Method and apparatus for delivering an intervertebral disc implant

• US 7,857,818 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Justis, Jeff R., Trieu, Hai H., Lim, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Stewart; Alvin J.
• Application Number:
  US11/694,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606/99, 606/96, 606/90, 606/79, 606/80, 606 84- 86, 606/104, 606/60, 606/62, 606/63, 606/105, 606246-248, 606 53- 57, 606/198, 606/205, 600/219
• US Class Current: 606/99
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30056 differing in radiographic density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• 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 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30179 X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30291 spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2D spiral cross-section
• 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 2002/30594 slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30719 : Means for cleaning prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30827 : Plurality of grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30838 : Microstructures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30891 : Plurality of protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30906 : shot- sand- or grit-blasted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30909 : Nets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30925 : etched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30957 : using a positive or a negative model, e.g. moulds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 : elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• 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 2002/4622 : having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• 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 2002/4628 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0058 : X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0032 : differing in radiographic density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0092 : Means for cleaning prostheses
• 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

Abstract

A disc nucleus implant instrument includes a passageway effective for passing a material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, and a dilator at the distal end of said passageway. The instrument is effective for dilating an opening in a disc annulus and for passing a disc nucleus repair material through the opening and into the disc nucleus.

,

Claims

1. A disc nucleus implant instrument comprising:

(a) an elongated channel member with a sidewall defining a passageway effective for passing a material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, said passageway having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said channel member includes a sidewall opening into said passageway to receive said material through said sidewall opening that is formed by pivoting a proximal portion of said channel member that extends distally from said proximal end into a non-linear relationship with a distal portion of said channel member that extends proximally from said distal end and is joined with said proximal portion at said sidewall opening; and

(b) a dilator at the distal end of said passageway, said dilator being effective for dilating an opening in a disc annulus.

2. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 1 wherein said disc nucleus implant instrument further includes an activator for causing the dilator to dilate.

3. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 2 wherein said activator includes a lever for activating said dilator.

4. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 2 wherein said activator includes an inclined plane for activating said dilator.

5. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 2 wherein said activator includes a screw for activating said dilator.

6. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 1 wherein said dilator comprises at least two arms for dilating a hole in a disc annulus.

7. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 6 wherein at least one of said at least two arms is fixed with respect to said passageway for passing a prosthetic disc nucleus.

8. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 6 wherein at least two of said at least two arms are movable with respect to said passageway for passing a prosthetic disc nucleus.

9. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 6 wherein said disc nucleus implant instrument further includes an activator for causing the dilator to dilate.

10. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 9 wherein at least one of said at least two arms is fixed with respect to said passageway for passing a prosthetic disc nucleus.

11. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 9 wherein at least two of said at least two arms are movable with respect to said passageway for passing a prosthetic disc nucleus.

12. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 9 wherein said activator includes a lever for activating said dilator and for causing at least one of said at least two arms to move and to dilate a hole in a disc annulus.

13. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 9 wherein said activator includes an inclined plane for activating said dilator and for causing at least one of said at least two arms to move and to dilate a hole in a disc annulus.

14. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 9 wherein said activator includes a screw for activating said dilator and for causing at least one of said at least two arms to move and to dilate a hole in a disc annulus.

15. The device of claim 6 wherein at least one of said pair of opposing arms is shorter than the other of said pair of opposing arms.

16. The disc nucleus implant instrument of claim 1 wherein said disc nucleus implant instrument further includes a locking mechanism for holding said dilator in a dilating position.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said proximal portion of said channel member is pivoted relative to said distal portion of said channel member to form a linear relationship for passing said material through said passageway to said distal end of said passageway.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said proximal portion and said distal portion of said channel member are connected by a first hinge and said channel member includes a locking arm opposite said first hinge, said locking arm including opposite ends pivotally connected to respective ones of said proximal and distal portions of said channel member and a second hinge between said opposite ends.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein:

said channel member includes first and second posts extending from said sidewall into said passageway on opposite sides of said first hinge, said first and second posts holding said material in said passageway; and

said locking arm includes indents to facilitate positioning of said locking arm over said first and second posts when said channel member is moved to said linear relationship.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said channel member includes at least one post extending from said sidewall into said passageway adjacent to said sidewall opening to hold said material in said passageway.