Intervertebral implant

• US 7,232,464 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Synthes USA LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Mathieu, Claude, Cain, Christopher Marden John
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US10/923,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20050177236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606/61
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8052 immobilised relative to screws by interlocking form of the heads and plate holes, e.g. conical or threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• 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 2/4455 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 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30004 the prosthesis being made from materials having different values of a given property at different locations within the same prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3079 Stepped or enlarged apertures, e.g. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0014 having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 Metals or alloys

Abstract

The intervertebral implant is in the form of a three-dimensional structure (10) comprising (a) a top side (1) and an underside (2) which are designed to rest against the end plates of two adjacent vertebras, (b) a left side face (3) and a right side face (4), (c) a front face (5) and a rear face (6), (d) a horizontal center plane situated between the top side (1) and the underside (2), (e) a vertical center plane (8) situated between the left side face (3) and the right side face (8) and (f) a plurality of boreholes (9) passing through the implant structure (10) that are designed to receive longitudinal affixation elements (20), the axes (19) of said elements intersecting the horizontal center plane (7). At least one of the boreholes (9) is designed in a manner that the affixation element (10) received in it can be rigidly connected to the intervertebral implant. Said connection is implemented using a thread or by matching conical surfaces.

Claims

1. An intervertebral implant comprising:

a body having an upper surface at least partially configured to lie adjacent to the endplate of a first vertebrae and defining an upper plane, and a lower surface at least partially configured to lie adjacent to the endplate of a second vertebrae and defining a lower plane;

a plate displaceably associated with the body, and having a first fastener hole for receiving a first fastener insertable into the first vertebrae, and a second fastener hole for receiving a second fastener insertable into the second vertebrae;

wherein at least a portion of the plate is inset in the body;

wherein first and second fasteners each have a head, the heads of the fasteners are retained between the upper and lower planes.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first fastener is configured to be divergent the second fastener.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first fastener hole is threaded.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the plate has a plurality of fastener holes located along its periphery.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface includes teeth.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein a surface of the plate is substantially flush with the a surface of the body.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a horizontal center plane, and wherein the plate is disposed substantially perpendicular to the horizontal center plane.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a horizontal center plane, and wherein the plate is displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the horizontal center plane.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the plate is comprised of a first material, and wherein the body is comprised of a second material different than the first material.

10. The implant of claim 1, wherein the plate is comprised of metal.

11. The implant of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of plastic.

12. The implant of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a convex side surface.

13. The implant of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper surface and lower surface is convex.

14. The implant of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a horizontal center plane, and wherein the plate has a fasterner hole having an axis angled from about 25 degrees to about 70 degrees with respect to the horizontal center plane.

15. The implant of claim 14, wherein the axis is angled from about 35 degrees to about 50 degrees with respect to the horizontal center plane.

16. The implant of claim 1, wherein the plate is allowed to translate to promote healing.

17. The implant of claim 1, wherein the plate is allowed to translate to neutralize mechanical stresses.

18. An intervertebral implant comprising:

an upper surface at least partially to lie configured to lie adjacent to the endplate of a first vertebrae, and defining an upper plane;

a lower surface at least partially configured to lie adjacent to the endplate of a second vertebrae, and defining a lower plane;

at least a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first and second openings extend from the lower surface through to the upper surface;

a front surface having a recess; and

a plate at least partially disposed in the recess, and having inn a first fastener hole for receiving a first insertable into the first vertebrae, and a second fastener hole for receiving a second fastener insertable into the second vertebrae;

wherein first and second fasteners each have a head, the heads of the fasteners are

retained between the upper and lower planes.

19. The implant of claim 18, wherein the first fastener is configured to be divergent the second fastener.

20. The implant of claim 18, wherein the first fastener hole is threaded.

21. The implant of claim 18, wherein the plate has a plurality of fastener holes located along its periphery.

22. The implant of claim 18, wherein, at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface includes teeth.

23. The implant if claim 18, wherein the plate is displaceably associated with the front surface.

24. The implant of claim 18, further comprising a horizontal center plane, and wherein the plate is disposed substantially perpendicular to the horizontal center plane.

25. The implant of claim 18, further comprising a horizontal center plane, and wherein the plate is displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the horizontal center plane.

26. The implant of claim 18, wherein the plate is comprised of a first material, and wherein the remainder of the implant is comprised of a second material different than the first material.

27. The implant of claim 18, wherein the plate is comprised of metal.

28. The implant of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the implant is comprised of plastic.

29. The implant of claim 18, further comprising a convex side surface.

30. The implant of claim 18, wherein at least one of the upper surface and lower surface is convex.

31. The implant of claim 18, further comprising a horizontal center lane, and wherein the plate has a fastener hole having an axis angled from about 25 degrees to about 70 degrees with respect to the horizontal center plane.

32. The implant of claim 31, wherein the axis is angled from about 35 degrees to about 50 degrees wills respect to the horizontal center plane.