Apparatus for fusion of adjacent bone structures
First Claim
1. A prosthetic implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, comprising an implant member dimensioned to be at least partially positioned within an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae, the implant member including first and second vertebral engaging plates pivotally connected to each other about a pivot pin extending through corresponding aligned openings of the first and second engaging plates, and adapted for relative pivotal movement to respectively engage vertebral surfaces of the adjacent vertebrae, the implant member defining a longitudinal median plane extending between the engaging plates in equidistant relation therewith, the first and second engaging plates having discontinuous surfaces to engage the vertebral surfaces and promote bone ingrowth, and a displacement member associated with the engaging plates and being movable in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal median plane, to cause relative movement of the engaging plates, to thereby at least laterally displace the engaging plates to supportingly engage the adjacent vertebrae.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A prosthetic implant for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae includes an implant member dimensioned to be at least partially positioned within an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae. The implant member includes first and second vertebral engaging plates operatively connected to each other for respectively engaging vertebral end plates of the adjacent vertebrae and having discontinuous surfaces to engage the vertebral end plates and promote bone ingrowth. A displacement member is associated with the engaging plates and is deployable to cause relative movement of the engaging plates to thereby at least laterally displace the engaging plates whereby in a deployed position the engaging plates are in supportive engaged relation with the adjacent vertebrae. The first and second engaging plates are preferably pivotally connected to each other at respective end portions thereof to define a reduced entry profile to facilitate insertion within the intervertebral space. The implant member may also define an interior cavity for accommodating bone growth inducing substances. The first and second engaging plates preferably include apertures extending therethrough to permit communication with the bone growth inducing substances within the interior cavity. The first and second engaging plates may also include projections for engaging the vertebral end plates to assist retention of the implant within the intervertebral space. An apparatus and method for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae are also disclosed.
1334 Citations
27 Claims
- 1. A prosthetic implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, comprising an implant member dimensioned to be at least partially positioned within an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae, the implant member including first and second vertebral engaging plates pivotally connected to each other about a pivot pin extending through corresponding aligned openings of the first and second engaging plates, and adapted for relative pivotal movement to respectively engage vertebral surfaces of the adjacent vertebrae, the implant member defining a longitudinal median plane extending between the engaging plates in equidistant relation therewith, the first and second engaging plates having discontinuous surfaces to engage the vertebral surfaces and promote bone ingrowth, and a displacement member associated with the engaging plates and being movable in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal median plane, to cause relative movement of the engaging plates, to thereby at least laterally displace the engaging plates to supportingly engage the adjacent vertebrae.
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9. An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, which comprises:
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an elongated member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis;
an implant member releasably mounted to the distal end of the elongated member, the implant member configured for insertion within an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae, the implant member including first and second separate and independent vertebral engaging plates pivotally connected to each other about a fixed pivot pin received within corresponding aligned openings defined in the first and second engaging plates, the first and second engaging plates adapted for relative pivotal movement between a retracted position and an extended position, the first and second engaging plates defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances and having contacting surfaces with apertures extending therethrough for communicating with the internal cavity; and
a manually operable actuator operatively connected to the implant member, the actuator moveable to cause movement of the first and second engaging plates to the extended position thereof. - View Dependent Claims (10, 17)
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11. An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, which comprises:
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an elongated member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis;
an implant member releasably mounted to the distal end of the elongated member, the implant member configured for insertion within an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae, the implant member including first and second vertebral engaging plates pivotally connected to each other and adapted for relative pivotal movement between a retracted position and an extended position, the implant member defining a median longitudinal plane extending between the first and second engaging plates in equidistant relation therewith, the first and second engaging plates defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances and having contacting surfaces with apertures extending therethrough for communicating with the internal cavity and a spring operatively engageable with at least one of the first and second engaging plates to normally bias the implant member to the retracted position;
a displacement mechanism associated with the implant member for moving the implant member between the retracted and extended positions, the displacement mechanism being actuable in a direction having a transverse component relative to the longitudinal plane; and
a manually operable actuator operatively connected to the displacement mechanism, the manually operable actuator adapted for rotational movement such that rotational movement of the actuator causes movement of the displacement mechanism to thereby move the implant member between the retracted and extended positions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 25)
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18. A prosthetic implant for facilitating fusion of first and second adjacent vertebral portions, which comprises an implant member dimensioned to be at least partially positioned within an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae, the implant member including first and second separate and independent members pivotally connected about a fixed pivot pin extending through corresponding aligned openings of the first and second members, the first and second members having contacting surfaces for respectively engaging first and second adjacent vertebral portions, the first and second members pivotally movable about a fixed axis of rotation defined by the pivot pin from an initial position to facilitate insertion between the first and second vertebral portions to a deployed position wherein the contacting surfaces of the first and second members are in oblique angular relation and support the first and second vertebral portions in spaced relation.
- 20. The apparatus according to clam 11 wherein the first and second engaging plates are pivotally connected about a pivot pin received within corresponding aligned openings of the first and second engaging plates.
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26. A prosthetic implant for positioning between adjacent vertebrae, which comprises an implant member dimensioned to be at least partially positioned within an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae, the implant member including first and second members, each member having contacting surfaces for respectively engaging first and second adjacent vertebral portions, and means for pivotally mounting the first and second members to permit pivotal movement of the first and second members between an initial position to facilitate insertion between the first and second vertebral portions to a deployed position wherein the contacting surfaces of the first and second members are in oblique angular relation and support the first and second vertebral portions in spaced relation, wherein the means for pivotally mounting includes a pivot pin, the pivot pin defining a fixed axis of rotation, the first and second members being pivotally movable about the first axis of rotation of the pivot pin.
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27. The prosthetic implant according to claim 28 wherein the pin is mounted with respect to the first and second members wherein movement of the first and second members is solely restricted to pivotal movement about the fixed axis of rotation.
Specification