Intervertebral implant

• US 6,325,827 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blacksheep Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Blacksheep Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Lin, Paul S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Application Number:
  US09/288,651
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 623/11, 623/17, 623/11.11, 623/17.11, 623/17.15, 623/17.16, 623/16.11, 606/53, 606/60, 606/61
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• 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 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• 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 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• 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 2002/30125 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30143 hexagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30154 square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30156 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30329 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• 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 2002/30367 with additional means for preventing said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• 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 2002/30789 : perpendicular with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• 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 2002/449 : comprising multiple spinal implants located in different intervertebral spaces or in different vertebrae
• 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 2230/0008 : elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 : Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0021 : square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0023 : triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

An intervertebral implant has an elongated body that is narrower on each end than in the middle thereof. The body includes interconnected, parallel walls that include barbs positioned along the outer edges thereof. The barbs are typically inclined rearwardly thereby allowing easy insertion, yet preventing retropulsion or migration of the implant from the vertebral interspace. A distraction tool includes a distal end having a cross section that has two diagonally opposed rounded corners and two diagonally opposed square corners. An intervertebral implant instrumentation kit for surgically inserting an intervertebral implant into the interspace between adjacent vertebrae includes a distraction tool and the intervertebral implant.

Claims

1. An intervertebral implant comprising:

a. an elongated body having interconnected parallel side walls spaced apart;

b. said walls each having two ends and a middle, and having upper and lower surfaces;

c. said walls being shorter on each end than in the middle thereof;

said upper and lower surfaces being provided with multiple barbs; and

d. said barbs defined by front faces having a rearward tapered angle and connected substantially vertical rear faces; and

e. a bone material inserted between said walls, said bone material provided within a bag member.

2. An intervertebral implant comprising:

a. an elongated body having interconnected parallel side walls spaced apart;

b. said walls each having two ends and a middle, and having upper and lower surfaces;

c. said walls being shorter on each end than in the middle thereof;

said upper and lower surfaces being provided with multiple barbs;

d. said barbs defined by front faces having a rearward tapered angle and connected rear faces; and

e. wherein said rear faces of said barbs are angled rearwardly relative to a direction of insertion of said intervertebral implant.

3. The intervertebral implant of claim 2, wherein said walls include openings therein.

4. The intervertebral implant of claim 2, wherein said body comprises titanium, titanium alloy or stainless steel.

5. The intervertebral implant of claim 4, wherein said body comprises titanium.

6. The intervertebral implant of claim 2, wherein a bone material is inserted between said walls.

7. The intervertebral implant of claim 6, wherein said bone material is provided within a bag member.

8. The intervertebral implant of claim 7, wherein said bag member is constructed of a polymer material.

9. The intervertebral implant of claim 7, wherein said bone material is comprised of a morphogenic protein.

10. An intervertebral implant system comprising:

a. first and second elongated bodies each being narrower on each end than in the middle thereof;

b. said bodies each having interconnected parallel walls;

c. said parallel walls being shorter on each end than in the middle thereof, and having upper and lower surfaces, said surfaces being provided with multiple barbs;

d. said barbs defined by front faces having a rearward tapered angle and connected rear;

e. said rear faces of said barbs are angled rearwardly relative to the direction of insertion of said implant; and

f. an interconnecter for connecting said first body to said second body.

11. The intervertebral implant of claim 10, wherein said interconnecter comprises:

a. an elongated member having a channel along a portion of each end thereof;

b. a slot positioned along an outer end of each of said bodies;

said slot being sized to receive said elongated member therein; and

c. a connecting device for securely attaching said elongated member to said outer end of each of said bodies.

12. The intervertebral implant of claim 11, wherein said connecting device is selected from the group consisting of:

a rivet member, a press-fit pin and a threaded screw member.

13. The intervertebral implant of claim 10, wherein said first body and said second body each include openings therein and said interconnecter comprises an elongated member having an exterior shape;

said elongated member being slidably and adjustably positioned within said openings that substantially correspond to the exterior shape of said elongate member.

14. The intervertebral implant of claim 13, wherein said elongate member is adjustably secured to said body with a securing member.

15. The intervertebral implant of claim 14, wherein said securing member comprises a threaded screw member.

16. An implant for locating intermediate joint structures comprising:

a. an elongated body having interconnected parallel side walls spaced apart;

b. said walls each having two ends and a middle, and having upper and lower surfaces;

c. said walls being shorter on each end than in the middle thereof;

said upper and lower surfaces being provided with multiple barbs; and

d. said barbs defined by front faces having a rearwardly tapered angle and connected substantially vertical rear faces; and

e. a bone material inserted between said walls, said bone material provided within a bag member.