Implant for the replacement of vertebrae and/or stabilization and fixing of the spinal column

• US 5,571,190 A
• Filed: 08/11/1994
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heinrich Ulrich
• Original Assignee: Heinrich Ulrich
• Inventors: Ulrich, Heinrich, Wolf, Oleg J. P.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITTINGHAM, DEBRA
• Application Number:
  US08/289,286
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 623/11, 623/16, 623/17, 623/18, 606/61, 606/60
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• 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 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3023 wedge-shaped cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30494 Cooperating protrusions and recesses, e.g. radial serrations, located on abutting end surfaces of a longitudinal connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3054 about a connection axis or implantation axis for selecting any one of a plurality of radial orientations between two modular parts, e.g. Morse taper connections, at discrete positions, angular positions or continuous positions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30594 slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30599 stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30795 Blind bores, e.g. of circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3082 Grooves
• 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 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 : Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/907 : Composed of particular material or coated

Abstract

An implant for spinal column resection stabilization or fixing has a pin with points lodged in vertebrae of the column and onto which an implant body composed of segments can be slid transversely so that a groove of the body receives the pin. The segments of the body are locked together with tooth crowns and can be rotated relatively to offset the mouths of the grooves.

Claims

1. Spinal implant for vertebral replacement, stabilization and fixation in a spinal column, said implant comprising:

a bracing pin having centering points at opposite ends engageable in spaced apart vertebrae of the spinal column, and a pin shank between said points;

an implant body fitted laterally over said pin in a direction transverse to an axis thereof between said spaced apart vertebrae and having end surfaces abutting same, said body having a laterally open groove receiving said pin and extending from end to end of said body between said end surfaces, opening at a mouth at an outer periphery of said body and extending into said body from said periphery to a center of said body; and

structuring on said surfaces for mutually fixing said surfaces and portions of said spaced apart vertebrae engaged thereby.

2. The implant defined in claim 1 wherein said implant body is subdivided transversely to said pin into at least two adjoining body segments axially aligned along said pin and abutting one another at end faces of said body segments perpendicular to said axis, each of said body segments being formed with a segment of the groove having a respective segment of said mouth, said body segments being rotatable relative to one another to angularly offset said mouth segments about said axis, said end faces being formed with mutually engaging rings of teeth locking said body segments against angular self-displacement.

3. The implant defined in claim 2 wherein at least the teeth of one of said rings project from a respective one of said faces toward the other of said rings with radially extending flanks.

4. The implant defined in claim 2 wherein the structuring on at least one of said surfaces includes a ring of teeth engaging a respective one of said vertebrae.

5. The implant defined in claim 4 wherein said at least one of said surfaces is a planar surface perpendicular to said axis.

6. The implant defined in claim 2 wherein the structuring on at least one of said surfaces includes a multiplicity of sharp projections jutting from said one of said surfaces.

7. The implant defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said surfaces is inclined to said axis.

8. The implant defined in claim 2 wherein said faces are inclined to said axis.

9. The implant defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said surfaces is inclined to said axis, and said groove segment in the body segment formed with said one of said surfaces extends in a direction of fall of said one of said surfaces vertically and in a radial direction from a middle of the respective body segment to a periphery thereof.

10. The implant defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said body segments has a roughened surface.

11. The implant defined in claim 10 wherein said one of said body segments is composed of a porous metal foam.

12. The implant defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said surfaces is inclined to said axis, and said groove segment in the body segment formed with said one of said surfaces extends in a direction of fall of said one of said surfaces vertically and in a radial direction from a middle of the respective body segment to a periphery thereof.

13. The implant defined in claim 1 wherein said body is composed of a porous metal foam.

14. The implant defined in claim 2 wherein the structuring on at least one of said surfaces includes a multiplicity of sharp projections jutting from said one of said surfaces.

15. Spinal implant for vertebral replacement, stabilization and fixation in a spinal column, said implant comprising:

a bracing pin having centering points at opposite end engageable in spaced apart vertebrae of the spinal column, and a pin shank between said points;

an implant body fitted laterally over said pin transversely to an axis thereof between said spaced apart vertebrae and having end surfaces abutting same, said body having a laterally open groove receiving said pin and extending between said end surfaces and opening at a mouth at a periphery of said body and

structuring on said surfaces for mutually fixing said surfaces and portions of said spaced apart vertebrae engaged thereby, said implant body being subdivided transversely to said pin into at least two adjoining body segments axially aligned along said pin and abutting one another at end faces of said body segments perpendicular to said axis, each of said body segments being formed with a segment of the groove having a respective segment of said mouth, said body segments being rotatable relative to one another to angularly offset said mouth segments about said axis, said end faces being formed with mutually engaging rings of teeth locking said body segments against angular self-displacement, said shank of said pin being of circular cross section with a diameter equal to a width of said groove.

16. The implant defined in claim 15 wherein at least the teeth of one of said rings project from a respective one of said faces toward the other of said rings with radially extending flanks.

17. The implant defined in claim 15 wherein the structuring on at least one of said surfaces includes a ring of teeth engaging a respective one of said vertebrae.

18. The implant defined in claim 17 wherein said at least one of said surfaces is a planar surface perpendicular to said axis.

19. The implant defined in claim 15 wherein at least one of said surfaces is inclined to said axis.

20. The implant defined in claim 15 wherein said faces are inclined to said axis.