Spinal interbody fusion device and method
First Claim
1. A spinal interbody fusion device comprising:
- a sleeve, said sleeve defining a first and a second threaded channel, said first and said second sleeve channels in communication with each other, a first plate, said first plate defining a declining surface and a central bore through said first plate, a first threaded shaft, said first shaft attached to said first plate, said first shaft defining an axial bore therethrough, said first shaft bore in communication with said first plate bore, said first shaft threadably received in said first sleeve channel, a second plate, said second plate defining an inclining surface and a central bore through said second plate, a second threaded shaft, said second shaft affixed to said second plate and extending towards said first plate, said second shaft defining an axial bore therethrough, said second shaft bore in communication with said second plate bore, said second shaft threadably received in said sleeve second channel, said first shaft receivable in said second shaft bore, said first plate bore in communication with said second plate bore through said shafts and said sleeve, whereby a continuous bore through said spinal interbody fusion device is provided.
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Abstract
A disc replacement spinal interbody fusion device is provided having a central sleeve with oppositely left and right-hand threaded axial bores with different diameters. Circumferential threaded apertures are located on the sleeve and open into the sleeve bores. The device has two opposing plates which are oval-shaped and centrally, axially bored. Each plate has a perpendicular shaft with an axial bore which communicates with the plate bore. In situ, axial loading of the spinal column upon the fusion device creates a bending moment manifested by a flexing action of the plates to generate opposing axial directional forces which replicate the physiological function of shock absorption, load bearing and load transmission.
251 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A spinal interbody fusion device comprising:
- a sleeve, said sleeve defining a first and a second threaded channel, said first and said second sleeve channels in communication with each other, a first plate, said first plate defining a declining surface and a central bore through said first plate, a first threaded shaft, said first shaft attached to said first plate, said first shaft defining an axial bore therethrough, said first shaft bore in communication with said first plate bore, said first shaft threadably received in said first sleeve channel, a second plate, said second plate defining an inclining surface and a central bore through said second plate, a second threaded shaft, said second shaft affixed to said second plate and extending towards said first plate, said second shaft defining an axial bore therethrough, said second shaft bore in communication with said second plate bore, said second shaft threadably received in said sleeve second channel, said first shaft receivable in said second shaft bore, said first plate bore in communication with said second plate bore through said shafts and said sleeve, whereby a continuous bore through said spinal interbody fusion device is provided.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A spinal interbody fusion device comprising:
- a sleeve, said sleeve being cylindrically-shaped and having a substantially uniform outer diameter, said sleeve defining a small first threaded axial channel and a large second threaded axial channel, said first sleeve channel in communication with said second sleeve channel, a first plate, said first plate defining a central bore therethrough and a substantially planar declining surface, a first threaded shaft, said first shaft affixed to said first plate, said first shaft extending from said first plate, said first shaft being externally threaded and defining an axial bore therethrough, said first shaft bore in communication with said first plate bore, said first shaft threadably received within said first sleeve channel, a second plate, said second plate defining a central bore therethrough and a substantially planar inclining surface, a second threaded shaft, said second shaft affixed to said second plate, said second shaft extending from said second plate towards said first plate, said second shaft being externally threaded and defining an axial bore, said second shaft bore being in communication with said second plate bore, said second shaft threadably secured within said second sleeve channel, each one of said first and said second plates is wider and deeper than each is thick, said first plate bore being in communication with said second plate bore through said first and said second shafts and said sleeve to provide a continuous bore completely through said spinal interbody fusion device whereby rotating said sleeve will extend said first and second plates from said sleeve.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A spinal fusion method utilizing a generally wedge-shaped spinal interbody fusion device having a pair of adjustable oval-shaped plates with opposing horizontal biases that diminish posteriorly, the first and second plates each having a central bore, a pair of externally threaded shafts, the first shaft extending from the first plate, the second shaft extending from the second plate towards the first shaft in axial alignment with the first shaft, the first and second shafts each defining an axial bore therethrough, the diameter of the second shaft bore being greater than the diameter of the first shaft and a sleeve having a first and a second channel with each channel threaded oppositely from and in communication with the other channel, the first and second sleeve channels threadably connected to the first and second shafts respectively, the sleeve being between the plates with a continuous central bore extending from the bore in the first plate to the bore in the second plate and through the shafts and the sleeve for accepting a bone graft therein for bone growth and fusion completely through the device while the plates overhang the shafts to allow opposing bending moments thereabout for shock absorption and the first shaft is retractable into the second shaft bore for sizing the device, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) rotating the sleeve to cause the first shaft to be received in the second shaft bore; b) removing the damaged disc between adjacent spinal vertebrae to form a space between the remaining adjacent spinal vertebrae ; c) threadably adjusting the height of the fusion device to approximate the height of the space by rotating the sleeve whereby rotating the sleeve in a first direction retracts the first shaft into the second shaft; d) filling the central bore of the device with a bone graft; e) inserting the fusion device containing the bone graft within the space with each plate contiguous a different one of the adjacent spinal vertebrae while the opposing biases of the plates diminish posteriorly; f) threadably adjusting the inserted fusion device to tightly accommodate the space between the adjacent vertebrae; g) allowing the vertebrae to grow to the spinal interbody fusion device and bone graft; and h) generating opposing axial forces by flexing the interbody fusion device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification