Expandable spinal implant and surgical method
First Claim
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1. A spinal implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertebrae of a spine, said implant comprising:
- a plurality of deformable ribs;
said ribs deformable in response to a deforming force to change from a first shape to a second shape;
said ribs in said first shape presenting exterior surfaces cooperating to define a first exterior dimension sized to be received within a bore formed between adjacent vertebrae of a spine;
said ribs in said second shape presenting exterior surfaces cooperating to define a second exterior dimension greater than said first exterior dimension and sized to urge said adjacent vertebrae apart;
applying means for applying said deforming force to said ribs.
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Abstract
An expandable spinal implant is disclosed. The implant includes a plurality of ribs which are deformable between first and second states. In the first state, the ribs present a generally cylindrical implant. In the expanded second state, the ribs are arced outwardly to define a generally spherical implant. A tie mechanism is provided for urging the ribs between the first and second states and for holding the ribs in the expanded state. A novel surgical method is disclosed for stabilizing the spine by inserting the implant in the first state between opposing vertebrae and expanding the implant to the second state.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A spinal implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertebrae of a spine, said implant comprising:
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a plurality of deformable ribs; said ribs deformable in response to a deforming force to change from a first shape to a second shape; said ribs in said first shape presenting exterior surfaces cooperating to define a first exterior dimension sized to be received within a bore formed between adjacent vertebrae of a spine; said ribs in said second shape presenting exterior surfaces cooperating to define a second exterior dimension greater than said first exterior dimension and sized to urge said adjacent vertebrae apart; applying means for applying said deforming force to said ribs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 29)
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10. A spinal implant for insertion into a bore formed between adjacent vertebrae of a spine, the implant comprising:
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a plurality of ribs, each of said ribs including an inner structure and an outer structure, said inner structure having a plurality of grooves formed in an inner surface of said inner structure and spaced along a length of said ribs for such inner structure to curve outwardly from a rest state to an expanded state in response to a deforming force applied to opposite ends of said rib, said outer structure including means surrounding an outer surface of said inner structure to retain said inner structure in an arcuate shape when deformed by said deforming force; said implant sized to be inserted within a bore formed between adjacent vertebrae of a spine when said ribs are in said rest state, said implant sized to urge said adjacent vertebrae apart when said ribs are in said expanded state; means for applying said deforming force to said opposite ends. - View Dependent Claims (13, 26, 27)
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11. A spinal implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertebrae of a spine, the implant comprising:
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a plurality of ribs, each of said ribs including an inner structure and an outer structure, said inner structure having a plurality of grooves formed in an inner surface of said inner structure and space along a length of said ribs for such inner structure to curve outwardly in response to a deforming force applied to opposite ends of said rib, said outer structure including means surrounding an outer surface of said inner structure to retain said inner structure in an arcuate shape when deformed by said deforming force; means for applying said deforming force to said opposite ends; said inner structure is formed of a compression resistant material and said outer structure is formed of a tension resistant material, said inner and outer structures disposed in overlying relation.
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12. A spinal implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertebrae of a spine, the implant comprising:
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a plurality of ribs, each of said ribs including an inner structure and an outer structure, said inner structure having a plurality of grooves formed in an inner surface of said inner structure and spaced along a length of said ribs for such inner structure to curve outwardly in response to a deforming force applied to opposite ends of said rib, each of said grooves extending between groove defining surfaces of said inner surface, said outer structure including means surrounding an outer surface of said inner structure to retain said inner structure in an arcuate shape when deformed by said deforming force; means for applying said deforming force to said opposite ends; said inner and outer structures extend in generally a longitudinal direction, said groove defining surfaces of said inner structure movable toward one another into abutting relation as said ribs are deformed from said first shape to said second shape.
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14. A method for manufacturing an implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertebrae of a spine, said method including the steps of:
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providing an implant shell having a hollow interior and an implant matrix having a hollow interior, wit said matrix sized to be received within said shell in close fitting relation; inserting said matrix into said shell to form a composite implant assembly; forming a plurality of circumferential cuts along an inner surface of said matrix and with said cuts spaced along a longitudinal length of said matrix; forming a plurality of longitudinal slots through both said shell and said matrix;
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15. In the stabilization of a spine using an implant having a plurality of deformable ribs which are deformable in response to a deforming force to change from a first shape to a second shape, said ribs in the first shape presenting exterior surfaces defining a first exterior dimension and said ribs in said second shape presenting exterior surfaces cooperating to define a second exterior dimension greater than said first dimension, said implant further having a force applying means for applying said deforming force to said ribs, a method comprising the steps of:
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locating a degenerated disk between two opposing vertebrae; forming a bore at least partially through said disk; inserting a leading end of said implant into said bore; applying said deforming force to said ribs to urge said ribs to said second shape with said ribs in said second shape urging against said opposing surfaces; and fixing said ribs in said second shape. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23)
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21. A spinal implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertebrae of a spine, said implant comprising:
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a plurality of deformable ribs; said ribs deformable in response to a deforming force to change from a first shape to a second shape; said ribs in said first shape presenting exterior surfaces cooperating to define a first exterior dimension; said ribs in said second shape presenting exterior surfaces cooperating to define a second exterior dimension greater than said first exterior dimension; applying means for applying said deforming force to said ribs; said ribs formed of a plurality of block segments, block segments of a rib cooperating for said rib to form an arch of abutting segments when said ribs are in said second shape.
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22. A spinal implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertebrae of an animal spine, the implant comprising:
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a plurality of ribs, each of said ribs including an inner structure and an outer structure, said inner structure having a plurality of grooves formed in an inner surface of said inner structure and spaced along a length of said ribs for such inner structure to curve outwardly in response to a deforming force applied to opposite ends of said rib, said outer structure including means surrounding an outer surface of said inner structure to retain said inner structure in an arcuate shape when deformed by said deforming force; means for applying said deforming force to said opposite ends; said ribs formed of a plurality of block segments, block segments of a rib cooperating for said rib to form an arch of abutting block segments when said ribs are in said second shape.
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24. A spinal implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertebrae of a spine, said implant comprising:
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a plurality of deformable ribs; said ribs deformable in response to a deforming force to change from a first shape to a second shape; said ribs in said first shape presenting exterior surfaces cooperating to define a first exterior dimension; said ribs in said second shape presenting exterior surfaces cooperating to define a second exterior dimension greater than said first exterior dimension; applying means for applying said deforming force to said ribs; and a netting surrounding said ribs.
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25. A spinal implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertabrae of a spine, the implant comprising:
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a plurality of ribs, each of said ribs including an inner structure and an outer structure, said inner structure having a plurality of grooves formed in an inner surface of said inner structure to curve outwardly in response to a deforming force applied to opposite ends of said rib, said outer structure including means surrounding an outer surface of said inner structure to retain said inner structure in an arcuate shape when deformed by said deforming force; means for applying said deforming force to said opposite ends; a netting surrounding said ribs.
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28. An implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertebrae, said implant comprising:
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a plurality of ribs each including a plurality of voussoir-shaped blocks with said ribs deformable in response to a deforming force to change from a first shape to a second shape, said ribs in said first shape being generally linear with opposing surfaces of contiguous blocks being spaced apart and said ribs in said second shape being arched with opposing surfaces of said contiguous blocks being in at least partial contact; and applying means for applying said deforming force to said ribs.
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Specification