Vertebral body and disc space replacement devices

• US 6,758,862 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lange, Eric C., Berry, Bret M.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Melson, Candice C.
• Application Number:
  US10/103,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20030181980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606/57, 606/72, 606/73, 623/17.11, 623/17.12, 623/17.13, 623/17.14, 623/17.15
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 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 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30113 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30125 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30156 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30187 D-shaped or half-disc-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3023 wedge-shaped cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30367 with additional means for preventing said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3049 using a slidable sleeve covering the connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30784 : Plurality of holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• 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 2230/0006 : circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 : elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0023 : triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0034 : D-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00329 : Glasses, e.g. bioglass
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00359 : Bone or bony tissue
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/907 : Composed of particular material or coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/908 : Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/909 : Bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/91 : Polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/911 : Memory material

Abstract

A vertebral replacement body device for supporting adjacent vertebrae includes a connecting member having an upper member and a lower member engaged thereto at opposite ends thereof. The vertebral replacement body device can have a chamber extending therethrough for fusion of the supported vertebrae.

Claims

1. A vertebral replacement body device, comprising:

an upper member having a first end for engaging an endplate of an upper vertebral body and an opposite second end, said upper member having a wall defining a chamber extending between said first end and said second end;

a lower member having a first end for engaging an endplate of a lower vertebral body and an opposite second end, said lower member having a wall defining a chamber extending between said first end and said second end; and

a connecting member positionable between said upper member and said lower member, said connecting member having a chamber extending therethrough and including a body having an upper end and a lower end, said connecting member further including an upper extension at said upper end of said body and a lower extension at said lower end of said body, said upper extension including a flexible upper engaging member having a projection engageable with said wall of said upper member and said lower extension including a flexible lower engaging member having a projection engageable with said wall of said lower member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said upper extension is positionable in said chamber of said upper member such that said upper member is non-rotatably engaged with said connecting member; and

said lower extension is positionable in said chamber of said lower member such that said lower member is non-rotatably engaged with said connecting member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said upper extension and said lower extension are each a substantially continuous ring member interrupted by said respective engaging member.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said upper and lower engaging members flexes inwardly toward said chamber of said connecting member as respective ones of said upper member and said lower member are engaged to said connecting member.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said upper engaging member is integrally formed with said upper end of said body of said connecting member and said lower engaging member is integrally formed with said lower end of said body of said connecting member.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said upper end of said body of said connecting member defines an upper end surface extending about said upper extension and said lower end of said body of said connecting member defines a lower end surface extending about said lower extension, said upper extension projecting beyond said upper end surface and said lower extension projecting beyond said lower end surface.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said upper member includes at least one aperture extending through said wall of said upper member; and

said lower member includes at least one aperture extending through said wall of said lower member.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein each of said upper and lower engaging members includes an engaging portion positionable in said at least one aperture of respective ones of said upper member and said lower member.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein each of said upper and lower engaging members includes an engaging surface that engages a surface of said at least one aperture to resist axial displacement of respective ones of said upper member and said lower member relative to said connecting member.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein each said at least one apertures of said upper member and said lower member has a triangular shape and each of said engaging portions has a triangular shape sized to fit within said at least one aperture.

7. The device of claim wherein:

said second end of said upper member includes a series of flattened end surfaces spaced therearound for bearing against said upper end surface of said connecting member; and

said second end of said lower member includes a series of flattened end surfaces spaced therearound for bearing against said lower end surface of said connecting member.

12. A vertebral replacement body device, comprising:

an upper member having a first end for engaging an endplate of an upper vertebral body and an opposite second end, said upper member defining a chamber extending between said first end and said second end;

a lower member having a first end for engaging an endplate of a lower vertebral body and an opposite second end, said lower member defining a chamber extending between said first end and said second end;

a connecting member between said upper member and said lower member, said connecting member including a chamber extending therethrough and including a body having an upper end and a lower end, said connecting member further including an upper extension at said upper end of said body and a lower extension at said lower end of said body, said upper extension being positionable in said chamber of said upper member such that said upper member is non-rotatably engaged with said connecting member and said lower extension being positionable in said chamber of said lower member such that said lower member is non-rotatably engaged with said connecting member, wherein;

said upper extension includes a flexible engaging member having a projection engageable with an opening in a wall of said upper member; and

said lower extension includes a flexible engaging member having a projection engageable with an opening in a wall of said lower member.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein:

said chamber of said upper member and said chamber of said connecting member align with one another when said upper member is engaged to said connecting member; and

said chamber of said lower member and said chamber of said connecting member align with one another when said lower member is engaged to said connecting member.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein:

the vertebral replacement body device has a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; and

said upper member, said lower member and said connecting member each have a kidney shaped cross-section transverse to said longitudinal axis.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein said upper member, said connecting member and said lower member are comprised of resorbable material selected from the group consisting of:

hard tissues, connective tissues, demineralized bone matrix, polylactide, polyglycolide, tyrosine-derived polycarbonate, polyanhydride, polyorthoester, polyphosphazene, calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, bioactive glass, and combinations thereof.

16. The device of claim 12, further comprising a stabilization construct extending between and engaged to the upper vertebral body and the lower vertebral body.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein:

said vertebral replacement body has a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;

said upper extension has a non-circular shape transverse to said longitudinal axis; and

said lower extension has a non-circular shape transverse to said longitudinal axis.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein:

said chamber of said upper member has a non-circular cross-sectional shape transverse to said longitudinal axis and said upper extension is received in said chamber in form fitting engagement with an inner wall surface of said upper member; and

said chamber of said lower member has a non-circular cross-sectional shape transverse to said longitudinal axis and said lower extension is received in said chamber in form fitting engagement with an inner wall surface of said lower member.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein said upper end of said body of said connecting member defines an upper end surface extending radially about said upper extension and said lower end of said body of said connecting member defines a planar surface extending radially about said lower extension, said upper extension projecting beyond said upper end surface and said lower extension projecting beyond said lower end surface.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein:

said second end of said upper member includes a series of flattened end surfaces spaced therearound for bearing against said upper end surface of said connecting member; and

said second end of said lower member includes a series of flattened end surfaces spaced therearound for bearing against said lower end surface of said connecting member.

21. The device of claim 12, wherein said upper member, said connecting member and said lower member are comprised of non-resorbable material selected from the group consisting of:

non-reinforced polymers, carbon-reinforced polymer composites, PEEK, PEEK composites, shape-memory alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, cobalt chrome alloys, stainless steel, ceramics and combinations thereof.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said upper member, said connecting member and said lower member are each comprised of PEEK material.

26. The device of claim 12, wherein

said upper member has a wall extending about said chamber, said wall defining a plurality of openings therethrough communicating with said chamber;

and

said lower member has a wall extending about said chamber, said wall defining a plurality of openings therethrough communicating with said chamber.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein at least one of said plurality of openings of each of said upper member and said lower member has a triangular shape.

29. The device of claim 12, wherein:

said first end of said upper member includes a series of flattened end surfaces spaced therearound for bearing against the endplate of the upper vertebral body; and

said first end of said lower member includes a series of flattened end surfaces spaced therearound for bearing against the endplate of the lower vertebral body.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said flattened end surfaces of each of said upper member and said lower member have a trapezoidal shape.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein said flattened end surfaces of each of said upper member and lower member extend generally parallel to an adjacent vertebral endplate.

23. The device of 12, further comprising bone growth material in said chamber of each of said upper member, said connecting member and said lower member.

24. The device of claim 23, said bone growth material includes one or more selected from group consisting of:

bone morphogenetic protein, transforming growth factor β

1, insulin-like growth factor 1, platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and LIM mineralization protein (LMP).

25. The device of claim said bone growth material is provided in a carrier having a form selected from the group consisting of:

a sponge, a block, folded sheet, putty, and paste.

27. The device of wherein said connecting member includes a chamber extending therethrough and said body of said connecting member includes a wall extending around said chamber, said wall including a plurality of openings therethrough in communication with said chamber of said connecting member.

32. A vertebral replacement body device, comprising:

an upper member having a first end for engaging an endplate of an upper vertebral body and an opposite second end, said upper member having a wall defining a chamber extending between said first end and said second end;

a lower member having a first end for engaging an endplate of a lower vertebral body and an opposite second end, said lower member having a wall defining a chamber extending between said first end and said second end;

a connecting member positionable between said upper member and said lower member, said connecting member having a body with an upper end and a lower end, said connecting member further including an upper extension at said upper end of said body and a lower extension at said lower end of said body, wherein said upper extension includes a flexible upper engaging member having a projection engageable with said wall of said upper member and said lower extension includes a flexible lower engaging member having a projection engageable with said wall of said lower member, wherein;

said upper end of said body of said connecting member includes an upper end surface adjacent to said upper extension;

said lower end of said body of said connecting member includes an end surface adjacent to said lower extension;

said second end of said upper member includes an end surface bearing against said upper end surface of said connecting member; and

said second end of said lower member includes an end surface bearing against said lower end surface of said connecting member.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein said upper engaging member is integrally formed with said upper end of said body of said connecting member and said lower engaging member is integrally formed with said lower end of said body of said connecting member.

35. The device of claim 32, wherein each of said upper and lower engaging members includes an engaging portion forming said projection.

36. The device of claim 32, wherein each of said upper and lower engaging members includes an engaging surface that engages a surface of at least one aperture in said wall of each of said upper member and said lower member to resist axial displacement of said upper member and said lower member relative to said connecting member.

37. The device of claim 32, said upper member is telescopically and non-rotabably positionable about said upper extension and said lower member is telescopically and non-rotatably positionable about said lower extension.

38. The device of claim 32, wherein said upper member is telescopically and non-rotabably positionable within said upper extension and said lower member is telescopically and non-rotatably positionable within said lower extension.

39. The device of claim 32, further comprising a sleeve about said connecting member and at least a portion of said upper member and said lower member, said sleeve engaging at least said upper member and said lower member to maintain said end surfaces of said upper and lower members in contact with a respective one of said upper and lower end surfaces of said connecting member.

33. The device of claim therein said second end of said upper member includes a series of flattened end surfaces spaced therearound;

and

said second end of said lower member includes a series of flattened end surfaces spaced therearound.

40. A vertebral replacement body device, comprising:

an upper member having a first end for engaging an endplate of an upper vertebral body and an opposite second end, said upper member having a wall defining a chamber extending between said first end and said second end;

a lower member having a first end for engaging an endplate of a lower vertebral body and an opposite second end, said lower member having a wall defining a chamber extending between said first end and said second end;

a connecting member positionable between said upper member and said lower member, said connecting member having a body with an upper end and a lower end, said connecting member further including an upper extension at said upper end of said body and a lower extension at said lower end of said body, wherein;

said upper end of said body of said connecting member includes an upper end surface adjacent to said upper extension;

said lower end of said body of said connecting member includes an end surface adjacent to said lower extension;

said second end of said upper member includes an end surface bearing against said upper end surface of said connecting member;

said second end of said lower member includes an end surface bearing against said lower end surface of said connecting member; and

a sleeve about said connecting member and at least a portion of said upper member and said lower member, said sleeve engaging at least said upper member and said lower member to maintain said end surfaces of said upper and lower members in contact with a respective one of said upper and lower end surfaces of said connecting member.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein said second end of said upper member includes a series of flattened end surfaces spaced therearound;

and

said second end of said lower member includes a series of flattened end surfaces spaced therearound.

42. The device of claim 40, wherein said upper member is telescopically and non-rotabably positionable about said upper extension and said lower member is telescopically and non-rotatably positionable about said lower extension.

43. The device of claim 40, said upper member is telescopically and non-rotabably positionable within said upper extension and said lower member is telescopically and non-rotatably positionable within said lower extension.

44. The device of claim 40, said upper extension includes a flexible upper engaging member having a projection engageable with said wall of said upper member and said lower extension includes a flexible lower engaging member having a projection engageable with said wall of said lower member.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein each of said upper and lower engaging members includes an engaging portion forming said projection.

46. The device of claim 44, wherein said upper engaging member is integrally formed with said upper end of said body of said connecting member and said lower engaging member is integrally formed with said lower end of said body of said connecting member.

47. The device of claim 44, wherein each of said upper and lower engaging members includes an engaging surface that engages a surface of at least one aperture in said wall of each of said upper member and said lower member to resist axial displacement of said upper member and said lower member relative to said connecting member.

48. A vertebral replacement body device, comprising:

an upper member having a first end for engaging an endplate of an upper vertebral body and an opposite second end, said upper member having a wall defining a chamber extending between said first end and said second end;

a lower member having a first end for engaging an endplate of a lower vertebral body and an opposite second end, said lower member having a wall defining a chamber extending between said first end and said second end;

a connecting member positionable between said upper member and said lower member, said connecting member including a body having a chamber extending between an upper end and a lower end of said body, wherein;

said connecting member and said upper member are telescopically and non-rotatably positionable with respect to one another for placement of said second end of said upper member against said upper end of said connecting member;

said connecting member and said lower member are telescopically and non-rotatably positionable with respect to one another for placement of said second end of said lower member against said upper end of said connecting member; and

said connecting member further includes an upper extension at said upper end of said body and a lower extension at said lower end of said body, said upper extension including a flexible upper engaging member having a projection engageable with said wall of said upper member and said lower extension including a flexible lower engaging member having a projection engageable with said wall of said lower member.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein said upper extension and said lower extension are each a substantially continuous ring member interrupted by said respective engaging member.

50. The device of claim 48, wherein said upper member includes a lower extension at said second end of said lower member positionable in said chamber of said connecting member and said lower member includes an upper extension at said second end of said lower member positionable in said chamber of said connecting member.

51. A method for assembling a vertebral replacement body device, comprising:

providing a connecting member having a body extending between an upper end and a lower end;

telescopically and non-rotatably engaging an upper member to the upper end of the connecting member with an end of the upper member in contact with the upper end of the body; and

telescopically and non-rotatably engaging a lower member to the lower end of the connecting member with an end of the lower member in contact with the lower end of the body, wherein telescopically and non-rotatably engaging the upper member to the connecting member and telescopically and non-rotatably engaging the lower member to the connecting member includes placing a sleeve about the upper member, the connecting member and the lower member.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

engaging an aperture of the upper member with an engagement member extending from the upper end of the body of the connecting member; and

engaging an aperture of the lower member with an engagement member extending from the lower end of the body of the connecting member.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

placing bone growth material in a chamber of said connecting member, a chamber of said upper member, and a chamber of said lower member.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the vertebral replacement body defines a longitudinal axis and non-rotatably engaging the upper member and the lower member includes providing an interference fit between the connecting member and respective ones of the upper member and lower member about the longitudinal axis.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein telescopically engaging the upper member and the lower member includes positioning a portion of the connecting member in a chamber of each the upper member and the lower member.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein telescopically engaging the upper member and the lower member includes:

positioning a portion of the upper member in a chamber of the connecting member; and

positioning a portion of the lower member in a chamber of the connecting member.