Spreader implant for placement between vertebrae

• US 7,220,280 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Medical Technologies, AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Medical Technologies, AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Weiland, Peter, Kast, Erich, Wilke, Hans-Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan; Todd E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COMSTOCK, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US10/686,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20040127994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623/17.14, 623/17.15, 623/17.16, 623/18.11, 623/23.47, 623/23.58, 606/60, 606/61, 606/63, 606/90, 606/105
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30266 wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30369 Limited lateral translation of the protrusion within a larger recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• 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 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30789 perpendicular with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• 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 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 2230/0082 parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

An implant for placement between vertebrae, with two sidepieces joined together at one end, each of which can be placed against one of the vertebrae, and with a device for vertical distraction of the sidepieces. In the initial position for the distraction, the outside surfaces of the sidepieces that face the vertebrae converge towards the free ends of the sidepieces. This wedge shape of the implant facilitates the insertion of the implant into the intervertebral space.

Claims

1. An implant for placement between vertebrae, comprising:

two sidepieces joined together at one end and free at another end, each of the sidepieces being placeable against one of the vertebrae;

a device for vertical distraction of the sidepieces, outside surfaces of the sidepieces that face the vertebrae and at least stages of inner surfaces of the side pieces being configured to converge towards the free ends of the sidepieces in an initial position for the distraction; and

a spreading element arranged between the sidepieces for spreading apart the sidepieces, wherein the spreading element is a slider mounted so as to be capable exclusively of translatory motion and wherein, in a spread-apart state of the sidepieces, the slider rests against the sidepieces over an entire horizontal width thereof, and wherein, for spreading apart the sidepieces, the slider is movable from a location where the sidepieces are joined together toward the free ends of the sidepieces, wherein the slider locks in an end position in which the sidepieces are spread.

2. The implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the slider locks releasably in the end position.

3. The implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the slider is flush with an outer surface of the implant in an end position in which the sidepieces are spread.

4. The implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the implant is configured for placement in a lateral half-space between two vertebrae together with another implant, which shows mirror symmetry with respect to the first implant and is placeable in the other half-space.

5. The implant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the implant has a vertical opening formed as an oblong hole in which the slider is guided.