Implant with Independent Endplates

• US 20180221156A1
• Filed: 04/02/2018
• Published: 08/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanohive Medical LLC
• Original Assignee: HD LifeSciences LLC
• Inventors: Jones, Christopher L., Helmar, Ian, Diehl, Lucas, Tinley, Jason, Chappuis, Kevin D., Sullivan, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,405,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30771 applied in original prostheses, e.g. holes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4202 for ankles
• 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 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30006 differing in density or specific weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30125 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30141 dodecagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30143 hexagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30146 octagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30148 lozenge- or diamond-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30149 pentagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30151 rhomboidal or parallelogram-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30154 square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30263 cubical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30281 wedge-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30546 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30565 having spring elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30784 : Plurality of holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30828 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3092 : having an open-celled or open-pored structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3093 : for promoting ingrowth of bone tissue
• 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 2310/00071 : Nickel or Ni-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00089 : Zirconium or Zr-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00131 : Tantalum or Ta-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00137 : Tungsten or W-based alloys

Abstract

In some aspects, the present invention is a medical implant with an independent endplate structure that can stimulate bone or tissue growth in or around the implant. When used as a scaffold for bone growth, the inventive structure can increase the strength of new bone growth. The independent endplate structures generally include implants with endplates positioned on opposite sides of the implant and capable of at least some movement relative to one another. In most examples, the endplates have a higher elastic modulus than that of the bulk of the implant to allow the use of an implant with a low elastic modulus, without risk of damage from the patient'"'"'s bone.

A method of designing independent endplate implants is also disclosed, including ranges of elastic moduli for the endplates and bulk of the implant for given implant parameters. Implants with elastic moduli within the ranges disclosed herein can optimize the loading of new bone growth to provide increased bone strength.

Claims

1. An implant comprising:

a body comprising a metallic lattice structure; and

a first endplate spaced apart from a second endplate, the first endplate being mechanically connected to the second endplate substantially only via the body;

wherein;

the first endplate comprises an upper surface for contacting a first segment of tissue and a lower surface fixed to the body;

the second endplate comprises a lower surface for contacting a second segment of tissue and an upper surface fixed to the body;

wherein an elastic modulus of each of the first endplate and second endplate is higher than an elastic modulus of the body;

wherein the body is disposed at least partially between the first and second endplates; and

each of the first and second endplates comprise a metal.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein substantially only via the body is defined by a connection where the body has an elastic modulus that is at least 50 percent of a construct elastic modulus.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein substantially only via the body is defined by a connection where the body has an elastic modulus that is at least 90 percent of a construct elastic modulus.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant is configured to fuse multiple levels of the spine.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant is configured to fuse adjacent levels of the spine.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant is configured to fuse non-adjacent levels of the spine.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first segment of tissue is a bony structure.

8. The implant of claim 7, wherein the second segment of tissue is a bony structure.

9. The implant of claim 7, wherein the second segment of tissue is a connective tissue.

10. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first segment of tissue is a connective tissue and the second segment of tissue is a connective tissue.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the body has a volumetric density between and including 5 percent to 50 percent.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein both of the first endplate and said second endplate have one or more interconnected openings.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the body has an elastic modulus between and including 300 MPa to 12 GPa.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the body has a volumetric density between and including 25 percent to 38 percent.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the first endplate and the second endplate have an elastic modulus between and including 300 MPa to 130 GPa.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the body has an elastic modulus between and including 1 GPa to 5 GPa.

17. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant has a construct elastic modulus between and including 0.3 GPa to 4 GPa, the body has an elastic modulus between and including 0.375 GPa to 4 GPa, and the first endplate and the second endplate have an elastic modulus between and including 0.3 GPa to 130 GPa.

18. The implant of claim 1, wherein the metal of any of said body and said endplates is selected from the group consisting of zirconium, stainless steel, tantalum, nitinol, cobalt, chromium alloys, titanium and tungsten, and alloys thereof.

19. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first endplate has an area, when viewed from above, that is 10 percent to 100 percent an implant footprint area.

20. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first endplate is not parallel to the second endplate.