PARTIALLY RESORBABLE IMPLANTS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. An implant sized and adapted for insertion into an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bodies comprising:
- a non-resorbable, structural framework having top and bottom bone-contacting surfaces and a plurality of struts defining geometric openings between the top and bottom surfaces, the struts providing structural support for the framework, wherein the framework includes a plurality of support columns extending between proximal and distal ends of the framework, the plurality of support columns being spaced apart from each other to define vertical openings in the framework; and
a resorbable material component within and/or around the framework for resorption and formation of new bone to fuse the vertebral bodies together.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Implants including non-resorbable frameworks and resorbable components, as well as methods of use thereof are disclosed. The embodiments include different combinations of a non-resorbable framework (in some case structural and in other cases non-structural), and a resorbable component embedded within and/or around the framework (again, in some cases structural and in other cases non-structural). The disclosed implants provide an efficient means of providing structural support for the vertebral bodies post-implantation, as well as encouraging resorption of the implant and fusion of the associated vertebral bodies without negative side effects and/or failure, such as subsidence of the implant or cracking/fracturing of a portion of the implant when implanted.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An implant sized and adapted for insertion into an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bodies comprising:
-
a non-resorbable, structural framework having top and bottom bone-contacting surfaces and a plurality of struts defining geometric openings between the top and bottom surfaces, the struts providing structural support for the framework, wherein the framework includes a plurality of support columns extending between proximal and distal ends of the framework, the plurality of support columns being spaced apart from each other to define vertical openings in the framework; and a resorbable material component within and/or around the framework for resorption and formation of new bone to fuse the vertebral bodies together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of reducing subsidence of an implant into bone comprising:
-
providing an implant having a non-resorbable structural framework and a resorbable structural component positioned within and/or around the framework; implanting the framework between first and second adjacent vertebral bodies so that top and bottom surfaces of the framework contact vertebral endplates of the first and second vertebral bodies; and implanting the resorbable component between the first and second adjacent vertebral bodies so that top and bottom surfaces of the resorbable component contact the vertebral endplates, wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the resorbable component contact the vertebral endplates over a contact surface area sufficient to reduce peak stresses between the framework and the vertebral bodies by an amount effective to eliminate or reduce subsidence of the framework into the vertebral bodies. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An implant sized and adapted for insertion into an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bodies comprising:
-
a non-resorbable, structural framework having top and bottom bone-contacting surfaces and a plurality of struts defining geometric openings between the top and bottom surfaces, the struts providing structural support for the framework; and a resorbable material component within and/or around the framework for resorption and formation of new bone to fuse the vertebral bodies together, wherein the resorbable material has top and bottom bone-contacting surfaces, and the top and bottom surfaces of the resorbable component are arranged to contact the vertebral endplates over a contact surface area sufficient to reduce peak stresses between the framework and the vertebral bodies by an amount effective to reduce or eliminate subsidence of the framework into the vertebral bodies. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification