Implant for filling a space between vertebrae

• US 6,015,436 A
• Filed: 04/17/1998
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ulrich GmbH & Co., KG (Air Liquide SA)
• Original Assignee: Heinrich Ulrich
• Inventors: Schonhoffer, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEWART, ALVIN J
• Application Number:
  US09/011,418
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17, 623/16, 623/11, 606/73
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30367 with additional means for preventing said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30372 with additional means for limiting said translation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30398 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30574 with an integral complete or partial collar or flange
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30795 : Blind bores, 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 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical

Abstract

The implant includes of two end implant parts (1, 2) for positioning on the adjacent vertebrae and a center implant part (3) arranged therebetween, which is connected by a thread (4) with one of the end implant parts, whereby by turning the center implant part (3) the length of the implant can be altogether changed. The end implant parts (1, 2) form tubular sleeves (5'"'"', 5") with sleeve walls perforated by openings (6) and interengage axially with their sleeves (5'"'"', 5"), whereby they are guided on the sleeve walls to be axially slidable with respect to each other, as well as secured against mutual pivoting about the sleeve axis. The thread (4) is provided between the center implant part (3) and the end implant part (1) connected therewith by the thread and the center implant part (3) pivotable in the thread (4) is designed as an axial stop for the other end implant part (2).

Claims

1. A spinal implant selectively insertable as a vertebral replacement and as an insert between vertebrae, said implant comprising:

an inner implant part having a tubular perforated sleeve and formed with a screw thread;

an outer implant part having a tubular perforated sleeve and receiving said sleeve of said inner implant part, said sleeve of said inner implant part being axially slidable in said sleeve of said outer implant part;

a center implant part braced on an end of said outer implant part and threadedly engaged with the screw thread on said sleeve of said inner implant part for altering a length of said implant, said parts and said screw thread being coaxial; and

means for preventing relative rotation of said inner and outer implant parts about a common axis of said sleeves.

2. The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve of said inner implant part is formed with said screw thread along its external periphery and is surrounded by said center implant part and by the sleeve of said outer implant part.

3. The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein said means for preventing relative rotation of said inner and outer implant parts about said common axis of said sleeve includes an axially-extendable slot in one of said inner and outer implant parts, a guide projection on the other of said inner and outer implant parts engaged in said slot.

4. The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein one of said sleeves has a radial threaded bore receiving a screw braced against the other of said sleeves.

5. The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein one of said inner and outer implant parts is provided at an end turned away from the center implant part with an annular front plate provided with means for penetrating into an adjacent vertebrae.

6. The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein said center implant part is provided with openings distributed over a periphery thereof for receiving a key for turning the center implant part.