Apparatus for inserting spinal implants
First Claim
1. Apparatus for preparing a surgical implantation site in the spine for implantation of an interbody spinal implant at least in part into a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, said apparatus comprising a hollow generally tubular member having a proximal end, distal end, and at least a first disc penetrating extension extending from said distal end for insertion into the disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, said first disc penetrating extension being oriented in a fixed position relative to a mid-longitudinal axis through said tubular member and having a portion for bearing against each of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said portion of said first disc penetrating extension having opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to bear against each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space to align the adjacent vertebrae.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve. Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted to restore the normal angular relationship of the vertebrae adjacent to that disc space. An extended outer sleeve having extended portions capable of maintaining the vertebrae distracted in their normal angular relationship is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve.
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Citations
114 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for preparing a surgical implantation site in the spine for implantation of an interbody spinal implant at least in part into a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, said apparatus comprising a hollow generally tubular member having a proximal end, distal end, and at least a first disc penetrating extension extending from said distal end for insertion into the disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, said first disc penetrating extension being oriented in a fixed position relative to a mid-longitudinal axis through said tubular member and having a portion for bearing against each of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said portion of said first disc penetrating extension having opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to bear against each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space to align the adjacent vertebrae.
- 26. Apparatus for preparing a site in the spine for implantation of a spinal implant at least in part into a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, said apparatus comprising a hollow generally tubular member having at least a first disc penetrating extension for insertion into the disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, said first disc penetrating extension having a portion for bearing against each of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said first disc penetrating extension having a height and length sufficient to properly align and distance apart the adjacent vertebral bodies, said height being substantially equal to the normal height of the disc space between the two adjacent vertebral bodies and said length being greater than one half the depth of the disc space measured from the anterior to the posterior aspect of the two adjacent vertebral bodies, said first disc penetrating extension being at least in part in line with one of the side surfaces of said hollow tubular member.
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28. An apparatus for use in human spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies, said opening having a maximum height; and
a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard member for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a portion for bearing against each of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said portion of said disc penetrating extension having an upper surface adapted to contact one of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies and a lower surface adapted to contact the other of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper and lower surfaces being parallel to each other along a substantial portion of the length thereof, said portion of said disc penetrating extension having a height between said upper and lower surfaces and a length sufficient to properly align and distance apart the adjacent vertebral bodies, said height being substantially equal to the normal height of the disc space between the two adjacent vertebral bodies and said length being greater than one half the depth of the disc space measured from the anterior to posterior aspect of the adjacent vertebral bodies. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. An apparatus for use in human spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies; and
a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard member for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a portion for bearing against each of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a tapered leading end to facilitate placement of said disc penetrating extension into the disc space, said portion of said disc penetrating extension having opposite surfaces for bearing against the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said opposite surfaces diverging away from said guard member along at least a portion of their length.
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48. An apparatus for use in human spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies; and
a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard member for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a portion for bearing against each of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said portion of said disc penetrating extension having an upper surface adapted to contact one of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies and a lower surface adapted to contact the other of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a maximum height between said upper and lower surfaces approximating the height of a normal disc space, said upper and lower surfaces converging away from said guard member along at least a portion of their length.
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49. An apparatus for use in human spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies; and
a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard member for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a tapered leading end to facilitate placement of said disc penetrating extension into the disc space, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies and a second portion between said first portion and said guard member for bearing against the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said second portion having a height greater than the height of said first portion.
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50. An apparatus for use in human spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies; and
a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard member for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a tapered leading end to facilitate placement of said disc penetrating extension into the disc space, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies and a second portion between said first portion and said guard member for bearing against the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said second portion having a height less than the height of said first portion.
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51. An apparatus for use in human spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies; and
a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard member for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension being fixed relative to said guard member and having a portion for bearing against each of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a tapered leading end to facilitate placement of said disc penetrating extension into the disc space, said portion of said disc penetrating extension having a length greater than one half the depth of the disc space measured from the anterior aspect to the posterior aspect of the disc space.
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52. An apparatus for use in human spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies;
a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard member for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies for bearing against adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a tapered leading end to facilitate placement of said disc penetrating extension into the disc space, said disc penetrating extension having a length greater than one half the depth of the disc space measured from the anterior aspect to the posterior aspect of the spine;
a bone removal means for forming through said guard member an implantation space across the disc space; and
an implant driver sized in part for passage through said opening for passing an implant through said guard member and into the disc space. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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56. An apparatus for use in human spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies and a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard member for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a portion for bearing against each of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies; and
a spinal distractor sized for passage through said guard member, said spinal distractor having a body for slideably engaging the interior of said guard member and a disc penetrating member extending from said body and into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebral bodies for bearing against the adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebral bodies. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. An apparatus for use in human spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies;
a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard member for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies; and
an implant driver having a portion sized for passage though said opening for passing an implant through said guard member and into the disc space. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. An apparatus for use in performing spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a guard member having first and second passages configured to permit a spinal implant to pass through each of said first and second passages for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies; and
a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard member for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said disc penetrating extension having a portion for bearing against each of the adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. Apparatus for use in performing spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a pair of hollow generally tubular members joined together partially overlapping along their longitudinal axes for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies; and
a disc penetrating extension extending from said apparatus for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies and for bearing against endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109)
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110. A surgical instrument set for use in human spinal surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, said surgical instrument set comprising:
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a guard having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies, said guard having a disc penetrating extension extending from said guard for insertion into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies;
a spinal distractor sized for passage through said guard, said spinal distractor having a disc penetrating member for extension into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebral bodies for bearing against the adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebral bodies; and
an implant driver having means for engaging an implant, said implant driver having a portion sized for passage through said opening for passing an implant through said guard. - View Dependent Claims (111, 112, 113, 114)
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Specification