Spacer assembly for use in spinal surgeries

• US 6,086,613 A
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biedermann Motech GmbH, Depuy Acromed Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Acromed Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Malone, John D., Camino, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Priddy, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US09/218,745
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17, 623/16, 606/66, 606/61
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30724 Spacers for centering an implant in a bone cavity, e.g. in a cement-receiving cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• 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 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• 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 2002/30115 circular-O-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30125 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30126 oval-O-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30136 undulated or wavy, e.g. serpentine-shaped or zigzag-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30148 lozenge- or diamond-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30158 trapezoidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30228 Cylinders of elliptical or oval basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3023 wedge-shaped cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 : tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30322 : differing in surface structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30332 : Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30349 : the male and female complementary cones being of different conicities, i.e. for reducing the contact area
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30354 : Cylindrically-shaped protrusion and recess, e.g. cylinder of circular basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30355 : Cylinder of elliptical or oval basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30403 : Longitudinally-oriented cooperating ribs and grooves on mating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection
• 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 2002/30594 : slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• 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 2002/30818 : castellated or crenellated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30843 : Pyramidally-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30879 : Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30894 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• 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 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0004 : Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 : circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 : elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 : Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0026 : trapezoidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0026 : differing in surface structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2265/26 : for allowing differential expansion between elements floating header box elements F28F9/0236

Abstract

A spacer assembly is provided for use in spinal surgeries. The spacer assembly includes a spacer having opposite ends and a side wall extending between the opposite ends and at least one end cap coupled to at least one of the opposite ends of the spacer. Each end cap includes an inner end facing the spacer, an outer end, and a side wall extending between the inner and outer ends. The side wall of each end cap is formed for engagement with the side wall of the spacer to provide a mechanical connection between the end cap and the spacer.

Claims

1. A spacer assembly for use in spinal surgeries, the assembly comprising:

a spacer formed to include opposite ends and a side wall extending between the opposite ends, and

at least one end cap coupled to at least one of the opposite ends, each of the at least one end caps including an inner end facing the spacer, an outer end, and a side wall extending between the inner and outer ends and engaging the side wall of the spacer to provide a mechanical connection between the at least one cap and the spacer, the side wall of the end cap including a slot extending between the outer and inner ends.

2. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacer includes a passageway extending between the opposite ends and the inner end of the end cap extends into the passageway.

3. The spacer assembly of claim 2, wherein the side wall of the end cap converges from the outer end toward the inner end.

4. The spacer assembly of claim 3, wherein the end cap includes a projection coupled to the side wall of the end cap and formed for engagement with the spacer.

5. The spacer assembly of claim 3, wherein the outer end is formed to include a porous coating.

6. The spacer assembly of claim 3, wherein the outer end includes a serrated surface.

7. The spacer assembly of claim 2, wherein the end cap includes a projection that extends away from the side wall of the end cap into engagement with the spacer.

8. The spacer assembly of claim 2, wherein the end cap includes projections spaced-apart from one another and formed for engagement with the spacer.

9. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein the end cap includes projections spaced-apart from one another and formed for engagement with the spacer.

10. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein the side wall of the end cap includes an inner surface that defines a passageway between the inner and outer ends.

11. The spacer assembly of claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the side wall is generally cylindrical in shape.

12. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein the end cap is formed as a solid plate including apertures extending between the outer and inner surfaces.

13. The spacer assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ends of the spacer includes peaks and valleys.

14. The spacer assembly of claim 13, wherein the end cap includes projections coupled to the side wall of the end cap and formed for extension between the peaks and engagement with the valleys of the spacer.

15. The spacer assembly of claim 13, wherein the end cap includes a projection coupled to the side wall of the end cap and formed for engagement with the peaks of the spacer.

16. A spacer assembly for use in spinal surgeries, the assembly comprising:

a spacer formed to include opposite ends and a side wall extending between the opposite ends, and

at least one end cap coupled to at least one of the opposite ends, each of the at least one end caps including an inner end facing the spacer, an outer end, and a side wall extending between the inner and outer ends and engaging the side wall of the spacer to provide a mechanical connection between the at least one cap and the spacer and the side wall of the spacer includes an outer surface and the side wall of the end cap is coupled to the outer surface.

17. The spacer assembly of claim 16, wherein the side wall of the end cap includes a slot extending between the outer and inner ends.

18. The spacer assembly of claim 17, wherein the side wall of the end cap defines a passageway and the end cap further includes at least one projection extending into the passageway of the side wall and engaging the spacer.

19. A spacer assembly for use in spinal surgeries, the assembly comprising:

a spacer formed to include opposite ends and a side wall extending between the opposite ends, and

end caps coupled to the opposite ends respectively, each of said end caps including an inner end facing the spacer, an outer end, a side wall extending between the inner and outer ends, and at least one projection extending from the side wall, the engagement of the end cap side wall with the side wall of the spacer and the at least one projection with the side wall with the respective opposite end of the spacer providing the sole mechanical connection between the spacer and the end caps, and the side wall of the end cap including a slot extending between the inner and outer ends.

20. The spacer assembly of claim 19, wherein the opposite ends are formed to include peaks and valleys.

21. The spacer assembly of claim 20, wherein the at least one projection engages at least one of the peaks of the respective opposite ends.

22. The spacer assembly of claim 20, wherein the at least one projection engages at least one of the valleys of the respective opposite ends.

23. The spacer assembly of claim 19, wherein the spacer includes a passageway extending between the opposite ends and the inner end of the end cap extends into the passageway.

24. The spacer assembly of claim 19, wherein the side wall of the spacer includes an outer surface and the side wall of the end cap is coupled to the outer surface.

25. The end cap of claim 19, wherein the outer end of the end cap is generally circular in shape.

26. The end cap of claim 19, wherein the outer end of the end cap includes a coating formed to promote bone growth.

27. The end cap of claim 19, wherein the side wall of the end cap includes a generally cylindrical inner surface defining a passageway.

28. A spacer assembly for use in spinal surgeries, the assembly comprising:

a spacer formed to include opposite ends and a side wall extending between the opposite ends, and

end caps coupled to the opposite ends respectively, each of said end caps including an inner end facing the spacer, an outer end, a side wall extending between the inner and outer ends, and at least one projection extending from the side wall, the engagement of the end cap side wall with the side wall of the spacer and the at least one projection with the side wall with the respective opposite end of the spacer providing the sole mechanical connection between the spacer and the end caps, the spacer including a passageway extending between the opposite ends and the inner end of the end cap extends into the passageway, and the side wall of the end cap is tapered.

29. A spacer assembly for use in spinal surgeries, the assembly comprising:

a spacer formed to include opposite ends and a side wall extending between the opposite ends, and

end caps coupled to the opposite ends respectively, each of said end caps including an inner end facing the spacer, an outer end, a side wall extending between the inner and outer ends, and at least one projection extending from the side wall, the engagement of the end cap side wall with the side wall of the spacer and the at least one projection with the side wall with the respective opposite end of the spacer providing the sole mechanical connection between the spacer and the end caps, the side wall of the spacer includes an outer surface and the side wall of the end cap is coupled to the outer surface and the side wall of the end cap includes a slot extending between the outer and inner ends.

30. An end cap formed for use with a spacer having opposite ends in a spinal surgery, the end cap comprising:

an inner end, an outer end, a side wall extending between the inner and outer ends, and at least one projection extending from the side wall, the side wall including a slot extending between the outer and inner ends and being adapted to provide a mechanical connection between the end cap and the spacer to couple the end cap and spacer together.

31. The end cap of claim 30, wherein the side wall includes an inner surface defining a passageway and an outer surface.

32. The end cap of claim 31, wherein the inner surface of the side wall is generally cylindrical in shape.

33. A spacer assembly for use in spinal surgeries, the assembly comprising:

a spacer formed to include opposite ends and a side wall extending between the opposite ends, and

at least one end cap coupled to at least one of the opposite ends, each of the at least one end caps including an inner end facing the spacer, an outer end having a serrated surface, and a side wall extending between the inner and outer ends and engaging the side wall of the spacer to provide a mechanical connection between the at least one cap and the spacer,

wherein the side wall of the end cap includes a slot extending between the outer and inner ends.