Orthopedic implant

• US 6,520,996 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Depuy Acromed Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Acromed Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hamilton, John, Manasas, Mark, Sultan, Cornel, Ingber, Donald, Oslakovic, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US09/588,167
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623/17.15, 623/21.15, 623/21.16, 623/21.11, 623/23.5
• US Class Current: 623/23.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3094 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30942 for designing or making customized prostheses, e.g. using templates, CT or NMR scans, finite-element analysis or CAD-CAM techniques
• 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 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30084 Materials having a crystalline structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30125 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30136 undulated or wavy, e.g. serpentine-shaped or zigzag-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30225 Flat cylinders, i.e. discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30329 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30565 having spring elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30571 Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30662 with rotation-limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3092 : having an open-celled or open-pored structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30968 : Sintering
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3097 : using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30971 : Laminates, i.e. layered products
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 : having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0004 : Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 : elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 : differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0029 : differing in bending or flexure capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/25 : Direct deposition of metal particles, e.g. direct metal deposition [DMD] or laser engineered net shaping [LENS]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/28 : Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7532 : Artificial members, protheses
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 : Process efficiency

Abstract

Disclosed is an orthopedic implant suitable for arthroplasty procedures. The orthopedic implant includes a first plate, a second plate, an axial support between the first plate and the second plate and one or more torsional supports connecting the first plate and the second plate. The axial support may be, for example, one or more flexible struts, such as cables, or a ball and socket joint. The torsional supports connect the first and second plates and may be, for example, curved around the axial support. The torsional supports may be integrally formed with the first and second plates as a single unitary device, by, for example, a Laser Engineered Net Shape (LENS) process.

Claims

1. An orthopedic implant, comprising:

a first plate;

a second plate;

an axial support between the first plate and the second plate and including one or more flexible struts; and

one or more torsional supports connected to the first plate and the second plate.

2. The orthopedic implant of claim 1, wherein the torsional supports each comprise a strut connected at a first end to the first plate and at a second end to the second plate.

3. The orthopedic implant of claim 2, wherein the first plate, the second plate and the one or more torsional supports each comprise a single, solid piece.

4. The orthopedic implant of claim 3, wherein the struts are curved around the axial support.

5. The orthopedic implant of claim 4, wherein there are two struts and the struts are mirror images of one another.

6. The orthopedic implant of claim 3, wherein the torsional supports and the first and second plates are constructed of the same material.

7. The orthopedic implant if claim 6, wherein the material is biocompatible.

8. The orthopedic implant if claim 7, wherein the material comprises titanium.

9. The orthopedic implant of claim 1, wherein the torsional supports, the first plate and the second plate are integrally formed.

10. The orthopedic implant of claim 9, wherein the struts are curved around the axial support.

11. The orthopedic implant of claim 10, wherein there are two struts and the struts are mirror images of one another.

12. The orthopedic implant of claim 9, wherein the torsional supports and the first and second plates are constructed of the same material.

13. The orthopedic implant if claim 12, wherein the material is biocompatible.

14. The orthopedic implant of claim 13, wherein the material comprises titanium.

15. The orthopedic implant of claim 1, wherein in a first position the flexible struts are substantially perpendicular to the first plate and the second plate and the first plate and the second plate are substantially parallel to one another.

16. The orthopedic implant of claim 15, wherein the flexible struts are cables.

17. The orthopedic implant of claim 16, wherein the flexible struts are secured at a first end to the first plate and at a second end to the second plate.

18. The orthopedic implant of claim 17, wherein the struts are secured by welds to the first plate and the second plate.

19. The orthopedic implant of claim 1, wherein the axial support comprises a first half connected to the first plate and a second half connected to the second plate.

20. The orthopedic implant of claim 19, wherein the first half mates with the second half.

21. The orthopedic implant of claim 20, wherein the first half is integrally formed with the first plate and the second half is integrally formed with the second plate.

22. The orthopedic implant of claim 1, wherein the first plate and second plate are substantially planar.

23. The orthopedic implant of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate comprise one or more protrusions for attachment to one or more bones.

24. The orthopedic implant of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate comprise openings for inserting a fixation device.

25. The orthopedic implant of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate each comprise a tissue ingrowth region.

26. The orthopedic implant of claim 25, wherein the tissue ingrowth region is porous.

27. The orthopedic implant of claim 26, wherein the tissue ingrowth region comprises sintered metal particles.

28. An orthopedic implant, comprising:

a first plate;

a second plate;

an axial support between the first plate and the second plate, having a first half connected to the first plate that includes a ball and a second half connected to the second plate that includes a socket, the ball and socket sized and arranged such that the first half and second half mate; and

one or more torsional supports connected to the first plate and the second plate.