Vertebral body prosthesis

• US 5,236,460 A
• Filed: 10/10/1991
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Midas Rex L.P. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Midas Rex Pneumatic Tools, Inc.
• Inventors: Barber, Forest C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLSE, DAVID H
• Application Number:
  US07/774,208
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17, 623/16, 623/26, 606/61, 606/63, 403/5, 403/31, 403/37, 403/109, 403/377, 403/378
• US Class Current: 623/17.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/484 Fluid means, i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30566 Helical springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30576 with extending fixation tabs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30589 Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/22 with fluid pressure responsive component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32516 Remotely actuated

Abstract

A vertebral prosthesis locates between vertebral bodies of a human body. The prosthesis has tubular inner and outer bodies that telescope relative to each other. Each body has a platform on its end. The platform secures to adjacent vertebral bodies. Sharp pins on the platform pierce the vertebral bodies to stabilize the prosthesis. A bracket slides laterally and secures by screws to sides of the vertebral bodies.

Claims

1. A vertebral prosthesis for positioning between vertebral bodies, comprising in combination:

a tubular outer body having a platform on one end, a longitudinal axis and an axial bore;

an inner body having a cylindrical portion carried in the bore of the outer body for sliding telescoping movement along the axis of the outer body, the inner body having a platform on one end that is located exterior of the outer body;

securing means on each of the platforms for securing the platforms to adjacent vertebral bodies;

port means for introducing a liquid into the bore of the outer body to cause the inner body to move axially relative to the outer body to provide a desired length for the prosthesis between platforms; and

wherein each of the securing means comprises;

a plurality of pins, each protruding in an axial direction from one of the platforms for anchoring in holes in one of the vertebral bodies;

a bracket having a base and a flange which extends from one side of the bracket transverse to the base;

means for mounting the base of the bracket to one of the platforms for sliding movement transverse to the axis of the outer body to position the flange at a selected lateral distance from the axis of the outer body; and

fastener means for fastening the flange to one of the vertebral bodies.

2. A vertebral prosthesis for positioning between vertebral bodies, comprising in combination:

a tubular outer body having a platform on one end, a longitudinal axis and an axial bore;

an inner body having a cylindrical portion carried in the bore of the outer body for sliding telescoping movement along the axis of the outer body, the inner body having a platform on one end that is located exterior of the outer body;

securing means on each of the platforms for securing the platforms to adjacent vertebral bodies;

port means for introducing a liquid into the bore of the outer body to cause the inner body to move axially relative to the outer body to provide a desired length for the prosthesis between platforms; and

wherein each of the securing means comprises;

a plurality of pins, each having a sharp tip, each protruding in an axial direction from one of the platforms for piercing and anchoring in soft portions of the vertebral bodies;

a bracket having a base and a flange which extends from one side of the bracket transverse to the base;

means for mounting the base of the bracket to one of the platforms for sliding movement transverse to the axis of the outer body to position the flange at a selected lateral distance from the axis of the outer body; and

fastener means for fastening the flange to one of the vertebral bodies.

3. A vertebral prosthesis for positioning between vertebral bodies, comprising in combination:

a tubular outer body having a platform on one end, a longitudinal axis and an axial bore;

an inner body having a cylindrical portion carried in the bore of the outer body for sliding telescoping movement along the axis of the outer body, the inner body having a platform on one end that is located exterior of the outer body;

securing means on each of the platforms for securing the platforms to adjacent vertebral bodies;

port means for introducing a liquid into the bore of the outer body to cause the inner body to move axially relative to the outer body to provide a desired length for the prosthesis between platforms; and

wherein at least one of the securing means comprises;

a pin having a sharp tip protruding in an axial direction through a hole provided in one of the platforms; and

a piston carried in the outer body for relative movement thereto, the pin being mounted to the piston for movement therewith, the liquid being introduced into the outer body causing the piston to move to cause the pin to pierce and anchor in soft portions of one of the vertebral bodies.

4. A vertebral prosthesis for positioning between vertebral bodies, comprising in combination:

a tubular outer body having a platform on one end, a longitudinal axis and an axial bore;

an inner body having a cylindrical portion carried in the bore of the outer body for sliding telescoping movement along the axis of the outer body, the inner body having a platform on one end that is located exterior of the outer body;

securing means on each of the platforms for securing the platforms to adjacent vertebral bodies;

port means for introducing a liquid into the bore of the outer body to cause the inner body to move axially relative to the outer body to provide a desired length for the prosthesis between platforms; and

wherein each of the securing means comprises;

a pin having a sharp time protruding in an axial direction through a hole provided in each of the platforms; and

a piston carried in the outer body for relative movement thereto, the pin being mounted to the piston for movement therewith, the liquid being introduced into the outer body causing the piston to move axially to cause the pin to pierce and anchor in soft portions of the vertebral bodies.

5. A vertebral prosthesis for positioning between vertebral bodies, comprising in combination:

a tubular outer body having a platform on one end, a longitudinal axis and an axial bore;

an inner body having a cylindrical portion carried in the bore of the outer body for sliding telescoping movement along the axis of the outer body, the inner body having a platform on one end that is located exterior of the outer body;

securing means on each of the platforms for securing the platforms to adjacent vertebral bodies;

port means for introducing a liquid into the bore of the outer body to cause the inner body to move axially relative to the outer body to provide a desired length for the prosthesis between platforms; and

wherein at least one of the securing means comprises;

a pin having a sharp tip protruding in an axial direction through a hole provided in one of the platforms;

a piston carried it the outer body for relative movement thereto, the pin being mounted to the piston for movement therewith, the liquid being introduced into the outer body causing the piston to move to cause the pin to pierce and anchor in soft portions of one of the vertebral bodies;

a bracket having a base and a flange which extends from one side of the bracket transverse to the base;

means for mounting the base of the bracket to one of the platforms for sliding movement transverse to the axis of the outer body to position the flange at a selected lateral distance from the axis of the outer body; and

fastener means for fastening the flange to one of the vertebral bodies.

6. A vertebral prosthesis for positioning between vertebral bodies, comprising in combination:

a tubular outer body having a platform on one end, a longitudinal axis and an axial bore;

a tubular inner body having a cylindrical portion carried in the bore of the outer body for sliding telescoping movement along the axis of the outer body, the inner body having a platform on one end that is located exterior of the outer body;

securing means on each of the platforms for securing the platforms to adjacent vertebral bodies;

port means for introducing a liquid into the bore of the outer body to cause the inner body to move axially relative to the outer body to provide a desired length for the prosthesis between platforms, the liquid being of a type which cures to a rigid mass to retain the desired length; and

wherein each of the securing means comprises;

a plurality of pins, each protruding in an axial direction from one of the platforms for anchoring in holes in one of the vertebral bodies;

a bracket having a base and a flange which extends from one side of the bracket transverse to the base;

means for mounting the base of the bracket to one of the platforms for sliding movement transverse to the axis of the outer body to position the flange at a selected lateral distance from the axis of the outer body; and

fastener means for fastening the flange to one of the vertebral bodies.

7. A vertebral prosthesis for positioning between vertebral bodies, comprising in combination:

a tubular outer body having a platform on one end, a longitudinal axis and an axial bore;

a tubular inner body having a cylindrical portion carried in the bore of the outer body for sliding telescoping movement along the axis of the outer body, the inner body having a platform on one end that is located exterior of the outer body;

securing means on each of the platforms for securing the platforms to adjacent vertebral bodies;

port means for introducing a liquid into the bore of the outer body to cause the inner body to move axially relative to the outer body to provide a desired length for the prosthesis between platforms, the liquid being of a type which cures to a rigid mass to retain the desired length; and

wherein each of the securing means comprises;

a plurality of pins, each having a sharp tip, each protruding in an axial direction from one of the platforms for piercing and anchoring in soft portions of the vertebral bodies;

a bracket having abase and a flange which extends from one side of the bracket transverse to the base;

means for mounting the base of the bracket to one of the platforms for sliding movement transverse to the axis of the outer body to position the flange at a selected lateral distance from the axis of the outer body; and

fastener means for fastening the flange to one of the vertebral bodies.

8. A vertebral prosthesis for positioning between vertebral bodies, comprising in combination:

a tubular outer body having a platform on one end, a longitudinal axis and an axial fore;

an inner body having a cylindrical portion carried in the bore of the outer body for sliding telescoping movement along the axis of the outer body, the inner body having a platform on one end that is located exterior of the outer body;

securing means on each of the platforms for securing the platforms to adjacent vertebral bodies;

port means for introducing a liquid into the bore of the outer body to cause the inner body to move axially relative to the outer body to provide a desired length for the prosthesis between platforms;

check valve means located within one of the bodies for allowing liquid to be introduced into the outer body, but preventing the liquid from flowing out of the outer body; and

wherein each of the securing means comprises;

a plurality of pins, each protruding in an axial direction from one of the platforms for anchoring in holes in one of the vertebral bodies;

a bracket having a base and a flange which extends from one side of the bracket transverse to the base;

means for mounting the base of the bracket to one of the platforms for sliding movement transverse to the axis of the outer body to position the flange at a selected lateral distance from the axis of the outer body; and

fastener means for fastening the flange to one of the vertebral bodies.

9. A vertebral prosthesis for positioning between vertebral bodies, comprising in combination:

a tubular outer body having a platform on one end, a longitudinal axis and an axial bore;

an inner body having a cylindrical portion carried in the bore of the outer body for sliding telescoping movement along the axis of the outer body, the inner body having a platform on one end that is located exterior of the outer body;

securing means on each of the platforms for securing the platforms to adjacent vertebral bodies;

port means for introducing a liquid into the bore of the outer body to cause the inner body to move axially relative to the outer body to provide a desired length for the prosthesis between platforms;

check valve means located within one of the bodies for allowing liquid to be introduced into the outer body, but preventing the liquid from flowing out of the outer body; and

wherein each of the securing means comprises;

a plurality of pins, each having a sharp tip, each protruding in an axial direction from one of the platforms for piercing and anchoring in soft portions of the vertebral bodies;

a bracket having a base and a flange which extends from one side of the bracket transverse to the base;

means for mounting the base of the bracket to one of the platforms for sliding movement transverse to the axis of the outer body to position the flange at a selected lateral distance from the axis of the outer body; and

fastener means for fastening the flange to one of the vertebral bodies.

10. A vertebral prosthesis for positioning between vertebral bodies, comprising in combination:

a tubular outer body having a platform on one end, a longitudinal axis and an axial bore;

a tubular inner body having a cylindrical portion carried in the bore of the outer body for sliding telescoping movement along the axis of the outer body, the inner body having a platform on one end that is located exterior of the outer body;

a piston carried in the outer body for axial movement relative to the outer body;

a pin mounted to the piston, the pin having a sharp tip which protrudes through a hole provided in one of the platforms; and

port means for introducing a liquid into the bore of the outer body to move the piston to cause the pin to pierce and anchor within one of the vertebral bodies and to cause the inner body to move axially relative to the outer body to provide a desired length for the prosthesis between platforms.

11. The prosthesis according to claim 10 further comprising:

a bracket having a base and a flange which extends from one side of the bracket transverse to the base;

means for mounting the base of the bracket to one of the platforms for sliding movement transverse to the axis of the outer body to position the flange at a selected lateral distance from the axis of the outer body; and

fastener means for fastening the flange to one of the vertebral bodies.