Intervertebral prosthetic disc

• US 7,442,211 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simplify Medical Pty. Ltd. (Nuvasive Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SpinalMotion, Inc.
• Inventors: de Villiers, Malan, Hanle, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US10/855,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 623/17.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30771 applied in original prostheses, e.g. holes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30052 differing in electric or magnetic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30574 with an integral complete or partial collar or flange
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30649 Ball-and-socket joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30662 with rotation-limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30663 multiaxial, e.g. biaxial; multipolar, e.g. bipolar or having an intermediate shell articulating between the ball and the socket
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30899 Protrusions pierced with apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• 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 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• 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 2230/0071 : spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0045 : differing in electromagnetical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• 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 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00604 : Coating made of aluminium oxide or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0088 : Coating made of titanium nitride

Abstract

A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower plates, a core disposed between the plates, and at least one projection extending from at least one of the upper and lower curved surfaces of the core into at least one recess of one of the inner surfaces of the plates. The recess is oversize with respect to the projection to allow sliding movement of the plate over the core while retaining the core between the plates during such sliding movement. The projection(s) may include a rod extending through an axial hole in the core, multiple surface features of the core, or the like.

Claims

1. An intervertebral prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae, the disc comprising:

upper and lower plates having outer surfaces locatable against the respective vertebrae, inner curved surfaces, and lateral portions;

a core between the plates, the core having upper and lower curved surfaces complementary in shape to the inner, curved surfaces of the plates to allow the plates to slide over the upper and lower surfaces of the core;

wherein at least one of the curved surfaces of the plates and at least one of the curved surfaces of the core include annular formations which cooperate with one another to retain the core between the plates when the plates slide over the upper and lower surfaces of the core, such formations including an annular recess and an annular projection received by the recess; and

wherein the lateral portions of the upper and lower plates are adapted to contact one another during sliding movement of the plates over the core.

2. The prosthetic disc as in claim 1, wherein the recess and the projection-are located between a central axis of the relevant curved surface and an outer periphery thereof.

3. The prosthetic disc as in claim 1, wherein the projection locates within the recess with clearance.

4. The prosthetic disc as in claim 3, wherein at a limit of sliding movement the projection abuts against a side of the recess.

5. The prosthetic disc as in claim 1, further including at least one fin extending from each of the outer surfaces of the plates.

6. The prosthetic disc as in claim 5, wherein each fin is oriented in a straight line in an anterior-posterior direction.

7. The prosthetic disc as in claim 5, wherein each fin is rotated away from an anterior-posterior axis of the disc.

8. The prosthetic disc as in claim 1, wherein the lateral portions of the upper and lower plates comprise lateral edge portions.

9. The prosthetic disc as in claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of the plates are textured to enhance attachment of the plates to the vertebrae.

10. The prosthetic disc as in claim 9, wherein the textured surfaces comprise multiple serrations.

11. The prosthetic disc as in claim 1 wherein the lateral portions of the upper and lower plates comprise outer peripheries of the curved surfaces and wherein the plates are adapted to contact one another at the outer peripheries of the curved surfaces.

12. An intervertebral prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae, the disc comprising:

upper and lower plates having outer surfaces locatable against the respective vertebrae, inner curved surfaces, and lateral portions, wherein at least one of the inner curved surfaces of the plates comprises an inwardly directed annular rib;

a core between the plates, the core having upper and lower curved surfaces complementary in shape to the inner, curved surfaces of the plates to allow the plates to slide over the core, wherein at least one of the upper and lower curved surfaces of the core comprises an annular channel adapted to receive the annular rib;

wherein the annular rib cooperates with the annular channel to retain the core between the plates when the plates slide over the core; and

wherein the lateral portions of the upper and lower plates are adapted to contact one another during sliding movement of the plates over the core.

13. The prosthetic disc of claim 12 wherein the annular channel and the annular rib are located between a central axis of the relevant curved surface and an outer periphery thereof.

14. The prosthetic disc as in claim 12, wherein the rib locates within the channel with clearance.

15. The prosthetic disc as in claim 14, wherein at a limit of sliding movement the rib abuts against a side of the channel.

16. The prosthetic disc as in claim 12, further including at least one fin extending from each of the outer surfaces of the plates.

17. The prosthetic disc as in claim 16, wherein each fin is oriented in a straight line in an anterior-posterior direction.

18. The prosthetic disc as in claim 16, wherein each fin is rotated away from an anterior-posterior axis of the disc.

19. The prosthetic disc as in claim 12, wherein the lateral portions of the upper and lower plates comprise lateral edge portions.

20. The prosthetic disc as in claim 12, wherein the outer surfaces of the plates are textured to enhance attachment of the plates to the vertebrae.

21. The prosthetic disc as in claim 20, wherein the textured surfaces comprise multiple serrations.

22. The prosthetic disc as in claim 12 wherein the lateral portions of the upper and lower plates comprise outer peripheries of the curved surfaces and wherein the plates are adapted to contact one another at the outer peripheries of the curved surfaces.