Bone blocks and methods for inserting bone blocks into intervertebral spaces

• US 6,887,248 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Inventors: McKinley, James T., Stone, Corbett, Marino, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Priddy, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US10/032,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606/99
• US Class Current: 606/99
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• 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 2002/30383 made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• 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 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 2230/0058 X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00359 Bone or bony tissue

Abstract

A method for inserting a bone block into a patient'"'"'s intervertebral space, comprising: supporting the bone block in an inserter; advancing the inserter into the intervertebral space; rotating the inserter, thereby separating adjacent vertebrae; separating the bone block and the inserter with a push rod; and removing the inserter from the intervertebral space.

Claims

1. A method for inserting a plurality of bone blocks in a patient'"'"'s intervertebral space, comprising:

supporting a first bone block in a first inserter;

advancing the first inserter into the intervertebral space;

rotating the first inserter, thereby positioning the first bone block between adjacent vertebrae;

removing the first inserter;

supporting a second bone block in a second inserter;

advancing the second inserter into the intervertebral space;

rotating the second inserter, thereby positioning the second bone block between adjacent vertebrae;

removing the second inserter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second bone blocks comprise opposite vertebral contact surfaces and opposite sides spanning between the opposite vertebral contact surfaces, and wherein the bone block tapers between longitudinally spaced apart ends to create a lordotic angle between adjacent vertebrae in the patient'"'"'s intervertebral space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second bone blocks has lateral protrusions which extend longitudinally along the length of the bone block.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second bone blocks has an angled front end.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second inserters have two arms disposed on opposite sides of each of said first and second bone blocks, at least one arm extending substantially the entire length of the each of said first and second bone blocks.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second inserters have two arms disposed on opposite sides of each of said first and second bone blocks, each arm having a longitudinally extending groove on an inner surface adjacent to the each of said first and second bone blocks.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second inserters have two arms disposed on opposite sides of each of said first and second bone blocks, each arm having an outer convexly curved camming surface.