Interbody spinal implant inductively coupled to an external power supply

• US 8,206,387 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2011
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary K. Michelson
• Original Assignee: Gary K. Michelson
• Inventors: Michelson, Gary Karlin
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US13/092,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 606/53, 606/246, 606/247, 606 60- 61, 623/11, 623/16, 433/173, 433/174
• US Class Current: 606/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7074 Tools specially adapted for spinal fixation operations other than for bone removal or filler handling A61B17/7062, A61B17/808, A61B17/8858 take precedence; for spinal image producing devices A61B90/36, A61B34/20; markers A61B90/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4603 for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2821 Bone stimulation by electromagnetic fields or electric current for enhancing ossification
• 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 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30143 hexagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30158 trapezoidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30179 : X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 : tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30261 : parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3037 : Translation along the common longitudinal axis, e.g. piston
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30398 : Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 : made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 : using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 : 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 2002/30599 : stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 : internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 : Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30789 : perpendicular with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30797 : internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30836 : knurled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30843 : Pyramidally-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30845 : with cutting edges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30879 : Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3092 : having an open-celled or open-pored structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4485 : comprising three or more adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/449 : comprising multiple spinal implants located in different intervertebral spaces or in different vertebrae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4619 : for extraction
• 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 2002/4629 : connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4681 : by applying mechanical shocks, e.g. by hammering
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• 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 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 : Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0026 : trapezoidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0058 : X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0082 : parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 : for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 : Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 : Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 : for promoting a biological process

Abstract

An electrical bone growth promotion apparatus for the delivery of electrical current to an implant surgically implanted between adjacent bone masses to promote bone growth to areas adjacent to the implant is disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a self contained implant having a surgically implantable, renewable power supply and related control circuitry for delivering electrical current directly to the implant and thus directly to the area in which the promotion of bone growth is desired. The desired areas of bone growth promotion may be controlled by conducting negative charge only to the desired location of bone growth promotion.

Claims

1. An artificial spinal implant for insertion into an implantation space created between two adjacent vertebral bone masses, comprising:

a housing including;

an upper surface and a lower surface opposite said upper surface, said upper and lower surfaces being configured to contact and support the adjacent vertebral bone masses;

a leading end for insertion first into the implantation space and a trailing end opposite said leading end;

opposite sides from said upper surface to said lower surface, and from said leading end to said trailing end;

a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said leading and trailing ends;

a maximum width from one of said opposite sides to the other of said opposite sides;

a height from said lower surface to said upper surface;

a depth from said leading end to said trailing end, the maximum width of said housing being greater than each of the height and depth of said housing, said leading end being curved from said opposite side to said opposite side; and

a hollow chamber;

control circuitry in said hollow chamber; and

a rechargeable power supply for energizing said control circuitry, said rechargeable power supply being configured for inductive coupling to an external power supply.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower surfaces are configured for bone ingrowth.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower surfaces include surface roughenings.

4. The implant of claim 1, further comprising an opening having a central longitudinal axis perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis of said housing.

5. The implant of claim 4, wherein said opening having the central longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis of said housing as an inner perimeter different to an inner perimeter of said closeable opening.

6. The implant of claim 5, wherein the inner perimeter of said closeable opening is larger than the inner perimeter of said opening having the central longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis of said housing.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein said control circuitry is hermetically sealed within said housing.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein said rechargeable power supply is a rechargeable battery.

9. The implant of claim 1, further comprising an external power supply for inductively recharging said rechargeable power supply.

10. The implant of claim 9, wherein said external power supply includes a belt with an electromagnetic transmitter.

11. The implant of claim 9, wherein said external power supply includes an electromagnetic belt coil.

12. The implant of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a portion made of titanium.

13. The implant of claim 1, wherein said implant is a spinal fusion implant.

14. The implant of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower surfaces include a plurality of openings adapted to allow bone growth from each of the adjacent vertebral bodies through said hollow chamber.

15. The implant of claim 1, wherein said trailing end includes a vertical indented portion along the height of said housing, said vertical indented portion being centered along approximately one-half of the maximum width of said housing.

16. The implant of claim 1, wherein said housing includes an opening to said hollow chamber, said opening being closable.

17. An artificial spinal implant for insertion into an implantation space created between two adjacent vertebral bone masses, comprising:

a housing including;

an upper surface and a lower surface opposite said upper surface, said upper and lower surfaces being configured to contact and support the adjacent vertebral bone masses, said upper and lower surfaces including a plurality of engagement teeth;

a leading end for insertion first into the implantation space and a trailing end opposite said leading end;

opposite sides from said upper surface to said lower surface, and from said leading end to said trailing end;

a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said leading and trailing ends;

a maximum width from one of said opposite sides to the other of said opposite sides;

a height from said lower surface to said upper surface, the maximum width of said housing being greater than the height of said housing; and

a hollow chamber;

control circuitry in said hollow chamber;

a rechargeable power supply for energizing said control circuitry, said rechargeable power supply being configured for inductive coupling to an external power supply; and

an induction coil, a portion of said housing being made from a metallic material, said housing including an insulating material insulating said induction coil from said metallic portion of said housing.

18. The implant of claim 17, wherein said upper and lower surfaces are configured for bone ingrowth.

19. The implant of claim 17, further comprising an opening having a central longitudinal axis perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis of said housing.

20. The implant of claim 19, wherein said opening having the central longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis of said housing as an inner perimeter different to an inner perimeter of said closeable opening.

21. The implant of claim 20, wherein the inner perimeter of said closeable opening is larger than the inner perimeter of said opening having the central longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis of said housing.

22. The implant of claim 19, wherein each of said engagement teeth has a forward facing facet and a reward facing facet inclined towards each other to form a peak, the peak of each of said engagement teeth forming a linear portion parallel to the central longitudinal axis of said opening having the central longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis of said housing.

23. The implant of claim 17, wherein said control circuitry is hermetically sealed within said housing.

24. The implant of claim 17, wherein said rechargeable power supply is a rechargeable battery.

25. The implant of claim 17, further comprising an external power supply for inductively recharging said rechargeable power supply.

26. The implant of claim 25, wherein said external power supply includes a belt with an electromagnetic transmitter.

27. The implant of claim 25, wherein said external power supply includes an electromagnetic belt coil.

28. The implant of claim 17, wherein said metallic material is titanium.

29. The implant of claim 17, wherein said implant is a spinal fusion implant.

30. The implant of claim 17, wherein said upper and lower surfaces include a plurality of openings adapted to allow bone growth from each of the adjacent vertebral bodies through said hollow chamber.

31. The implant of claim 17, wherein said induction coil is wound along an exterior surface of said housing.

32. The implant of claim 17, wherein said engagement teeth are spaced apart from one another.

33. The implant of claim 17, wherein said engagement teeth extend along the entire width of said housing.

34. The implant of claim 17, wherein said housing includes an opening to said hollow chamber, said opening being closable.