In-situ formed posterolateral fusion system

• US 7,776,073 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Serhan, Hassan, Slivka, Michael Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert; Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): COMSTOCK, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US10/881,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,239 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606 72- 73, 606/283, 606/284, 606 92- 94, 606246-249, 606/262, 606/279, 606/300, 606/301, 623 1711- 1716, 623/23.61, 623/23.62
• 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 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004

Abstract

A formed in-place spinal implant comprising a hardenable, resorbable, bone fusion-promoting composition, wherein the implant may be rigidly connected to adjacent vertebrae until fusion occurs.

Claims

1. A method of treating a functional spinal unit comprising posterolateral aspects, comprising the steps of:

a) placing a flowable, hardenable osteogenic composition adjacent to each of the posterolateral aspects of the functional spinal unit, and

b) fixing the composition to the posterolateral aspects of the functional spinal unit,

wherein the step of placing is accomplished by flowing the composition,

wherein the composition is flowed into a container placed adjacent to each of the posterolateral aspects of the functional spinal unit,

wherein the container is placed in contact with each of the posterolateral aspects of the functional spinal unit, and

wherein the container comprises an upper and a lower throughhole, each throughhole having a diameter, and wherein the fixing is accomplished by inserting a bone anchor through each of the throughholes and into each of the posterolateral aspects of the functional spinal unit

wherein the anchor comprises a proximal head having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the container throughhole and a shaft having a threaded outer surface,

wherein the container is an inflatable bag or balloon.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fixation is accomplished by inserting a bone anchor having a transverse throughhole into each of the posterolateral aspects of the functional spinal unit, and inserting the container through each transverse throughhole.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the container has a plurality of upper throughholes and a plurality of lower throughholes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the container is flexible.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the container is a mesh.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the container is resorbable.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition is a putty, and the step of placing produces contact between the putty and each of the posterolateral aspects of the functional spinal unit.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises an osteoinductive component.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises an osteoconductive porous scaffold.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition is resorbable.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises an osteoconductive component and an osteoinductive component.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

c) causing the composition to fuse the functional spinal unit.