SEGMENTED INSERT FOR INTERVERTEBRAL SUPPORT

• US 20130096682A1
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mazor Robotics, Ltd (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Mazor Robotics, Ltd (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: SHOHAM, Moshe, ZEHAVI, Eli
• Granted Patent: US 9,056,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• 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 2002/30172 T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• 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 2002/30594 slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30599 stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0052 T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts

Abstract

A spinal intervertebral support implant, for fusion or for dynamic stabilization purposes. A rod, preferably in the form of a screw, is inserted obliquely from the pedicle of an inferior vertebra into the body of a neighboring superior vertebra, through the disc space. The rod can be anchored into the body of the superior vertebra by means of a force fit or a screw thread. A pile of elements is disposed on the rod in the disc space like a pile of washers, so that the compression load between vertebrae is carried partly by these elements. These elements can be inserted through the bore through which the rod was inserted in a tightly folded configuration, and deployed into their washer-like form only when in position in the intervertebral space, such that there is no need for any additional incisions.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. An intervertebral support system comprising:

a rod having a first end section adapted for affixing in the body of a first vertebra of a subject, and adapted to be inserted through a bore in the pedicle of a second adjacent vertebra of said subject; and

a plurality of solid elements adapted to be strung onto said rod when fixed in the body of said first vertebra, and into the intervertebral region, said elements being of a generally elongated hollow shape and having initial dimensions such that they are capable of passing through said bore, and being adapted to deploy in said intervertebral region to form a stack of elements, each of said elements when deployed having (a) a shape different from that which it had before being strung onto said rod, and (h) lateral dimensions substantially larger than that of said bore, such that said stack provides intervertebral support between said two adjacent vertebrae of a subject.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein said stack of elements essentially fills the height of said intervertebral region.

37. A system according to claim 35, and wherein said deployed elements have either one of an essentially flattened form or a dished form.

38. A system according to claim 35, and wherein said at least one deployed element has a dished form.

39. A system according to claim 35, wherein said first end section adapted for affixing in the body of a first vertebra rod is a threaded section adapted to be screwed into said body of said first vertebra.

40. A system according to claim 35, wherein said first end section adapted for affixing in the body of a first vertebra has at least one opening arranged to receive bone cement or bone growth material so as to create a bond to said body of said first vertebra.

41. A system according to claim 35, wherein said first end section adapted for affixing in the body of a first vertebra is adapted to be inserted as a forced fit into a hole formed in said body of said first vertebra.

44. A system according to claim 36, wherein said stack of elements and said rod provide support between said adjacent vertebrae.

45. A system according to claim 35, wherein at least one of said elements comprises a cylinder whose wail has a number of longitudinal slots along a part of its length, said slots being positioned at angular locations spaced around the circumference of said cylinder.

46. A system according to claim 45, wherein said slotted sections of said wall of said cylinder are such that they bend radially outwards within said intervertabral region, so as to form an element form having lateral dimensions substantially larger than that of said bore.

47. A system according to claim 46, said element further comprising openings formed in said slots, such that said slotted sections of said wall bend preferentially at said openings.

48. A system according to claim 46, said element further comprising at least one circumferential groove formed on said cylinder wall, such that said slotted sections of said wall bend preferentially at said at least one circumferential groove.

49. A system according to claim 46, said element further comprising at least one mechanical joint formed in said cylinder wall, such that a slotted section of said wail bends preferentially at said at least one mechanical joint.

50. A system according to claim 46, wherein that end of said cylinder from which said longitudinal slots commence is chamfered in a direction which assists in said radially outward bending of said slotted sections of said wail.

51. A system according to claim 46, wherein said rod has a sloped shoulder to contact an end of said cylinder, to assist in said radially outward bending of said slotted sections of said wall.

52. A system according to claim 35 and wherein at least one of said elements comprises a shape memory alloy.

42. A system according to claim I wherein said rod has a second end section having a threaded portion adapted to be affixed into said pedicle of said second vertebra.

43. A system according to claim 42, further comprising a cap adapted to be fixed to said pedicle to prevent said rod from retracting from said vertebrae.