Prosthetic Intervertebral Discs Implantable By Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques

• US 20110082552A1
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Spinal Kinetics Incorporated (Orthofix Medical Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spinal Kinetics Incorporated (Orthofix Medical Inc.)
• Inventors: Wistrom, Elizabeth V., Reo, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US12/768,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20110082552A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• 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 2/441 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 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30448 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30451 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• 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 2002/30581 having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid
• 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 2002/30616 Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30736 Augments or augmentation pieces, e.g. wedges or blocks for bridging a bone defect
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3082 Grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30836 knurled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 : Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• 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 2002/4495 : having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 : swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 : using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 : soldered or brazed or welded
• 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 2250/0018 : differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• 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 2310/00161 : Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures

Abstract

The described devices are bound spinal implants that may be surgically implanted into the spine to replace damaged or diseased discs using a posterior, lateral, or postero-lateral approach. The discs are prosthetic devices that approach or mimic the physiological motion and reaction of the natural disc.

Claims

1. A prosthetic intervertebral disc, comprising:

a first end plate;

a second end plate;

at least one compressible core member having a modified olive shape and positioned between said first and second end plates;

at least one fiber extending between and engaged with said first and second end plates; and

at least one binding element compressing at least a portion of the disc to a lower profile, and wherein said end plates and said core member are held together by said at least one fiber.

2. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the at least one binding element compresses one end of the disc.

3. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein one binding element compresses one end of the disc.

4. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein two binding elements compresses two ends of the disc.

5. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the at least one binding element compresses both ends of the disc.

6. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the at least one binding element is releasable by a slip knot.

7. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the at least one binding element is crimped and releasing the crimp releases the binding element.

8. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the at least one binding element is releasable by a severing the binding element.

9. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the at least one binding element comprises a composition selected from synthetic polymers, natural polymers, metals, alloys, and coated materials.

10. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the at least one binding element comprises a form selected from monofilament, thread, multifilament, and cable.

11. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the disc is bullet-shaped.

12. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 1 wherein the disc is lozenge-shaped.

13. A kit for surgically replacing a discs in a spine with a posterior approach, comprising exactly two of the prosthetic discs of claim 1.

14. The kit of claim 13 further comprising at least one cannula suitable for a posterior approach configured to access a disc to be replaced and to bypass the spinal cord and local nerve roots and further sized for passage of at least one of the two prosthetic discs of claim 1.

15. The kit of claim 13 wherein the first and second end plates of each of the prosthetic discs have a length and a width, and wherein the length is greater than the width.

16. The kit of claim 15 wherein the first and second end plates of the prosthetic discs have a length:

width aspect ratio of the first and second end plates is in the range of about 1.5;

1 to 5.0;

1.

17. A prosthetic intervertebral disc comprising:

a first end plate having an inner surface comprising a generally rounded recess that conforms in shape to the exterior of a compressible core member,

a second end plate having an inner surface comprising a generally rounded recess that conforms in shape to the exterior of the compressible core member,

the compressible core member having an exterior surface shape conforming to the rounded recesses in said first and second end plates and positioned between said first and second end plates,

at least one fiber extending between and engaged with said first and second end plates.

18. The prosthetic disc of claim 17 wherein the disc includes an annular region and a nucleus region, the annular region forming an annulus surrounding the nucleus region, and wherein the first end plate has an upper surface operable to engage a surface on the first vertebral bone within the intervertebral opening and to secure the first end plate to the first vertebral bone upon said implantation and wherein the second end plate has a lower surface operable to engage a surface on the second vertebral bone within the intervertebral opening and to secure the second end plate to the second vertebral bone upon said implantation, wherein the compressible core comprises at least one core member positioned between said first and second endplates and located only in the nucleus region, and wherein the at least one fiber extending between and engaged with said first and second endplates is located only in the annular region.

19. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 17 wherein the disc is bullet-shaped.

20. The prosthetic intervertebral disc of claim 17 wherein the disc is lozenge-shaped.