Artificial functional spinal unit assemblies

• US 7,316,714 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flexuspine Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Flexuspine Incorporated
• Inventors: Gordon, Charles, Harbold, Corey
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/660,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606/61
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7008 with parts of, or attached to, the longitudinal elements, bearing against an outside of the screw or hook heads, e.g. nuts on threaded rods A61B17/7007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7023 with a pivot joint
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7032 Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4405 for apophyseal or facet joints, i.e. between adjacent spinous or transverse processes devices implanted between spinous or transverse processes A61B17/7062
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30515 using a locking wedge or block
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30649 Ball-and-socket joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• 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 2002/443 : having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 : for adjusting thickness

Abstract

An artificial functional spinal unit is provided comprising, generally, an expandable artificial intervertebral implant that can be placed via a posterior surgical approach and used in conjunction with one or more artificial facet joints to provide an anatomically correct range of motion. Expandable artificial intervertebral implants in both lordotic and non-lordotic designs are disclosed, as well as lordotic and non-lordotic expandable cages for both PLIF (posterior lumber interbody fusion) and TLIF (transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion) procedures. The expandable implants may have various shapes, such as round, square, rectangular, banana-shaped, kidney-shaped, or other similar shapes. By virtue of their posteriorly implanted approach, the disclosed artificial FSU'"'"'s allow for posterior decompression of the neural elements, reconstruction of all or part of the natural functional spinal unit, restoration and maintenance of lordosis, maintenance of motion, and restoration and maintenance of disc space height.

Claims

1. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:

an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;

a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine;

an insert comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the insert is configured to be positioned between the superior surface of the lower body and the inferior surface of the upper body before insertion of the intervertebral implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra of the human spine;

an expansion member configured to engage the insert;

a set screw configured to be rotated to advance the expansion member to engage the insert such that the insert increases a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body after insertion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine; and

wherein the intervertebral implant is configured such that increasing the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body allows articulation or increased articulation of the intervertebral implant.

2. The intervertebral implant of claim 1, wherein the insert is configured to interact with at least a portion of the upper body or at least a portion of the lower body to increase the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body.

3. The intervertebral implant of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the superior surface of the insert is convex, wherein at least a portion of the inferior surface of the upper body is concave, and wherein the concave portion of the inferior surface of the upper body is configured to be coupled to the convex portion of the superior surface of the upper body to allow articulation of the upper body with respect to the lower body during use.

4. The intervertebral implant of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises an angled portion, wherein the expansion member comprises an angled portion, and wherein the angled portion of the expansion member is configured to engage the angled portion of the insert to elevate the insert.

5. The intervertebral implant of claim 1, wherein the expansion member comprises a superior surface and an inferior surface, and wherein the superior surface and the inferior surface of the expansion member are substantially flat.

6. The intervertebral implant of claim 1, wherein advancing the expansion member comprises advancing the expansion member between the superior surface of the lower body and the inferior surface of the insert.

7. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:

an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;

a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine;

an insert comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the insert is configured to be positioned between the superior surface of the lower body and the inferior surface of the upper body such that the upper body contacts the lower body before insertion of the intervertebral implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra of the human spine;

an expansion member configured to engage the insert;

a set screw configured to be rotated to advance the expansion member to engage the insert such that the insert increases a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body after insertion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine, wherein the set screw is configured to inhibit backout of the expansion member and maintain at least a portion of the increased separation distance between the upper body and the lower body during use; and

wherein the intervertebral implant is configured such that increasing the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body allows articulation or increased articulation of the intervertebral implant.

8. The intervertebral implant of claim 7, wherein the insert is configured to interact with at least a portion of the upper body or at least a portion of the lower body to increase the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body.

9. The intervertebral implant of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the superior surface of the insert is convex, wherein at least a portion of the inferior surface of the upper body is concave, and wherein the concave portion of the inferior surface of the upper body is configured to be coupled to the convex portion of the superior surface of the upper body to allow articulation of the upper body with respect to the lower body during use.

10. The intervertebral implant of claim 7, wherein the inferior surface of the insert is substantially flat, wherein the superior surface of the lower body comprises a recess, and wherein the inferior surface of the insert is configured to be positioned in the recess of the lower body.

11. The intervertebral implant of claim 7, wherein the insert comprises an angled portion, wherein the expansion member comprises an angled portion, and wherein the angled portion of the expansion member is configured to engage the angled portion of the insert to elevate the insert.

12. The intervertebral implant of claim 7, wherein the expansion member comprises a superior surface and an inferior surface, and wherein the superior surface and the inferior surface of the expansion member are substantially flat.

13. The intervertebral implant of claim 7, wherein advancing the expansion member comprises advancing the expansion member between the superior surface of the lower body and the inferior surface of the insert.

14. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:

an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine, and wherein at least a portion of the inferior surface is concave;

a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine, and wherein the superior surface of the lower body comprises a recess;

an insert comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein at least a portion of the superior surface of the insert is convex, wherein the inferior surface of the insert is substantially flat, and wherein the insert is configured to be positioned such that the inferior surface of the insert is positioned in the recess in the superior surface of the lower body and the convex portion of the superior surface of the insert is coupled to the concave portion of the inferior surface of the upper body before insertion of the intervertebral implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra of the human spine;

an expansion member configured to engage the insert; and

a set screw positioned in an opening in a short end or a long side of the lower body, wherein the set screw is configured to be rotated to advance the expansion member to engage the insert such that the insert increases a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body after insertion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine.

15. The intervertebral implant of claim 14, wherein the insert is configured to interact with at least a portion of the upper body or at least a portion of the lower body to increase the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body.

16. The intervertebral implant of claim 14, wherein the concave portion of the upper body and the convex portion of the insert are coupled to allow articulation of the upper body with respect to the lower body during use.

17. The intervertebral implant of claim 14, wherein the insert comprises an angled portion, wherein the expansion member comprises an angled portion, and wherein the angled portion of the expansion member is configured to engage the angled portion of the insert to elevate the insert.

18. The intervertebral implant of claim 14, wherein the expansion member comprises a superior surface and an inferior surface, and wherein the superior surface and the inferior surface of the expansion member are substantially flat.

19. The intervertebral implant of claim 14, wherein advancing the expansion member comprises advancing the expansion member between the superior surface of the lower body and the inferior surface of the insert.

20. The intervertebral implant of claim 14, wherein increasing the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body allows articulation or increased articulation of the intervertebral implant.