Instrumentation for use with radially expanding interbody spinal fusion implant

• US 7,445,636 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Michelson, Gary K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; Ralph A
• Application Number:
  US10/914,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 623/16.11, 623/17.11, 623/17.15, 623/17.16, 606/61, 606/248, 606/249
• US Class Current: 623/17.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• 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 2002/30593 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 2002/30858 Threads interrupted by grooves or sidewalls, e.g. flat sidewalls
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30861 having threads of increasing or decreasing height
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 for adjusting thickness
• 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: Y10S 606/907 : Composed of particular material or coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/908 : Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/909 : Bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/91 : Polymer

Abstract

Interbody spinal fusion implants being at least in part radially expandable at one of the leading or trailing ends to expand both the height and at least a portion of the width of the implant, and instruments and methods for inserting the implants into an implantation space in the spine are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for use in human spinal surgery, said system comprising:

a spinal implant having an expander for expanding the height and at least a portion of the width of said implant from a collapsed position to an expanded position, said implant having upper, lower, and side portions comprising a plurality of arms separated by spaces; and

a holder for holding said spinal implant, said holder including a sleeve having a leading end, a trailing end, a mid-longitudinal axis therebetween, and a passageway from said trailing end to said leading end, said passageway providing access to said implant through said sleeve, said leading end of said sleeve having spaced apart upper, lower, and side portions, said sleeve having a maximum cross-sectional dimension across the mid-longitudinal axis and through said upper, lower, and side portions of said sleeve, said maximum cross-sectional dimension through said upper and lower portions of said sleeve being substantially the same as the maximum cross-sectional dimension through said side portions of said sleeve, said maximum cross-sectional dimension through said upper, lower, and side portions of said sleeve increasing in a direction from said leading end of said sleeve toward said trailing end of said sleeve along at least a portion of the mid-longitudinal axis, said upper, lower, and side portions of said sleeve configured to fit in the spaces between said upper, lower, and side arms, respectively, of said spinal implant to cooperatively engage said sleeve to said implant.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said holder further comprises a handle proximate said trailing end of said sleeve.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said spaced apart portions of said sleeve are flexible at least in part.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said spaced apart portions of said sleeve when engaged to said implant are configured to resist rotational movement of said implant.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said passageway of said sleeve is configured to receive therethrough at least one tool adapted to engage said implant.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said passageway of said sleeve is configured to receive therethrough at least one tool adapted to engage said expander.

7. The system of claim 1, in combination with a rotating tool configured to pass through said passageway of said sleeve for moving said expander along at least a portion of a length of said implant between said upper, lower, and side portions of said implant.

8. The system of claim 1, in combination with a remover instrument configured to pass through said passageway of said sleeve for removing said expander from said Implant.

9. The system of claim 1, in combination with a post adapted to be inserted at least in part within said implant for moving said expander along at least a portion of a length of said implant between the upper, lower, and side portions of said implant.

10. The system of claim 9, in combination with a remover instrument configured to pass through said passageway of said sleeve for removing said post from within said implant.

11. The system of claim 1, in combination with an instrument for loading bone growth promoting material into at least a portion of said implant.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said implant includes a hollow interior between said upper, lower, and side portions and in communication with said spaces separating said arms of said implant.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said implant has a mid-longitudinal axis and said upper, lower, and side portions of said implant are configured to move at least in part in a direction away from the mid-longitudinal axis to expand the height and at least a portion of the width of said implant.