IN-SITU FORMED SPINAL IMPLANT

• US 20130204374A1
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Milella Jr
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Milella Jr
• Inventors: Milella, Michael J. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• 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 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• 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 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30293 Cylindrical body made by spirally rolling up a sheet or a strip around itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section

Abstract

An in-situ formed spinal implant is provided, including an elongate strip having a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the strip having a plurality of spaced teeth disposed along edges of the strip. The strip has a generally arcuate or concave cross-section and is configured for being coiled into a spiral from the proximate end to the distal end for placement between adjacent spinal vertebrae, such that upon formation of the coiled shape, the teeth on a first edge engage one of the vertebrae, and teeth of an opposite, second edge engage the other of the vertebrae.

Claims

1. An in-situ formed spinal implant, comprising:

an elongate strip having a proximal end and an opposite distal end;

said strip having a plurality of spaced teeth disposed along edges of said strip;

said strip having a generally arcuate cross-section and configured for being coiled into a spiral from said proximate end to said distal end for placement between adjacent spinal vertebrae, such that upon formation of said coiled shape, said teeth on a first edge engage one of the vertebrae, and teeth of an opposite, second edge engage the other of the vertebrae.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein said teeth on said first edge are one of symmetrically or asymmetrically aligned with said teeth on said second edge.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein said teeth have one of semi-circular tooth pockets, form a symmetrical saw tooth pattern with “

v”

-shaped tooth pockets, and an inclined saw-tooth pattern.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein a width is defined between said edges, and said width varies from said proximal end to said distal end.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein said coiled spiral shape defines one of a oval, triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, cardioid shape when viewed from above.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein said teeth are formed by semicircular indentations from said corresponding first and second edges.

7. The implant of claim 6, wherein dimensions of said indentations vary from said proximal end to said distal end.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein said elongate strip defines a generally cylindrical shape when viewed in cross-section, and a break is formed between said corresponding first and second edges.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein as more material is removed from said strip to form said break, a height of said implant is reduced.

10. The implant of claim 1, further including a plurality of spaced bend relief formations in said elongate strip, that enhances bending and is used for moving said implant in a dispensing device.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein said bend relief formations are dimples extending towards an interior of said arcuate cross-section formed by said implant.

12. The implant of claim 1, further including an axial passage formed by coiling of said strip.

13. The implant of claim 1, wherein said coiled shape defines a concave walled exterior.

14. A device for installing a coiled elongate strip as a spinal implant, comprising:

a housing having a delivery tube at one end, and an implant loading chamber at an opposite end;

a trigger-operated indexing mechanism which moves the strip from said loading chamber to said delivery tube;

a deployment tip being disposed at an end of said delivery tube, said deployment tip including a flared ramp for changing the concavity of the strip; and

a tensioning cord disposed at said deployment tip and forming a loop for causing the strip to form a coiled spiral upon progressive movement from said delivery tube.

15. The device of claim 14 further including a reciprocating knife disposed in said delivery tube and under operator control for severing said tensioning cord upon placement of said coiled implant.

16. The device of claim 14 further including a splined screw rotating within said delivery tube for advancing the strip toward said deployment tip upon actuation of said trigger.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the elongate strip has a plurality of dimples extending towards an inner surface of the implant, and said splined screw has a helical groove constructed and arranged for accommodating the dimples for moving the implant through the device.