Expandable spinal implants

• US 5,980,522 A
• Filed: 11/21/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gabriel Koros, Tibor Koros
• Original Assignee: Gabriel Koros, Tibor Koros
• Inventors: Koros, Gabriel, Koros, Tibor
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, (Jackie) Tan-Uyen Thi
• Application Number:
  US08/976,205
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606/62, 606/60, 606/73, 606/86, 606/87, 623/17
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• 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 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• 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 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30261 parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30879 Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/449 comprising multiple spinal implants located in different intervertebral spaces or in different vertebrae
• 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 2230/0082 : parallelepipedal

Abstract

The invention is an expandable box-shaped spinal implant used to fuse adjacent vertebra in the patient'"'"'s spine. The implant includes three interlocking parts, which are the superior section, the inferior section, and the U-shaped expander cap. The Box-shaped expandable spinal implant is formed by mating the superior section and the inferior section. The superior section has a top, a pair of mirror image vertical sides, and an upper proximal face. The inferior section has a bottom, a pair of mirror image vertical sides, and a lower proximal face. The pair of mirror image vertical sides on the superior section and the pair of mirror image vertical sides on the inferior section overlap each other and have guide way means and locking means to allow the upper section and the lower section to slideably expand transversely relative to each other. The superior and inferior sections form a closed end and an open end. A pair of exterior longitudinal channels are formed where the pair of vertical sides overlap. The U-shaped expander cap is formed by a pair of opposed prongs and a sealing cap for coupling with the superior and inferior sections. The pair of opposed prongs on the expander is positionable in the pair of expandable channels on the sides of the superior and inferior sections to force the sections slightly apart as the cap abuts the open end of the sections. The U-shaped expander locks the sections together while the cap on the expander seals off the open end of the implant.

Claims

1. A Box-shaped expandable spinal implant comprising:

a generally box-shaped housing formed by mating a superior section and an inferior section;

a superior section comprising a top, a pair of mirror image vertical sides, and an upper proximal face;

an inferior section comprising a bottom, a pair of mirror image vertical sides, and a lower proximal face;

said pair of mirror image vertical sides on said superior section and said pair of mirror image vertical sides on said inferior section overlap each other and have guide way means and locking means to allow said upper section and said lower section to slideably expand transversely relative to each other;

said superior and inferior sections forming a closed end and an open end;

a pair of exterior longitudinal channels formed where said pair of vertical sides overlap;

a generally U-shaped expander formed by a pair of opposed prongs and a sealing cap for coupling with said superior and inferior sections;

said pair of opposed prongs on said expander positionable in said pair of expandable channels on the sides of said superior and inferior sections to force said sections slightly apart as said cap abuts said open end of said sections and said U-shaped expander locks said sections together while said cap on said expander seals off said open end of said implant.

2. The implant as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of transverse ridges on the top and bottom of said implant; and

a plurality of slots formed between said ridges.

3. The implant as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

a plurality of holes on the four longitudinal edges of said implant;

a plurality of holes o n said sealing cap; and

a plurality of holes on said proximal end of said implant.