adjacent vertebrae that was previously occupied by a degenerated disc, said router comprising:

an enlarged cylindrical portion of a size sufficient to form said additional spaces and having a diameter equal to or slightly less than the diameter of said enlarged partially circular space, said enlarged cylindrical portion including a flat upper surface, a flat lower surface and a cylindrical body connecting said upper surface to said lower surface, said cylindrical body including a plurality of sharp cutting points on the outside surface thereof for forming said additional spaces; and

a cylindrical shaft extending outwardly from said upper surface of said enlarged cylindrical portion, said shaft having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said enlarged cylindrical portion.

2. The router of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical shaft is of a size of about ⅛

of an inch in diameter, and said enlarged cylindrical portion is of a size of about 9/16 of an inch in diameter.

3. A rasp comprising an elongated shaft and a file portion attached to said shaft and transversely extending therefrom.

4. The rasp of claim 3 wherein said file portion extends substantially perpendicularly from said elongated shaft.

5. The rasp of claim 3 wherein the surface of said file portion includes a plurality of filing ridges thereon.

6. The rasp of claim 3 wherein said elongated shaft and said file portion each have a cylindrical cross-section.

7. A thumbscrew apparatus comprising an elongated tapered tube having a cap on the large end, having a thumbscrew threadedly connected through the cap and having a push rod attached to the thumbscrew within the tapered tube for compressing and pushing a solid compressible cylinder formed of a rubbery substance.

8. The thumbscrew apparatus of claim 7 wherein a solid compressible cylinder compressed in the tapered tube thereof is pushed out by the thumbscrew and push rod.