Adjustable bone fusion implant and method

• US 6,562,074 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMDS LLC
• Original Assignee: Medicinelodge, Inc (Nelso Antolotti)
• Inventors: Fallin, T. Wade, Gerbec, Daniel E., Faciszewski, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonderer, David A
• Application Number:
  US10/121,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 623/16.11, 623/17.11, 623/17.15, 623/17.16, 606/60, 606/61, 606/62, 606/63
• US Class Current: 623/17.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• 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 2/4637 for connecting or disconnecting two parts of a prosthesis
• 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 2002/30266 wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30487 Circumferential cooperating grooves and beads on cooperating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30522 releasable, e.g. using a releasable ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• 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 2002/30784 Plurality of holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30789 perpendicular with respect to each other
• 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 2002/30975 : made of two halves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4622 : having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4628 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 : connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0082 : parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 : for adjusting thickness

Abstract

An adjustable bone fusion implant includes a first plate having an interior face with a plurality of spaced apart first support members projecting therefrom. Each support member has a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom. A second plate has an interior face with a plurality of spaced apart second support members projecting therefrom. Each second support member has at least one tooth or one adjustment hole formed thereon. A portion of the plurality of teeth of each first support member mechanically engage with the at least one tooth or one adjustment hole of a corresponding second support member so that the first plate and the second plate can be selectively separated forming a compartment therebetween. A reinforcing member is disposed between the first plate and the second plate such that the application of a compressive force between the first plate and the second plate applies compression on the reinforcing member.

Claims

1. An adjustable bone fusion implant comprising:

a first plate having an interior face and an opposing exterior face;

a second plate having an interior face and an opposing exterior face;

means for connecting the first plate to the second plate such that the first plate and the second plate can be selectively manually separated to one or more predefined positions and such that the first plate and the second plate are mechanically stopped from collapsing toward each other once separated to the one or more predefined positions; and

a discrete reinforcing member removably positioned between the first plate and the second plate.

2. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the discrete reinforcing member is removably slid between the first plate and the second plate.

3. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is removably positioned between the first plate and the second plate such that the reinforcing member biases against the first plate and the second plate when a compressive force is applied on the first plate and the second plate.

4. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for connecting comprises:

a pair of spaced apart first support members projecting from the first plate, at least one of the first support members having a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom; and

a pair of spaced apart second support members projecting from the second plate, at least one of the second support members having at least one hole formed thereon, at least one of the plurality of teeth of the first support member being disposed within the hole of the second support member.

5. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one tooth on the first support member comprises:

a top surface intersecting with the first support member so as to form a first inside angle relative to the first support member that is less than 90°

; and

a bottom surface intersecting with the first support member so as to form a second inside angle relative to the first support member that is less than 90°

, the top surface intersecting with the bottom surface at an outer edge.

6. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 5, wherein the second inside angle is greater than the first inside angle.

7. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the exterior face of the first plate is angled relative to the exterior face of the second plate so as to form a wedged shape configuration.

8. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an attachment wall projecting from the first plate or the second plate toward the other of the first plate or the second plate; and

means formed on the attachment wall for removably connecting an insertion tool to the attachment wall.

9. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 8, wherein the means for removably connecting an insertion tool the attachment wall comprises a threaded opening extending at least partially through the attachment wall.

10. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one grafting port extending through at least the first plate or the second plate.

11. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a block having a front face and an opposing back face with a passageway extending therebetween.

12. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a block, the block being comprised of bone.

13. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a pair of spaced apart walls with a substantially open channel longitudinally extending therebetween.

14. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein a compartment is at least partially bounded between the first plate and the second plate, the reinforcing member being at least partially disposed within the compartment.

15. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a substantially U-shaped configuration.

16. An adjustable bone fusion implant comprising:

a housing comprising a top surface, a bottom surface and a pair of spaced apart expandable sidewalls extending therebetween, the top surface, bottom surface, and pair of expandable sidewalls at least partially bounding a compartment therebetween the expandable sidewalls including at least one mechanical stop that prevents collapsing of the sidewalls once expanded; and

a discrete reinforcing member of a predetermined shape positioned in the compartment such that a compressive force applied on the top surface and bottom surface of the housing is transferred through the reinforcing member.

17. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 16, wherein the reinforcing member is removably positioned within the compartment of the housing.

18. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 17, wherein the reinforcing member is removably slid within the compartment of the housing.

19. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 16, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a block having a front face and an opposing back face with a passageway extending therebetween.

20. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 16, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a block, the block being comprised of bone.

21. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 16, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a pair of spaced apart walls with a substantially open channel longitudinally extending therebetween.

22. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 16, wherein the reinforcing member is comprised of plastic or metal.

23. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 16, wherein the expandable sidewalls comprise:

a pair of spaced apart first support members each having a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom; and

a pair of spaced apart second support members each having a plurality of holes formed thereon, at least one of the plurality of teeth of each of the first support members being disposed within one of the plurality of holes of a corresponding second support member.

24. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 23, wherein the housing further comprises:

an attachment wall projecting into the compartment at least partially between the first support members; and

means formed on the attachment wall for removably connecting an insertion tool to the attachment wall.

25. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 16, wherein the top surface of the housing is angled relative to the bottom surface of the housing so that the housing has a substantially wedged shaped configuration.

26. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 16, further comprising means formed on the reinforcing member for removably connecting an insertion tool to the reinforcing member.

27. An adjustable bone fusion implant comprising:

a first plate having an interior face and an opposing exterior face;

a pair of spaced apart first support members projecting from the first plate, at least one of the first support members having a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom;

a second plate having an interior face and an opposing exterior face, the interior face of the first plate facing the interior face of the second plate such that a compartment is at least partially bound therebetween;

a pair of spaced apart second support members projecting from the second plate, at least one of the second support members having at least one hole formed thereon, at least one of the plurality of teeth of the first support member being disposed within the hole of the second support member; and

a discrete reinforcing member of a predetermined shape disposed between the first plate and the second plate.

28. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 27, wherein the discrete reinforcing member is disposed within the compartment.

29. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 27, wherein the discrete reinforcing member is removably disposed between the first plate and the second plate.

30. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 27, wherein the exterior face of the first plate is angled relative to the exterior face of the second plate so as to form a wedged shape configuration.

31. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 27, wherein at least one of the plurality of teeth of the first support member comprises a sloping surface and an intersecting horizontally disposed surface.

32. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 27, further comprising at least one grafting port extending through at least the first plate or the second plate to the compartment.

33. An adjustable bone fusion implant as recited in claim 27, further comprising a plurality of retention barbs projecting from the exterior face of at least the first plate or the second plate.

34. An adjustable bone fusion implant kit comprising:

a housing comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of spaced apart expandable sidewalls extending therebetween, the top surface and the bottom surface at least partially bounding a compartment therebetween, the expandable sidewalls being selectively expandable so that the compartment is correspondingly expandable between a plurality of predefined sizes, the expandable sidewalls including at least one mechanical stop that prevents collapsing of the sidewalls once expanded; and

a plurality of discrete reinforcing members, each reinforcing member having a different size corresponding to one of the plurality of predefined sizes of the compartment, each of the reinforcing members being configured to be inserted into the compartment when the compartment is adjusted to the size of the corresponding reinforcing insert.

35. An adjustable bone fusion implant kit as recited in claim 34, wherein the expandable sidewalls are configured to expand in predefined increments.

36. An adjustable bone fusion implant kit as recited in claim 34, wherein at least one of the reinforcing members comprises a block having a front face and an opposing back face with a passageway extending therebetween.

37. An adjustable bone fusion implant kit as recited in claim 34, wherein at least one of the reinforcing members comprises a pair of spaced apart walls with a substantially open channel longitudinally extending therebetween.