Instruments for inserting spinal vertebral implant

• US 6,500,206 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald W. Bryan
• Original Assignee: Donald W. Bryan
• Inventors: Bryan, Donald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US09/662,435
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623/17.16, 606/96, 606/86, 606/99, 606/61, 606/60, 606/62, 606/59, 606/53
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• 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 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 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 2002/2839 Bone plugs or bone graft dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• 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 2002/4649 Bone graft or bone dowel harvest sites
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4681 by applying mechanical shocks, e.g. by hammering
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/909 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/914 : Toolkit for installing or removing spinal positioner or stabilizer

Abstract

A spinal vertebral implant includes a substantially rectangular shaped base section made from a solid piece of bone. A nose section extends integrally from the substantially rectangularly shaped base section and preferably has a generally tapering shape to foster entry between adjacent vertebrae. The nose section tapers distally and inwardly from the base section to form a generally pointed or rounded distal tip portion and comprises a solid piece of bone. Serrated sides assist the implant in gripping adjacent upper and lower vertebrae and in being maintained therebetween. The serrated sides are angled in a manner that encourages the implant to be placed between the vertebrae and locked therebetween upon such placement. First and second implants may be placed into respective left and right sides of an intervertebral space. A method for placing one or more implants between the adjacent vertebrae comprises forming a slot configured to receive an implant and inserting the implant into the slot. Each slot is preferably formed from an upper slot portion and a lower slot portion in the posterior portion of adjacent upper and lower vertebrae, respectively. Instruments for performing the method include osteotomes, impactors, and spacers.

Claims

1. A system for inserting a spinal implant between first and second vertebrae as part of a spinal surgical procedure in which a substantial portion of an intervertebral disk has been removed, comprising:

an implant comprising a body having a generally rectangular shape; and

an instrument, comprising;

a handle;

a neck coupled to the handle; and

a head coupled to the neck distally from the handle, wherein the head is selected from the group consisting of;

(A) an impactor head having a generally rectangular shape and a distally positioned gripping surface and further having means for enhancing the gripping surface of the head;

(B) a scraper having first and second longitudinally extending side members coupled transversely to a longitudinally extending body member, wherein the distal edges of said longitudinally extending side members are configured for either cutting or crushing bone tissue;

(C) an insertion member coupled transversely to a laterally extending body member; and

(D) a spacer head configured to prepare an intervertebral space to receive said implant, the spacer head having a body portion and a tapering nose section extending therefrom, the height of the body portion being greater than the thickness of the body portion, the nose section tapering inwardly and distally away from the body portion.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the implant comprises:

a spinal vertebral implant configured to foster bone fusion between upper and lower adjacent spinal vertebrae between which the implant is placed pursuant to a spinal surgical procedure, the spinal vertebral implant comprising;

a substantially rectangular shaped base section having a longitudinal length which is greater than the width and thickness thereof, the substantially rectangular shaped base section comprising a solid piece of bone; and

a nose section extending integrally from the substantially rectangular shaped base section, the nose section tapering distally and inwardly from the base section, the nose section comprising a solid piece of bone.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of fragments of bone.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said head comprises an insertion member and wherein said laterally extending body member of said insertion member extends from said longitudinally extending insertion member a predetermined distance substantially corresponding to a desired thickness for forming slots in at last one of said first and second vertebrae into which said implant can be positioned.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said head comprises a scraper and wherein said scraper is connected to the neck at an angle between longitudinal and lateral.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said head comprises a scraper and wherein said scraper substantially corresponds to the thickness of the implant.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said head comprises an impactor head and wherein said impactor head substantially corresponds to the height and thickness of the implant.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said head comprises a scraper and wherein said scraper head is connected to the neck at an angle between longitudinal and lateral.

9. A tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said head comprises a scraper and wherein said spacer head has a shape substantially similar to the implant.

21. A system as recited claim 1, wherein said longitudinally extending body member has a sharpened distal edge.

10. A set of tools for inserting a spinal implant between first and second vertebrae as part of a spinal surgical procedure in which a substantial portion of an intervertebral disk has been removed, the set of tools comprising:

(A) a first tool comprising;

a handle,

a neck coupled to the handle, and

a head coupled to the neck distally from the handle, wherein the head comprises an impactor head having a generally rectangular shape and a distally positioned gripping surface and further having means for enhancing the gripping surface of the head;

(B) a second tool comprising;

a handle,

a neck coupled to the handle, and

a head coupled to the neck distally from the handle, wherein the head comprises a scraper having first and second longitudinally extending side members coupled transversely to a longitudinally extending body member, wherein the distal edges of said longitudinally extending side members are configured for either cutting or crushing bone tissue; and

C) a third tool comprising;

a handle;

a neck coupled to the handle; and

a head coupled to the neck, wherein the head comprises a spacer head having a body portion and a tapering nose section extending therefrom, wherein the height of the body portion is greater than the thickness of the body portion, the nose tapering to a thinner portion as it proceeds distally.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the implant comprises:

a spinal vertebral implant configured to foster bone fusion between upper and lower adjacent spinal vertebrae between which the implant is placed pursuant to a spinal surgical procedure, the spinal vertebral implant comprising;

a substantially rectangular shaped base section having a longitudinal length which is greater than the width and thickness thereof, the substantially rectangular shaped base section comprising a solid piece of bone; and

a nose section extending integrally from the substantially rectangular shaped base section, the nose section tapering distally and inwardly from the base section, the nose section comprising a solid piece of bone.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of fragments of bone.

13. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the scraper is connected to the neck at an angle between longitudinal and lateral.

14. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the scraper substantially corresponds to the thickness of the implant.

15. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the impactor head substantially corresponds to the height and thickness of the implant.

16. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the spacer head substantially corresponds to the shape of the implant.

17. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the head of the scraper substantially corresponds to the thickness of the implant, the head of the impactor substantially corresponds to the height and thickness of the implant, and the head of the spacer substantially corresponds to the shape of the implant.

18. A system for inserting a spinal implant between first and second vertebrae as part of a spinal surgical procedure in which a substantial portion of an intervertebral disk has been removed, comprising:

an implant; and

a set of tools including;

(A) a first tool comprising;

a handle,

a neck coupled to the handle, and

a head coupled to the neck distally from the handle, wherein the head comprises an impactor head having a generally rectangular shape and a distally positioned gripping surface and further having means for enhancing the gripping surface of the head;

(B) a second tool comprising;

a handle,

a neck coupled to the handle, and

a head coupled to the neck, wherein the head comprises a slot forming member having an insertion member coupled transversely to a laterally extending body member; and

(C) a third tool comprising;

a handle;

a neck coupled to the handle; and

a head coupled to the neck, wherein the head comprises a slot forming member having a spacer head having a body portion and a tapering nose section extending therefrom, wherein the height of the body portion is greater than the thickness of the body portion.

19. A set of tools for use in a spinal surgical procedure in which a substantial portion of an intervertebral disk has been removed and a spinal implant is inserted between first and second vertebrae, the set of tools comprising:

a plurality of spacing tools configured to prepare an intervertebral space to receive said implant, each of said spacing tools including;

a handle,

a neck coupled to the handle, and

a head coupled to the neck distally from the handle, each head corresponding substantially to the shape of a spinal implant and wherein each head has a body portion and a tapering nose section extending therefrom, the height of the body portion being greater than the thickness of the body portion, the nose section tapering inwardly and distally away from the body portion, wherein the height of each of said heads of said spacing tools is distinct.

20. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein one of said spacing tools has a head with a height slightly smaller than the height of said implant.

22. A spacer tool for use in a spinal surgical procedure in which a spinal implant is inserted between first and second vertebrae, the spacer tool comprising:

a handle,

a neck coupled to the handle, and

a head coupled to the neck, wherein the head comprises a spacer head configured to prepare an intervertebral space to receive said implant, the spacer head having a proximal body portion and a tapering nose section extending distally therefrom, the height of the body portion being greater than the thickness of the body portion, the nose tapering to a thinner portion as it proceeds distally away from the body portion, the spacer tool being configured to be inserted between first and second vertebrae.

23. A spacer tool in claim 22, wherein the spacer head has a flat side.

24. A scraper for use in a spinal surgical procedure in which a spinal implant is inserted between first and second vertebrae, the scraper comprising:

a handle,

a neck coupled to the handle, and

a head coupled to the neck, wherein the head comprises a scraper having first and second longitudinally extending side members coupled transversely to a longitudinally extending body member, the longitudinally extending side members and the body member forming a U-shaped front portion, wherein the distal edges of said longitudinally extending side members are configured for either cutting or crushing bone tissue.

25. A scraper as recited in claim 24, wherein the distal edge of said longitudinally extending body member is configured for either cutting or crushing bone tissue.