Woven orthopedic implants

• US 7,341,601 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Eisermann, Lukas, Ray, Eddie F. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramana; Anuradha
• Application Number:
  US10/900,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20050043733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/154, 606/157, 606/60, 606/62, 606/76, 606/77, 623/13.2, 623/13.12, 623/13.19, 623/23.53, 623/23.54, 623/23.57, 623/23.58, 623/23.59, 623/23.72, 623/23.73, 623/23.75, 623/23.76
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8085 with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2846 Support means for bone substitute or for bone graft implants, e.g. membranes or plates for covering bone defects nets or sleeves applied to surface of endoprostheses A61F2/30907; bone plates A61B17/80; bone regeneration in dental surgery A61C8/0006
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3094 Designing or manufacturing processes
• 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 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0086 for preferentially controlling or promoting the growth of specific types of cells or tissues of bone tissue onto implantable joints A61F2002/3093
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• 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 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3007 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of elastic material, e.g. of elastomer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 : horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 : tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30237 : partial tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30448 : using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30461 : sutured, ligatured or stitched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 : filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30599 : stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30622 : Implant for fusing a joint or bone material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30914 : Details of the mesh structure, e.g. disposition of the woven warp and weft wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3093 : for promoting ingrowth of bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30971 : Laminates, i.e. layered products
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4435 : Support means or repair of the natural disc wall, i.e. annulus, e.g. using plates, membranes or meshes
• 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 2210/0019 : operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 : using adhesives
• 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 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 : Designing or manufacturing processes
• 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 2250/0018 : differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 : Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00071 : Nickel or Ni-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00161 : Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 : Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00952 : Coating, pre-coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of bone cement, e.g. pre-applied PMMA cement mantle
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00958 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of bone or of bony tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0097 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00982 : Coating made of collagen

Abstract

The present invention relates to orthopedic implants made from a mesh material. The mesh material can be treated in order to promote bone growth, to provide antibiotics, or to provide other beneficial treatment. Specific applications for the implants include, for example, a prosthetic ligament, a tension band, an interbody device, or a fixation device that extends across one or more joints or fractures.

Claims

1. An orthopedic implant comprising:

an interconnecting network of flexible and deformable metallic fibers configured to conform to a selected bone structure;

one or more reinforcing elements comprising a reinforcing band secured to and bounding an entire outer perimeter of said network of metallic fibers to provide the orthopedic implant with a low profile, sheet-like structure having a substantially planar configuration;

one or more bone fasteners extending through the network or one of the reinforcing elements;

an osteogenic material impregnating at least a portion of the interconnecting network between said metallic fibers to promote bone growth into said network of metallic fibers, wherein said implant is adapted for promoting fusion between adjacent bone structures; and

wherein the sheet-like structure is sized to extend across a space between the adjacent bone structures and includes opposite end portions, at least one of the bone fasteners extending through each of the opposite end portions to secure the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structures.

2. The implant of claim 1 adapted to secure to at least two adjacent vertebral bodies to promote spinal fixation.

3. The implant of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing band extends continuously about the outer perimeter of the interconnecting network of metallic fibers.

4. The implant of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing elements are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of:

stainless steel, cobalt-chrome alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, or nickel-titanium shape memory alloys, biocompatible polymeric materials, nylon fibers, carbon fibers, glass fibers, collagen fibers, ceramic fibers, polyethylene fibers, poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyglycolides, polylactides, and combinations thereof.

5. The implant of claim 1 wherein the fibers are composed of a material selected from the group consisting of:

stainless steel, cobalt chrome alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, and nickel titanium alloys.

6. The implant of claim 1 wherein a pair of the bone fasteners extends through at least one of the opposite end portions of the sheet-like structure to secure the sheet-like material to the adjacent bone structure.

7. The implant of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting network of metallic fibers includes at least two openings extending therethrough for receiving corresponding ones of the bone fasteners;

and

further comprising a reinforcing member positioned about each of the openings to reinforce the openings extending through the interconnecting network of metallic fibers.

8. The implant of claim 7 wherein the reinforcing member comprises a grommet.

9. The implant of claim 1 wherein the metallic fibers are woven together to form an interwoven network of metallic fibers.

10. The implant of claim 1 wherein the bone fasteners are positioned through respective openings in the network of metallic fibers to secure the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structures.

11. An orthopedic implant comprising:

a network composed of a plurality of flexible and deformable metallic fibers, one or more reinforcing elements comprising a reinforcing band secured to and bounding an entire outer perimeter of said network of metallic fibers to provide the orthopedic implant with a low profile, sheet-like structure having a substantially planar configuration, said reinforcing elements formed of a bendable material configured to conform the network to a selected bone structure;

one or more bone fasteners extending through the network or through the one or more reinforcing elements; and

an osteogenic material impregnating at least a portion of the network between said metallic fibers to promote bone growth into said network of metallic fibers; and

wherein the sheet-like structure is sized to extend across a space between adjacent bone structures and includes opposite end portions, at least one of the bone fasteners extending through each of the opposite end portions to secure the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structures.

12. The implant of claim 11 wherein the reinforcing band extends continuously about the outer perimeter of the network of metallic fibers.

13. The implant of claim 11 wherein a pair of the bone fasteners extends through at least one of the opposite end portions of the network of metallic fibers to secure the network of metallic fibers to the adjacent bone structure.

14. The implant of claim 11 wherein the network of metallic fibers are woven together to form an interwoven network of metallic fibers.

15. The implant of claim 11 wherein the bone fasteners are positioned through respective openings in the network of metallic fibers to secure the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structures.

16. An orthopedic implant comprising:

an interconnected network of flexible and deformable metallic fibers;

one or more reinforcing elements comprising a reinforcing band secured to and bounding an entire outer perimeter of the interconnected network of metallic fibers to provide the orthopedic implant with a low profile, sheet-like structure having a substantially planar configuration;

at least two bone fasteners; and

an osteogenic material impregnating at least a portion of the interconnected network between said metallic fibers to promote bone growth into said network of metallic fibers; and

wherein the sheet-like structure is sized to extend across a space between adjacent bone structures and includes opposite end portions, at least one of the bone fasteners extending through each of the opposite end portions to secure the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structures.

17. The implant of claim 16 wherein a pair of the bone fasteners extends through at least one of the opposite end portions to secure the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structure.

18. The implant of claim 17 wherein a pair of the bone fasteners extends through each of the opposite end portions to secure the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structures.

19. The implant of claim 16 wherein each of the opposite end portions defines an opening extending therethrough for receiving a corresponding one of the bone fasteners to secure the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structures.

20. The implant of claim 19 wherein at least one of the opposite end portions defines a pair of the openings extending therethrough for receiving a corresponding pair of the bone fasteners to secure the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structure.

21. The implant of claim 16 wherein the interconnected network of metallic fibers includes at least two openings extending therethrough for receiving corresponding ones of the bone fasteners to secure the opposite end portion of the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structure;

and

further comprising a reinforcing member positioned about each of the openings to reinforce the openings extending through the interconnected network of metallic fibers.

22. The implant of claim 21 wherein the reinforcing member comprises a grommet.

23. The implant of claim 16 wherein the metallic fibers are woven together to form an interwoven network of metallic fibers.

24. The implant of claim 16 wherein the bone fasteners are positioned through respective openings in the network of metallic fibers to secure the sheet-like structure to the adjacent bone structures.