Spinal fixation system

• US 6,682,561 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Surgical Technology Incorporated (Surgalign Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Songer, Matthew N., Kilpela, Thomas S., Vlahos, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US10/104,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623/17.15, 623/17.16, 623/16.11
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7049 Connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking longitudinal elements together A61B17/7055, A61B17/7053, A61B17/7019 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30724 Spacers for centering an implant in a bone cavity, e.g. in a cement-receiving cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• 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 2002/30126 oval-O-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30138 Convex polygonal shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30228 Cylinders of elliptical or oval basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30329 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30355 Cylinder of elliptical or oval basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 : using a locking plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30553 : for adjusting a position by translation along an axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 : having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30594 : slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 : Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30624 : Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 : Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• 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 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• 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 2230/0008 : elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 : Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0008 : for adjusting a position by translation along an axis or two perpendicular axes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

An implantable, spinal, vertebral replacement device comprises a tubular cage for fitting into a space left by a missing vertebral body and for optionally retaining bone graft material. First and second transverse plates are respectively positioned at opposed ends of the tubular cage for supporting the respective cage ends and for pressing a plate face against an adjacent vertebral body in spinal column-supporting relation. The transverse plates are each joined in transverse relation to a vertebral attachment plate which, in use, extends generally parallel to the spine. The vertebral attachment plate defines screw holes for preferably open helix screw securance to the pair of adjacent vertebral bodies that bracket the space left by the missing vertebral body.

Claims

1. An implantable spinal vertebral replacement device, which comprises:

a tubular cage for fitting into a space of a missing or damaged vertebral body;

first and second transverse plates, at least one said plate being separate from said tubular cage, said plates being respectively positioned at opposed ends of the tubular cage in a position supporting the respective cage ends, and for pressing a plate face against an adjacent vertebral body in spinal column-supporting relation, said transverse plates each defining a central aperture, said transverse plates each engaging in transverse relation to a single vertebral attachment plate, which, in use, extends generally parallel to the spine, said vertebral attachment plate defining screw holes for screw securance to a pair of vertebral bodies adjacent to said space, and in which a central, open space extends between the apertures of the first and second plates and through said cage to facilitate bone growth between said adjacent vertebral bodies through said cage, said vertebral attachment plate having end portions which are transversely enlarged relative a central portion between said end portions, at least one cover plate covering at least some of said vertebral attachment plate, said transverse plates being each transversely joined to said vertebral attachment plate by retention members that respectively connect between said transverse plate and said at least one cover plate, while extending past said vertebral attachment plate without penetrating said vertebral attachment plate.

2. The spinal replacement device of claim 1 in which said cover plate also covers said screw holes of said vertebral attachment plate for screw securance to a vertebral body, with screws occupying said screw holes.

3. The spinal replacement device of claim 2 in which said screws are of the open helix type.

4. The spinal replacement device of claim 1 in which said cage is of non-circular cross section.

5. The spinal replacement device of claim 4 in which said cage comprises a bone having ends of non-circular cross section which are secured in said transverse plates, and a lumen extending therethrough from end to end.

6. The spinal replacement device of claim 1 in which a portion of the cover plate periphery matches and lies against a portion of the periphery of the vertebral attachment plate.

7. The spinal vertebral replacement device of claim 1 in which at least one transverse plate can slide up and down the vertebral attachment plate to a desired position, so that the system has substantial dimensional tolerance and can be used with a variety of patients.

8. An implantable spinal vertebral replacement device, which comprises:

a tubular cage for fitting into a space of a missing or damaged vertebral body;

first and second transverse plates, at least one said plate being separate from said tubular cage, said plates being respectively positioned at opposed ends of the tubular cage in a position supporting the respective cage ends, and for pressing a plate face against an adjacent vertebral body in spinal column-supporting relation, said transverse plates each defining a central aperture, said transverse plate each engaging in transverse relation to a single vertebral attachment plate, which, in use, extends generally parallel to the spine, said vertebral attachment plate defining screw holes for screw securance to a pair of vertebral bodies adjacent to said space, with screws of the open helix type occupying said screw holes, and in which a central, open space extends between the apertures of the first and second plates and through said cage to facilitate bone growth between said adjacent vertebral bodies through said cage, said vertebral attachment plate having end portions which are transversely enlarged relative to a central portion between said end portions, at least one cover plate covering at least some of said vertebral attachment plate, said transverse plates being each transversely joined to said vertebral attachment plate by retention members that respectively connect between said transverse plate and said at least one cover plate, while extending past said vertebral attachment plate at a position between said transversely enlarged end portions and without penetrating said vertebral attachment plate, further in which said cover plate also covers said screw holes and open helix type screws of said vertebral attachment plate.

9. The spinal replacement device of claim 8 in which said cage is of non-circular cross section.

10. The spinal replacement device of claim 9 in which said cage comprises a bone having ends of non-circular cross section which are secured in said transverse plates, and a lumen extending therethrough from end to end.

11. The spinal replacement device of claim 9 in which a portion of the cover plate periphery matches and lies against a portion of the periphery of the vertebral attachment plate.

12. The spinal vertebral replacement device of claim 11 in which at least one transverse plate can slide up and down the vertebral attachment plate to a desired position, so that the system has substantial dimensional toleration and can be used with a variety of patients.

13. An implantable spinal vertebral replacement device, which comprises:

a tubular cage of noncircular cross section for fitting into a space of a missing or damaged vertebral body;

first and second transverse plates, said plates being respectively positioned at opposed ends of the tubular cage in a position supporting the respective cage ends, and for pressing a plate face against an adjacent vertebral body in spinal column-supporting relation, said transverse plates each defining a central aperture, said transverse plates each engaging in transverse relation to a vertebral attachment plate which, in use, extends generally parallel to the spine, said vertebral attachment plate defining screw holes for spinal securance;

screws of the open helix type occupying said screw holes for said spinal securance, in which a central, open space extends between the apertures of the first and second plates and through said cage to facilitate bone growth between said adjacent vertebral bodies through said cage.

14. The spinal replacement device of claim 13 in which at least one cover plate covers at least a portion of said vertebral attachment plate and the screw holes in said vertebral attachment plate for screw securance to a vertebral body, with said screws occupying said screw holes.

15. The spinal replacement device of claim 13 in which a portion of said cover plate periphery matches and lies against a portion of the periphery of the vertebral attachment plate.

16. The spinal replacement device of claim 13 in which said cage comprises a bone having ends of non-circular cross section which are secured in said transverse plates, and a lumen extending therethrough from end to end.