Spinal mobility preservation apparatus

• US 7,662,173 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mis Ip Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Transl Incorporated
• Inventors: Assell, Robert L., Cragg, Andrew H., Ainsworth, Steven D., Wessman, Bradley J., Dickhudt, Eugene A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOODALL, NICHOLAS W
• Application Number:
  US10/972,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20050113929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 411383-384, 411/392, 606/61, 606 72- 73, 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 606/279
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30742 Bellows or hose-like seals; Sealing membranes A61B17/8808 takes precedence; sealing membranes for retaining bone substitute A61F2/2846
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• 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 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30242 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 helically-coiled
• 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 2002/30448 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30495 using a locking ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 : using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 : having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30565 : having spring elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30566 : Helical springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30571 : Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 : with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 : filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30859 : having threaded portions of different pitches
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3097 : using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 : having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 : for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4495 : having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4667 : for measuring torque
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 : swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• 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 2220/005 : 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 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0071 : spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 : differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0097 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics

Abstract

A spinal mobility preservation apparatus and methods are disclosed. The spinal mobility preservation apparatus may include a proximal body, an intermediate body, a distal body, and an expandable membrane. The proximal body and the distal body secure the mobility preservation apparatus to adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of an intermediate body and an expandable membrane secure the proximal body to the distal body and provide a degree of support to a spinal motion segment defined by the adjacent vertebral bodies. A single proximal body and an expandable membrane may also compose a spinal mobility preservation apparatus. The proximal body secured to one of a superior or an inferior vertebral body and the expandable membrane extending into the intervertebral disc space to support the spinal motion segment.

Claims

1. A method for supporting the spine, comprising:

providing an implantable spinal mobility preservation apparatus having an intermediate body having a proximal end and a distal end and including at least one flexible element positioned between the proximal end and the distal end, a proximal body having a first retention structure, the proximal body secured to the proximal end of the intermediate body, and a distal body having a second retention structure, the distal body secured to the distal end of the intermediate body;

forming an axial bore extending along a longitudinal axis of the spine through a caudad vertebral body, an intervertebral disc and a cephalad vertebral body wherein the axial bore is positioned completely within the caudad vertebral body, the intervertebral disc and a cephalad vertebral body;

removing at least a portion of a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc through the axial bore to form a disc space; and

axially inserting the implantable spinal mobility preservation apparatus through the axial bore;

securing the distal body of the implantable mobility preservation apparatus in the cephalad vertebral body; and

securing the proximal body of the implantable mobility preservation apparatus in the caudad vertebral body.

2. A method for supporting the spine, comprising:

providing an implantable spinal mobility preservation apparatus having an intermediate body being substantially radially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, the intermediate body including at least one flexible element positioned between the proximal and the distal end, and the intermediate body defining at least one fenestration, a proximal body being substantially radially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis, the proximal body secured to the proximal end of the intermediate body, the proximal body including first threads to rotatably position the proximal body through a bore in a caudad vertebral body, and the proximal body defining a proximal lumen in fluid communication with the at least one fenestration of the intermediate body, and a distal body being substantially radially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis, the distal body secured to the distal end of the intermediate body, and the distal body including second threads to rotatably position the distal body through a bore in a cephalad vertebral body;

forming an axial bore extending along a longitudinal axis of the spine through a caudad vertebral body, an intervertebral disc and a cephalad vertebral body wherein the axial bore is positioned completely within the caudad vertebral body, the intervertebral disc and a cephalad vertebral body;

removing at least a portion of a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc through the axial bore to form a disc space; and

axially inserting the implantable spinal mobility preservation apparatus through the axial bore;

securing the distal body of the implantable mobility preservation apparatus in the cephalad vertebral body; and

securing the proximal body of the implantable mobility preservation apparatus in the caudad vertebral body.