Apparatus and method for implant insertion

• US 6,033,405 A
• Filed: 03/03/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Surgical Dynamics Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Steven T., Winslow, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, William
• Application Number:
  US09/033,984
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606/99, 606/100, 606/73, 606/72, 606/104, 606/86, 623/17
• US Class Current: 606/86.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/861 specially shaped for gripping driver
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8877 characterised by the cross-section of the driver bit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8888 at its central region
• 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 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4603 for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4637 for connecting or disconnecting two parts of a prosthesis
• 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 2002/30121 with lobes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30143 hexagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30154 square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3021 frustoconical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30217 hollow cones, e.g. tubular-like cones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30327 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 : made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30617 : Visible markings for adjusting, locating or measuring
• 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 2002/30797 : internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30813 : Stepped or enlarged blind bores, e.g. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3082 : Grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30863 : the entry end surface having flutes, relief grooves, starter notches or bevelled indentations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30873 : Threadings machined on non-cylindrical external surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30968 : Sintering
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• 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 2230/0006 : circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 : Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0021 : square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 : conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 : differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 : Visible markings, e.g. indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

Apparatus for and methods of inserting implants are disclosed wherein the apparatus includes a handle portion and a body portion attached to the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis. The body portion includes an outer tubular member fixed relative to the handle portion for rotation therewith about the longitudinal axis. The outer tube member has first implant engaging structure adjacent a distal end. An inner tubular member is disposed at least partially within the outer tubular member and is mounted for longitudinal motion relative to the outer tubular member. Second implant engaging structure is positioned adjacent a distal end of the inner tubular member. The body portion further includes an inner shaft, coaxially mounted at least partially within the inner tubular member for independent rotation relative to the inner and outer tubular members, the inner shaft having third implant engaging structure adjacent a distal end. In a method for inserting an implant having a hollow portion with a closed distal end and a removable cap, the first, second and third implant engaging structures are attached to the implant with at least one of the engaging structure attached to the removable cap and another of the engaging structure attached to the hollow portion. The implant is preferably preloaded with bone chips and/or bone growth inducing substances prior to attachment. Thereafter, the preloaded implant is inserted into the desired surgical location.

Claims

1. A method of inserting an implant comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus including a handle portion and a body portion attached to the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis, the body portion including an outer tubular member fixed relative to the handle portion for rotation therewith about the longitudinal axis, the outer tubular member having first implant engaging structure adjacent a distal end, an inner tubular member disposed at least partially within the outer tubular member and mounted for longitudinal motion relative to the outer tubular member and having second implant engaging structure adjacent a distal end and an inner shaft, coaxially mounted at least partially within the inner tubular member for independent rotation relative to the inner and outer tubular members, the inner shaft having third implant engaging structure adjacent a distal end;

providing an implant having a hollow portion with a closed distal end and a removable proximal end cap;

attaching the first, second and third implant engaging structures to the implant; and

inserting the implant into a desired surgical location.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the implant includes a threaded portion formed on an outer peripheral surface of the hollow closed distal end and the inserting step including rotating the implant into a desired surgical location.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein the first implant engaging structure includes a pair of tabs positioned on a distal end of the outer tubular member and the attaching step includes engaging the tabs with the hollow closed distal end of the implant.

4. A method as in claim 2 wherein the attaching step includes engaging the second and third implant engaging structure to the proximal end cap of the implant.

5. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of loading the implant with bone growth stimulation media.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein the step of loading the implant is carried out before the implant is inserted.