Annular nucleus pulposus replacement

• US 7,004,971 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Acromed Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Acromed Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Serhan, Hassan A., Dooris, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US10/334,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20040127992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30069 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30113 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30125 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30156 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30225 Flat cylinders, i.e. discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3023 wedge-shaped cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• 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 2002/30891 : Plurality of protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 : for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• 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 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 : circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 : elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0023 : triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 : for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 : differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 : Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof

Abstract

An annular nucleus pulposus replacement device having a large central cavity.

Claims

1. A prosthetic nucleus pulposus replacement device comprising:

a) an outer surface having a radius and adapted to conform to an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, and

b) an inner surface having a radius and defining a central recess,

wherein the outer and inner surfaces define a solid, deformable, load-bearing thickness therebetween, and

wherein the ratio of the radius of the inner surface to the radius of the outer surface is at least 30%.

wherein the device consists essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of a rubber and an elastomer, and

wherein the device is made of a material having a modulus of compression of between 5 MPa and 7 MPa.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the central recess is closed.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising upper and lower bearing surfaces.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the central recess contains a nucleus pulposus fluid.

5. The device of claim 1 having a shape adapted to be sufficiently foldable to deliver the device through a cannula.

6. The device of claim 1 made of an anisotropic material.

7. The device of claim 1 having a posterior portion having a height, and an anterior portion having a height, and wherein the anterior height is greater than the posterior height.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the radius of the inner surface to the radius of the outer surface is at least 50%.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the central recess forms a throughhole.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the throughhole comprises at least 30 vol % of the device.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the throughhole comprises between 75 vol % and 90 vol % of the device.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the throughhole is filled with SIS.

13. A prosthetic nucleus pulposus replacement device having a continuous ring shape and comprising:

a) an upper surface adapted to bear against an upper endplate,

b) a lower surface adapted to bear against a lower endplate,

c) an outer surface having a radius and adapted to conform to an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus,

d) a through hole having a radius and extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, and

e) an inner surface having a radius and defining a central recess,

wherein the device consists essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of a rubber and an elastomer, and

wherein the outer and inner surfaces define a solid, deformable, load-bearing thickness therebetween,

and wherein the device is made of a material having a modulus of compression of between 5 MPa and 7 MPa.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the central recess is closed.

15. The device of claim 13 further comprising upper and lower bearing surfaces.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the central recess contains a nucleus pulposus fluid.

17. The device of claim 13 having a shape adapted to be sufficiently foldable to deliver the device through a cannula.

18. The device of claim 13 made of an anisotropic material.

19. The device of claim 13 having a posterior portion having a height, and an anterior portion having a height, and wherein the anterior height is greater than the posterior height.

20. The device of claim 13 wherein the ratio of the radius of the inner surface to the radius of the outer surface is at least 50%.

21. The device of claim 13 wherein the central recess forms a throughhole.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the throughhole comprises at least 30 vol % of the device.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein the throughhole comprises between 75 vol % and 90 vol % of the device.