Device for supporting weak bony structures

• US 5,897,556 A
• Filed: 06/02/1997
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sherman, Michael C., Drewry, Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): Tucker, Guy V.
• Application Number:
  US08/867,628
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606/72, 606/69, 606/70, 606/62, 606/60, 606/54, 606/77, 606/76, 623/16, 623/17
• US Class Current: 606/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8085 with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 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 2002/30115 circular-O-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30126 oval-O-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30156 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30187 D-shaped or half-disc-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30228 Cylinders of elliptical or oval basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30329 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30789 perpendicular with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30912 made of expanded metal, e.g. diamond mesh or metal nets having lozenge-shaped apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0023 : triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0034 : D-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00131 : Tantalum or Ta-based alloys

Abstract

A device for supporting weak bony structures comprises an elongated tubular body having first and second ends configured for contacting adjacent bony structures. A tubular body is formed by a plurality of intersecting elongate bars with a first group of bars having their longitudinal axes arranged perpendicular to the axis of the tubular body, and a second group of bars having their axes arranged at non-perpendicular angles relative to the body axis. The tubular body also includes a plurality of joints formed by the intersection of two perpendicular bars and four angled bars. The ends of the tubular body are defined only by the intersection of angled bars. The ends include a plurality of substantially flat end surfaces that have a surface area greater than the combined cross-sectional areas of the intersecting angled bars forming the joints at the end of the body. In a preferred embodiment, the end surfaces have an undercut between the surfaces and the intersecting angled bars. The tubular body can assume various shapes when viewed from an end, such as circular and non-circular shapes including at least one flat side.

Claims

1. A device for supporting weak bony structures, comprising an elongated tubular body having a first end and a second end for contacting a bony structure and a body axis along its length between said ends, said tubular body formed by a plurality of intersecting elongate bars, a first group of said bars having longitudinal axes arranged perpendicular to said body axis, and a second group of said bars having longitudinal axes arranged at non-perpendicular angles relative to said body axis, wherein said tubular body includes a plurality of triangular apertures defined by one bar from said first group and two bars from said second group.

2. The device for supporting weak bony structures of claim 1, wherein said body defines a hollow chamber for receiving bone growth inducing material.

3. A device for supporting weak bony structures, comprising an elongated tubular body having a first end and a second end for contacting a bony structure and a body axis along its length between said ends, said tubular body formed by a plurality of intersecting elongate bars, a first group of said bars having longitudinal axes arranged perpendicular to said body axis, and a second group of said bars having longitudinal axes arranged at non-perpendicular angles relative to said body axis, and wherein:

said first end of said body is formed only by a plurality of end joints formed by intersecting pairs of bars from said second group,

said end joints each define flat surfaces for contacting the bony structure, said flat surfaces defining a plane that is substantially perpendicular to said body axis, and

each of said intersecting pairs of bars defines a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said bars; and

each of said flat surfaces defines an end area contacting the bony structure that is greater than said cross-sectional area.

4. The device for supporting weak bony structures of claim 3, wherein each of said joints define an undercut between said flat surfaces and said intersecting pair of bars forming said end joints.

5. A device for supporting weak bony structures, comprising an elongated tubular body having a first end and a second end for contacting a bony structure and a body axis along its length between said ends, said tubular body formed by a plurality of intersecting elongate bars, a first group of said bars having longitudinal axes arranged perpendicular to said body axis, and a second group of said bars having longitudinal axes arranged at non-perpendicular angles relative to said body axis, and wherein:

said first end of said body is formed only by a plurality of end joints formed by intersecting pairs of bars from said second group,

said end joints each define flat surfaces for contacting the bony structure, said flat surfaces defining a plane that is substantially perpendicular to said body axis, and

wherein each of said flat surfaces is substantially triangular in shape.

6. A device for supporting weak bony structures, comprising an elongated tubular body having a first end and a second end for contacting a bony structure and a body axis along its length between said ends, said tubular body formed by a plurality of intersecting elongate bars, a first group of said bars having longitudinal axes arranged perpendicular to said body axis, and a second group of said bars having longitudinal axes arranged at non-perpendicular angles relative to said body axis, and wherein:

said first end of said body is formed only by a plurality of end joints formed by intersecting pairs of bars from said second group,

said end joints each define flat surfaces for contacting the bony structure, said flat surfaces defining a plane that is substantially perpendicular to said body axis, and

wherein each of said flat surfaces is substantially trapezoidal in shape.

7. A device for supporting weak bony structures, comprising an elongated tubular body having a first end and a second end for contacting a bony structure and defining a body axis along its length between said ends, said tubular body formed by a cylindrical wall, said wall defining a plurality of sets of triangular openings aligned parallel with said body axis, adjacent ones of said plurality of sets being axially offset relative to each other along said body axis.

8. The device for supporting weak bony structures of claim 7 wherein each of said sets of triangular openings include pairs of oppositely directed triangular openings.

9. The device for supporting weak bony structures of claim 7 wherein said tubular body defines a hollow chamber.

10. The device for supporting weak bony structures of claim 7 wherein said tubular body has a non-circular shape.

11. The device for supporting weak bony structures of claim 10 wherein said tubular body has at least one flat side.