Intervertebral prosthesis making possible rotatory stabilization and flexion/extension stabilization

• US 5,609,634 A
• Filed: 02/08/1995
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilles Voydeville
• Original Assignee: Gilles Voydeville
• Inventors: Voydeville, Gilles
• Primary Examiner(s): ISABELLA, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US08/362,583
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606/60, 623/13, 623/17, 623/18
• US Class Current: 623/13.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7062 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs rib fixation devices A61B17/8076; Tools for such devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A prosthesis including (a) a flexible ligament (1) with a first narrowed thinner portion (2) and a second wider portion (3) forming an extension of, and having a greater width and thickness (e2) than, the first portion, which portion may be passed around the spinous processes (12) of two adjacent vertebrae (L5, L4) in a figure eight pattern, whereas the second portion circles around the processes; (b) a semi-flexible interprocess block (6) with two pairs of through-channels (7, 8) having differing cross-sections and receiving the respective portions of the ligament; and (c) members (4, 5) for joining the ends of the ligament. The prosthesis prevents sagittal and frontal lumbar vertebral rotational instability.

Claims

1. An intervertebral prosthesis which comprises:

a semi-flexible interspinous block configured to be disposed between adjacent spinous processes, said block having two pairs of continuous ducts of different cross-sections formed therethrough,

a flexible ligament having a first thin part of small width and thickness, and a second wide part in continuation of said first part, of greater width and thickness than said first part, wherein said ducts are adapted for passage of each of said first and second parts, respectively, of the ligament such that said first part is adapted to be laced through one of said pair of ducts in a figure eight around the spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae; and

the second part of the ligament is adapted to be laced through the other of said pair of ducts for perispinous encircling, and

means for closing the ligament on itself.

2. An intervertebral prothesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for closing the ligament are threads which comprise ends of said two parts.

3. An intervertebral prothesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two ducts for passage of the thin part are juxtaposed in a central part of the block and intercommunicate through a central opening which makes it possible to cross two strands of the thin part of the ligament, and the two ducts for passage of the wide part are arranged on each side of the ducts for passage of the thin part.