Vertebral implant and setting tool therefor

• US 6,752,832 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ulrich GmbH & Co., KG (Air Liquide SA)
• Original Assignee: Ulrich GmbH & Co., KG (Air Liquide SA)
• Inventors: Neumann, Carsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Brian E
• Application Number:
  US10/033,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623/17.15, 623/17.16, 606/61, 606/99, 606/63, 411/190
• US Class Current: 623/17.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2002/30369 Limited lateral translation of the protrusion within a larger recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30372 with additional means for limiting said translation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30397 Limited lateral translation of the rib within a larger groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30495 using a locking ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30574 with an integral complete or partial collar or flange
• 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 2002/30601 telescopic
• 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 2002/4627 : 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 2002/4631 : the prosthesis being specially adapted for being cemented
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4632 : using computer-controlled surgery, e.g. robotic surgery
• 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

Abstract

A spinal implant for engagement between a pair of vertebrae has a pair of parts displaceable relative to each other along an axis and each adapted to engage a respective one of the vertebrae. One of the parts is formed with a screwthread engaging a nut that bears axially on the other of the parts and that is formed with an externally accessible array of gear teeth. This implant is set by a setting tool having a holder fittable with the other part, a rotary member in the holder, and a gear on the rotary member meshable with the teeth of the one part when the holder is fitted to the other part.

Claims

1. A spinal implant for engagement between a pair of vertebrae, the implant comprising:

a first tubular element having an upper threaded part;

a second tubular element forming an unthreaded part coaxial with and outside the threaded part, the parts being displaceable relative to each other along an axis and each adapted to engage a respective one of the vertebrae; and

a nut threadedly engaging the screwthread of the threaded part, bearing axially on the unthreaded part, and formed with an externally accessible array of gear teeth, the unthreaded part having a rim against which the nut fits and being formed with a radially throughgoing notch opening at the rim.

2. The spinal implant defined in claim 1, further comprising

interengaging formations on the parts preventing relative rotation about the axis.

3. The spinal implant defined in claim 2 wherein the formations include a radially open and axially extending groove and a radially projecting pin engaged in the groove.

4. The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein the unthreaded part is formed diametrically across from the notch with a radially open threaded hole.

5. The spinal implant defined in claim 4 wherein the threaded part is formed in line with the notch and hole of the unthreaded part with respective axially extending and radially throughgoing slots.

6. The spinal implant defined in claim 5 wherein the unthreaded part is formed with a pair of outwardly open holder grooves symmetrically flanking a plane extending along the axis and bisecting the notch and threaded hole.

7. The spinal implant defined in claim 5 wherein the flange is formed with an array of throughgoing holes.

8. The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein the threaded part is formed with a radially projecting flange, the nut lying between the flange and the rim.

9. The spinal implant defined in claim 8 wherein the nut is formed with an axially extending spacer collar engageable axially with the threaded part, the flange being spaced from the threaded part when the collar engages the threaded part.

10. In combination:

a spinal implant for engagement between a pair of vertebrae, the implant comprising

a first tubular element having an upper threaded part,

an a second tubular element forming an unthreaded part, the parts being displaceable relative to each other along an axis and each adapted to engage a respective one of the vertebrae, and

a nut threadedly engaging the screwthread of the threaded part, bearing axially on the unthreaded part, and formed with an externally accessible array of gear teeth; and

a setting tool comprising

a holder fittable with the unthreaded part,

a shaft in the holder having a pair of ends,

a gear on one of the ends of the shaft meshable with the teeth of the threaded part when the holder is fitted to the unthreaded part,

a hand wheel on the other end of the shaft, and

a core rod having an inner end screwable into the unthreaded part.

11. The spinal implant defined in claim 10 wherein the tool further has

an outer tube coaxially surrounding the shaft and having an outer end carrying the holder.

12. The spinal implant defined in claim 11 wherein the holder is a fork engageable around the unthreaded part.

13. The spinal implant defined in claim 12 wherein the fork is double and has four tines engageable with the unthreaded part.

14. In combination:

a spinal implant comprising;

an outer unthreaded tubular sleeve part centered on an axis,

an inner tubular core part having an upper external screwthread and coaxially received in the outer part,

means including interengaging formations on the parts for permitting them to move axially relative to each other while preventing them from rotating about the axis relative to each other, and

a nut threaded on the screwthread of the core part, bearing axially on the sleeve part, and formed with an array of externally accessible gear teeth; and

a setting tool comprising;

an elongated body having inner and outer ends,

a holder on the inner end fittable with the sleeve part,

a shaft extending through the body and having an inner end projecting at the holder from the body and carrying a gear meshing with the teeth of the nut, and

a rod extending through the shaft and having an inner end screwable into the sleeve part.