System for the immobilization of vertebrae

• US 5,571,109 A
• Filed: 08/26/1994
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: MAN Ceramics GmbH
• Inventors: Bertagnoli, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARKOW, SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US08/297,445
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/61, 606/90, 606/99, 606/105, 606/86, 623/17
• US Class Current: 606/86.00A
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/92 Impactors or extractors, e.g. for removing intramedullary devices insertion or extraction of artificial joints A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30724 Spacers for centering an implant in a bone cavity, e.g. in a cement-receiving cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• 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 2/4455 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4644 Preparation of bone graft, bone plugs or bone dowels, e.g. grinding or milling bone material bone material A61F2/28; disintegrating or milling devices B02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• 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 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• 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 2002/30153 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30169 : Pi-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30398 : Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30459 : stapled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 : having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• 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 2002/30879 : Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30909 : Nets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4622 : having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4628 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0066 : stapled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0047 : Pi-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

For a rapid and accurate performance of surgery for the immobilization of vertebrae an implantation system is suggested in the case of which the surgical implements such as drills, chisels, bone milling or routing implements, implant guide implements, cooperate with an ancillary device, which renders possible an exact and speedy mounting of the respectively desired implement. The ancillary device may be an elongated guide instrument which comprises guide rails or a guide cylinder and a spreading device. A spacer, which is inserted into a gap between vertebrae after the same have been urged apart, may also be designed in the form of an auxiliary device.

Claims

1. An implantation system for immobilizing vertebrae, said system comprising:

at least one guide instrument for mounting on vertebrae to be immobilized;

said guide instrument comprises at least two elongate, parallel guide rails assembled to form a unitary component, each of said guide rails having a longitudinal groove for guiding and exactly positioning surgical implants to be employed for surgery on the vertebrae, wherein said longitudinal grooves extend in a longitudinal direction of said guide instrument and face one another;

at least one elongate surgical implement guided with said guide instrument, said surgical implement having elongate first guide means for cooperating with said longitudinal grooves of said guide rails of said guide instrument; and

surgical implants having means for immobilizing vertebrae, said surgical implants having second guide means for cooperating with said longitudinal grooves of said guide rails of said guide instrument.

2. An implantation system according to claim 1, wherein said guide instrument includes a spreading device having means for spreading vertebrae.

3. An implantation system according to claim 1, wherein said guide instrument further comprises inserts having means for adjusting a width between said longitudinal grooves of said guide instrument.

4. An implantation system according to claim 1, wherein said surgical implants are substantially U-shaped and have U-shaped end faces and wherein said second guide means are located on said U-shaped end faces of said surgical implants.

5. An implantation system according to claim 1, wherein said second guide means is at least one guide element in the form of a longitudinal key engaging said longitudinal keys of said guide rails of said guide instrument.

6. An implantation system according to claim 1, wherein each of said surgical implants is in the form of a rectangular block comprised of fiber reinforced synthetic resin.

7. An implantation system according to claim 1, further comprising said surgical implants having means for attaching said surgical implants to at least one vertebra, said means for attaching including staples.

8. An implantation system according to claim 1, wherein each of said surgical implants is in the form of a cylinder comprised of fiber reinforced synthetic resin.

9. An implantation system for immobilizing vertebrae, said system comprising:

at least one guide instrument for mounting on vertebrae to be immobilized; and

said guide instrument comprises at least two elongate, parallel guide rails assembled to form a unitary component, each one of said guide rails having a longitudinal key for guiding and exactly positioning surgical implants to be employed for surgery on the vertebrae, wherein said longitudinal keys extend in a longitudinal direction of said guide instrument and face one another;

at least one elongate surgical implement guided with said guide instrument, said surgical implement having elongate first guide means for cooperating with said longitudinal keys of said guide rails of said guide instrument; and

surgical implants having means for immobilizing vertebrae, said surgical implants having second guide means for cooperating with said longitudinal key of said guide rails of said guide instrument.

10. An implantation system according to claim 9, wherein said guide instrument includes a spreading device having means for spreading vertebrae.

11. An implantation system according to claim 9, wherein said guide instrument further comprises inserts having means for adjusting a width between said guide keys of said guide instrument.

12. An implantation system according to claim 9, wherein said surgical implants are substantially U-shaped and have U-shaped end faces and wherein said second guide means are located on said U-shaped end faces of said surgical implants.

13. An implantation system according to claim 9, wherein said second guide means is at least one guide element in the form of a longitudinal groove engaging said guide rails of said guide instrument.

14. An implantation system according to claim 9, wherein each of said surgical implants is in the form of a rectangular block comprised of fiber reinforced synthetic resin.

15. An implantation system according to claim 9, wherein each of said surgical implants is in the form of a cylinder comprised of fiber reinforced synthetic resin.

16. An implantation system according to claim 9, further comprising said surgical implants having means for attaching said surgical implants to at least one vertebra, said means for attaching including staples.

17. An implantation system for immobilizing vertebrae, said system comprising:

at least one guide instrument for mounting on vertebrae to be immobilized; and

said guide instrument is in the form of an elongate, tubular component with internal elongate guide keys for guiding and exactly positioning surgical implants to be employed for surgery on the vertebrae, wherein said internal elongate guide keys extend in a longitudinal direction of said guide instrument and face one another;

at least one elongate surgical implement guided with said guide instrument, said surgical implement having elongate first guide means for cooperating with said internal elongate guide keys of said guide instrument; and

surgical implants having means for immobilizing vertebrae, said surgical implants having second guide means for cooperating with said internal elongate guide keys of said guide instrument.

18. An implantation system according to claim 17, wherein said guide instrument includes a spreading device having means for spreading vertebrae.

19. An implantation system according to claim 17, wherein said guide instrument further comprises inserts having means for adjusting a width between said guide keys of said guide instrument.

20. An implantation system according to claim 17, wherein said surgical implants are substantially U-shaped and have U-shaped end faces and wherein said second guide means are located on said U-shaped end faces of said surgical implants.

21. An implantation system according to claim 17, wherein said second guide means is at least one guide element in the form of a longitudinal groove engaging said guide keys of said guide instrument.

22. An implantation system according to claim 17, wherein each of said surgical implants is in the form of a rectangular block comprised of fiber reinforced synthetic resin.

23. An implantation system according to claim 17, wherein each of said surgical implants is in the form of a cylinder comprised of fiber reinforced synthetic resin.

24. An implantation system according to claim 17, further comprising said surgical implants having means for attaching said surgical implants to at least one vertebra, said means for attaching including staples.