Intervertebral disk replacement

• US 7,066,960 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Curtis A. Dickman
• Original Assignee: Curtis A. Dickman
• Inventors: Dickman, Curtis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US10/185,738
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.12, 623/17.16, 623/23.5, 623/23.52
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7062 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs rib fixation devices A61B17/8076; Tools for such devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• 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 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• 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 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00293 containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00976 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF

Abstract

An intervertebral disk prosthesis in a preferred embodiment has a matrix of bioincorporable fabric, and a nuclear core centrally mixed into the matrix. The core is formed by impregnating the fabric substrate centrally with a polymer, preferably of liquid form that cures into a viscoelastic solid, in which each component—polymer and fabric—reinforces the other against tearing, shearing and weakening under stress. The core is a hybrid composite adapted for elastic deformation centrally of the matrix, in which the polymer is mixed with the fabric, and is surrounded by the outer bioincorporable fabric margin of the matrix. In another embodiment, the nuclear core is separated from an outer sheath of the bioincorporable fabric by an intermediate ligament encasement that surrounds the purely polymeric core In either embodiment, each edge of the outer fabric that interfaces a vertebral end plate is impregnated with an agent to stimulate osseus incorporation and anchoring. An adjunct anchoring system with penetration of bone of adjacent vertebra may be used to for attachment until and after bioincorporation occurs.

Claims

1. An intervertebral disk prosthesis, comprising:

a bioincorporable fabric matrix having a shape consistent with the shape of the natural disk in a human vertebral column to be replaced by the disk prosthesis; and

a core region centrally located in said fabric matrix, said core region impregnated with a polymer to form an elastically deformable hybrid composite of the fabric matrix centrally of the disk prosthesis, said core region comprising a cured viscoelastic solid incorporating continuous fibers of the fabric matrix therethrough;

said fabric matrix extending beyond the boundary of said central core region to form a fabric margin integral with the fabric matrix and surrounding said core region;

said fabric margin of the fabric matrix being substantially devoid of said polymer and adapted for attachment and stabilization of the disk prosthesis to adjoining vertebrae in space vacated by the disk being replaced.

2. The intervertebral disk prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said fabric matrix comprises woven collagen for tensile strength.

3. The intervertebral disk prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said fabric margin of the fabric matrix is impregnated with one or more biological agents that promote growth and incorporation of bone, fibrocartilage or fibrous tissue into the fabric margin, for osseus incorporation and anchoring, at least at ends of the disk prosthesis that interface with vertebral end plates when the disk prosthesis is implanted.

4. The intervertebral disk prosthesis of claim 3, wherein said one or more biological agents are selected from a group including growth factors, hydroxyapatite and BMP to simulate natural ligament insertion in bone.