JOINT SPACER

• US 20130144389A1
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,956,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/562 Implants for placement in joint gaps without restricting joint motion, e.g. to reduce arthritic pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8095 Wedge osteotomy devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30734 Modular inserts, sleeves or augments, e.g. placed on proximal part of stem for fixation purposes or wedges for bridging a bone defect
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• 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 2/4455 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 2002/0086 for preferentially controlling or promoting the growth of specific types of cells or tissues of bone tissue onto implantable joints A61F2002/3093
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30128 concentric ellipses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30187 D-shaped or half-disc-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3023 wedge-shaped cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30232 Half-cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30518 with possibility of relative movement between the prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30622 Implant for fusing a joint or bone material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30736 Augments or augmentation pieces, e.g. wedges or blocks for bridging a bone defect
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30754 Implants for interposition between two natural articular surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 : elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0034 : D-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 : for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00976 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/907 : Composed of particular material or coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/909 : Bone

Abstract

To change a spatial relationship between two or more bones in a patient'"'"'s body, a wedge member is moved into a joint between the bones. The wedge member may have a cam-shaped configuration and be rotated through less than a revolution to apply force against the bones. The wedge member may have a porous construction which enables bone to grow through the wedge member and immobilize the joint. The wedge member may be coated with and/or contain bone growth promoting material. The wedge member may be connected to only one of the bones or may be connected to two adjacent bones. If the wedge member is connected to only one bone, the joint may be capable of being flexed after the wedge member is inserted into the joint.

Claims

1. A plurality of implantable devices for maintaining a space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the plurality of implantable devices comprising:

a first body having a first leading end portion, a first trailing end portion, a first upper surface and a first lower surface, a first passage extending from a first trailing end of the first trailing end portion to the first upper surface and a second passage extending from the first trailing end to the first lower surface, the first trailing end portion defining a first thickness; and

a second body having a second leading end portion, a second trailing end portion, a second upper surface, a second lower surface, a third passage extending from a second trailing end of the second trailing end portion to the second upper surface and a fourth passage extending from the second trailing end to the second lower surface, the second trailing end portion defining a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness.

2. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 1, wherein the first upper surface tapers toward the first lower surface from the first trailing end portion to the first leading end portion, the first upper surface and the first lower surface defining a first acute angle, the second upper surface tapers toward the second lower surface from the second trailing end portion to the second leading end portion, the second upper surface and the second lower surface defining a second acute angle, the first and second acute angles being within a range between one and thirty degrees (1-30°

).

3. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 1, wherein the first body has a first length and the second body has a second length, the first length being different than the second length.

4. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 1, wherein the first body has a first central longitudinal axis extending between the first trailing end portion and the first leading end portion and the second body has a second central longitudinal axis extending between the second trailing end portion and the second leading end portion, the first body includes a first bone growth passage extending between the first upper surface and the first lower surface, generally perpendicular to the first central longitudinal axis, the second body includes a second bone growth passage extending between the second upper surface and the second lower surface, generally perpendicular to the second central longitudinal axis.

5. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 1, wherein the first body has a first side surface and a second side surface, the first passage positioned between the first side surface and the second passage, the second passage positioned between the second side surface and the first passage.

6. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 1, wherein the first body includes a first socket in the trailing end portion positioned on a first central longitudinal axis of the first body.

7. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 1, wherein the first and second bodies are formed of a solid piece of material.

8. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 1, wherein the first and second bodies are formed of a continuous piece of porous material.

9. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 1, further comprising:

a third body having a third leading end portion, a third trailing end portion, a third upper surface and a third lower surface, a fifth passage extending from a third trailing end of the third trailing end portion to the third upper surface and a sixth passage extending from the third trailing end to the third lower surface, the third trailing end portion defining a third thickness, the third thickness being greater than the second thickness.

10. A plurality of implantable devices of implantable devices for maintaining a space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the plurality of implantable devices comprising:

a first body having a first leading end portion, a first trailing end portion, a first upper surface and a first lower surface, a first passage extending from a first trailing end of the first trailing end portion to the first upper surface and a second passage extending from the first trailing end to the first lower surface, the first body defining a first width; and

a second body having a second leading end portion, a second trailing end portion, a second upper surface, a second lower surface, a third passage extending from a second trailing end of the second trailing end portion to the second upper surface and a fourth passage extending from the second trailing end to the second lower surface, the second body defining a second width, the second width being greater than the first width.

11. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 10, wherein the first width is measured along the first leading end portion and the second width is measured along the second leading end portion.

12. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 10, wherein the first body has a generally frusta-cylindrical shape and the second body has a generally frusta-cylindrical shape.

13. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 10, wherein the first body is formed as a solid piece of polymeric material and the second body is formed as a solid piece of polymeric material.

14. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 13, wherein the first body includes a first bone growth passage extending therethrough and the second body includes a second bone growth passage extending therethrough, the first and second bone growth passages being generally linear.

15. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 10, wherein the first trailing end portion defines a first thickness and the second trailing end portion defines a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness.

16. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 10, further comprising:

a first fastener configured for mounting in the first passage;

a second fastener configured for mounting in the second passage;

a third fastener configured for mounting in the third passage; and

a fourth fastener configured for mounting in the fourth passage.

17. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 10, wherein the first upper surface and the first lower surface define a first acute angle and the second upper surface and the second lower surface define a second acute angle, the first acute angle being different than the second acute angle.

18. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 17, wherein the first and second acute angles are within a range between one and thirty degrees (1-30°

).

19. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 10, further comprising:

a third body having a third leading end portion, a third trailing end portion, a third upper surface and a third lower surface, a fifth passage extending from a third trailing end of the third trailing end portion to the third upper surface and a sixth passage extending from the third trailing end to the third lower surface, the third body defining a third width, the third width being greater than the second width.

20. A plurality of implantable devices of implantable devices for maintaining a space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the plurality of implantable devices comprising:

a first body having a first leading end portion, a first trailing end portion, a first upper surface and a first lower surface, a first passage extending from a first trailing end of the first trailing end portion to the first upper surface and a second passage extending from the first trailing end to the first lower surface, the first upper surface and the first lower surface defining a first acute angle; and

a second body having a second leading end portion, a second trailing end portion, a second upper surface, a second lower surface, a third passage extending from a second trailing end of the second trailing end portion to the second upper surface and a fourth passage extending from the second trailing end to the second lower surface, the second upper surface and the second lower surface defining a second acute angle, the first acute angle being different than the second acute angle.

21. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 20, wherein the first and second acute angles are within a range between one and thirty degrees (1-30°

).

22. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 20, wherein the first trailing end portion defines a first thickness and the second trailing end portion defines a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness.

23. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 20, wherein the first body defines a first width and the second body defines a second width, the second width being greater than the first width.

24. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 23, wherein the first width is measured along the first leading end portion and the second width is measured along the second leading end portion.

25. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 20, wherein the first body is formed as a solid piece of polymeric material and the second body is formed as a solid piece of polymeric material.

26. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 20, wherein the first body includes a first bone growth passage extending therethrough and the second body includes a second bone growth passage extending therethrough, the first and second bone growth passages being generally linear.

27. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 20, wherein the first and second bodies are configured to enable a surgeon to select one of the first body and the second body depending upon a distance between the first vertebra and the second vertebra that the surgeon wants to maintain.

28. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 20, further comprising:

a third body having a third leading end portion, a third trailing end portion, a third upper surface and a third lower surface, a fifth passage extending from a third trailing end of the third trailing end portion to the third upper surface and a sixth passage extending from the third trailing end to the third lower surface.

29. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 28, wherein the third upper surface is generally parallel to the third lower surface.

30. The plurality of implantable devices of claim 28, wherein the third upper surface and the third lower surface define a third acute angle, the third acute angle is different than the first and second acute angles.