Height-adjustable spinal implant and operating instrument for the implant

• US 7,909,870 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taurus GmbH & Co. KG, Tpl - Kilian Kraus
• Original Assignee: Tpl - Kilian Kraus
• Inventors: Kraus, Kilian
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOODALL, NICHOLAS W
• Application Number:
  US11/451,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623 1715- 1716, 254/103, 254/220, 254235-236, 254/425, 606/57, 606/61, 606/90
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30728 Collars; Bone edge protectors A61F2/30734 takes precedence; sealing collars for use during cementing A61B17/8808
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 using a locking plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30525 Worm gears
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• 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

Abstract

A height-adjustable implant for insertion between vertebrae, includes first and second sleeve parts which are rotationally fixed in coaxial alignment and interconnected in an axially displaceable manner. The first sleeve part has an internal thread. A nut is positioned coaxially in an inner space surrounded by the sleeve parts and is fixed to the second sleeve part so that it can rotate but is axially fixed. The nut has an external thread which engages in the internal thread of the first sleeve part. A toothed ring extends coaxially with the central longitudinal axis of the sleeve parts and is located on the nut. The second sleeve part has a radial access opening in the vicinity of the toothed ring.

Claims

1. A height-adjustable implant for insertion between vertebral bodies, the implant comprising:

a first sleeve part having an internal thread;

a second sleeve part;

said first and second sleeve parts;

being coaxially oriented about a central longitudinal axis;

being connected to one another in a rotationally fixed and axially displaceable manner;

having axially extending windows therein with mutually-facing, outwardly-open ends;

each adjacent two of said windows defining a respective circumferential section therebetween in each of said sleeve parts;

said circumferential sections of each one of said sleeve parts each fitting axially displaceably into a respective one of said windows of the other of said sleeve parts and defining an inner space of the implant, at least one of said circumferential sections of said second sleeve part having an access opening formed radially therethrough;

a nut disposed coaxially and circumferentially contained within said inner space and secured on said second sleeve part in a rotatable but axially fixed manner, said nut having an external thread engaging in said internal thread of said first sleeve part, said nut being secured on said second sleeve part with said external thread located outside said second sleeve part, as seen in an axial direction, said nut having an outer surface with an annular groove formed therein, said circumferential sections of said second sleeve part each have an inside face with a radially inwardly extending projection engaging in said annular groove of said nut; and

a toothed ring extended coaxially relative to said central longitudinal axis and disposed on said nut partially covering said access opening and on a side of said nut facing toward said second sleeve part, said access opening configured for receiving an operating instrument which cooperates with said toothed ring.

2. The implant according to claim 1, wherein said toothed ring is constructed as a crown wheel of a contrate gear.

3. The implant according to claim 1, wherein said toothed ring is disposed on a surface of said nut facing away from said external thread.

4. The implant according to claim 1, wherein said circumferential sections have free ends, and said projections are disposed near said free ends.

5. The implant according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sleeve parts each have an end face intended to bear on a vertebral body, and a respective support plate is secured on said end face of at least one of said sleeve parts.

6. The implant according to claim 5, wherein said support plate is releasably secured on said end face.

7. The implant according to claim 6, wherein said support plate is secured in a rotationally fixed manner on one of said sleeve parts.

8. The implant according to claim 7, wherein:

said sleeve parts each have an end face and an inside face;

said end face of at least one of said sleeve parts has a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart recesses formed therein opening into said inside face of said at least one of said sleeve parts; and

said support plate has projections complementary in shape to and engaging in said recesses.

9. The implant according to claim 5, wherein said support plate is secured in a rotationally fixed manner on one of said sleeve parts.

10. The implant according to claim 9, wherein:

said sleeve parts each have an end face and an inside face;

said end face of at least one of said sleeve parts has a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart recesses formed therein opening into said inside face of said at least one of said sleeve parts; and

said support plate has projections complementary in shape to and engaging in said recesses.

11. The implant according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sleeve parts have substantially the same diameter.

12. The implant according to claim 1, wherein said respective circumferential sections have substantially the same wall thickness.