Stackable interlocking intervertebral support system

• US 6,852,126 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Inventors: Ahlgren, Dan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramana, Anuradha
• Application Number:
  US09/904,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623/17.15, 623/17.16, 606/60, 606/61, 606/62, 606/63, 606/64, 606/69, 606/72, 606/73, 446/69, 446/106, 446/108, 446/117, 446/120, 446/124, 446/128
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30176 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30179 X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• 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 2002/30599 stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30828 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• 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 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0058 X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys

Abstract

A intervertebral support system, comprising: a center portion having top and bottom recesses; a top portion having a bottom recess, the bottom recess in the top portion interlocking with the top recess in the center portion when the top position is positioned on top of the center portion; and a bottom portion having a top recess, the top recess in the bottom position interlocking with the bottom recess in the center portion when the bottom portion is positioned under the center portion.

Claims

1. An intervertebral support system, comprising:

a center portion dimensioned to be positioned in an intervertebral space, said center portion having a generally flat top surface, a generally flat bottom surface, a top recess formed in the top flat surface facing generally cranially when the center portion is positioned within the intervertebral space, and a bottom recess formed in the bottom flat surface facing generally caudally when the center portion is positioned within the intervertebral space;

a top portion having a generally flat top surface and a bottom recess facing generally caudally which interlocks with the top recess in the center portion when the top portion is positioned on top of the center portion within the intervertebral space; and

a bottom portion having a generally flat bottom surface and a top recess facing generally cranially which interlocks with the bottom recess in the center portion when the center portion is positioned on top of the bottom portion within the intervertebral space,

wherein the top surface in the center portion and the top portion are generally co-planar when the top portion is positioned on top of the center portion, and wherein the bottom flat surfaces of the center portion and bottom portion are generally co-planar when the bottom portion is positioned under the center portion.

2. The intervertebral support system of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom surfaces have a plurality of small grooves formed therein, the grooves increasing sliding friction across the top and bottom surfaces.

3. The intervertebral support system, comprising:

a center portion having top and bottom recesses;

a top portion having a bottom recess, the bottom recess in the top portion interlocking with the top recess in the center portion when the top portion is positioned on top of the center portion; and

a bottom portion having a top recess, the recess in the bottom position interlocking with the bottom recess in the center portion when the center portion is positioned on top of the bottom portion, wherein the top and bottom portions are positioned parallel to one another and perpendicular to the center portion when the top portion is positioned on top of the center portion and the bottom portion is positioned under the center portion.

4. A method of supporting adjacent vertebrae, by assembling an intervertebral support assembly between adjacent vertebrae comprising:

advavcing a bottom portion having a top recess into a patient'"'"'s intervertebral space;

advancing a center portion having top and bottom recesses into patient'"'"'s intervertebral space; and

advancing a top portion into the patient'"'"'s intervertebral space;

wherein the top portion has a bottom recess which interlocks with the top bottom recess in the center portion, and the bottom portion has a stop recess which interlocks with the bottom recess in the center portion such that a top surface of the top portion is generally coplanar with top surface of the center portion, and such that a bottom surface on the bottom portion is generally coplanar with bottom surface of the center portion, wherein the bottom portion and the top portion are advanced in a first posterolateral approach and the center portion is advanced in a second posterolateral approach, wherein the first posterolateral approach is generally perpendicular to the second posterolateral approach.

5. A method of supporting adjacent vertebrae, by assembling an intervertebral support assembly between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:

advancing a bottom portion having a top recess into a patient'"'"'s intervertebral space;

advancing a center portion having a bottom recess into patient'"'"'s intervertebral space; and

advancing a top portion into the patient'"'"'s intervertebral space, wherein the portion has a bottom recess which interlock with the top bottom recess in the center portion and the bottom portion has a top races which interlocks with the bottom recess in the center portion such that a top surface of the top portion is generally coplanar with the top surface of the center portion, and such that a bottom surface of the bottom portion is generally coplanar with the bottom surface of the center portion, wherein the intervertebral support assembly has an X-shape.