Spinal cage having deployable member

• US 8,366,774 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theken Spine LLC (Orthofix Medical Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Theken Spine LLC (Orthofix Medical Inc.)
• Inventors: Bruffey, James, Lab, Eric A., Hartzell, Bret Everette, Sclafani, Adam C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODALL, NICHOLAS W
• Application Number:
  US12/368,890
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606/246
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30771 applied in original prostheses, e.g. holes or grooves
• 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 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy 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 2002/30032 differing in absorbability or resorbability, i.e. in absorption or resorption time
• 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 2002/30484 Mechanically expandable devices located on the first prosthetic part for locking into or onto the second prosthetic part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30525 Worm gears
• 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 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00131 : Tantalum or Ta-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite

Abstract

A spinal cage with a wall extending in a longitudinal direction defining an interior space is disclosed. There is also provided a deployable element in movable relation to the spinal cage.

Claims

1. A spinal cage assembly, comprising:

a spinal cage comprising a support structure suitable to maintain two vertebrae separate from each other and having an interior having at least some empty space;

a spin-plate engaged with said spinal cage and rotatable with respect to said spinal cage, wherein said spin-plate comprises a blade and a shaft attached to or integral with said blade, said shaft engaging with said spinal cage at a first end of said shaft and at a second end of said shaft opposed to said first end of said shaft;

wherein said spin-plate comprises a first structure, and said spinal cage comprises a second structure, extending into said interior, said second structure being capable of interaction with said first structure;

wherein at least a first rotational position of said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage, said first structure and said second structure are positioned relative to one another such that a first amount of torque, resulting from said interaction of said first structure and said second structure, is required to rotate said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage;

wherein at least a second rotational position of said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage, said first structure and said second structure are positioned relative to one another such that a second amount of torque, resulting from said interaction of said first structure and said second structure, is required to rotate said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage; and

wherein said first amount of torque is different from said second amount of torque.

2. The spinal cage assembly of claim 1, wherein said first structure and said second structure are positioned at said first rotational position with respect to each other at an undeployed configuration of said spin-plate.

3. The spinal cage assembly of claim 1, wherein said first structure and said second structure are positioned at said second rotational position with respect to each other at a fully-deployed configuration of said spin-plate.

4. The spinal cage assembly of claim 3, wherein in said fully-deployed configuration, said blade is substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of said spinal cage.

5. The spinal cage assembly of claim 1, wherein said first amount of torque is greater than said second amount of torque.

6. A spinal cage assembly, comprising:

a spinal cage comprising a structure suitable to maintain two vertebrae separate from each other and having an interior having at least some empty space, and comprising a post protruding from said spinal cage into said interior, said post comprising a longitudinal axis and being fixedly attached to said spinal cage; and

a spin-plate comprising an axis of rotation and being engageable with said spinal cage, said spin-plate interacting with said post at a first set of one or more angular positions of said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage, said spin-plate not interacting with said post at a second set of one or more angular positions of said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage; and

wherein said longitudinal axis of said post is generally parallel with said axis of rotation of said spin-plate and is offset from said axis of rotation of said spin-plate.

7. The spinal cage assembly of claim 6, wherein said spin-plate comprises a disc that interacts with said post.

8. The spinal cage assembly of claim 7, wherein said disc comprises a tapered edge.

9. The spinal cage assembly of claim 7, wherein said post has a frustoconical head.

10. The spinal cage assembly of claim 6, wherein said spinal cage comprises a wall extending vertically and generally parallel to a vertical axis of said spinal cage and progressing circumferentially, wherein said wall forms a closed circumference fitting within an intervertebral disc space.

11. The spinal cage assembly of claim 6, wherein a first torque amount due to interaction between said spin-plate and said post is required to rotate said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage when said spin-plate is at said first set of one or more angular positions;

and

wherein a second torque amount due to said interaction between said spin-plate and said post is required to rotate said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage when said spin-plate is at said second set of one or more angular positions.

12. The spinal cage assembly of claim 11, wherein said first torque amount is greater than said second torque amount.

13. A spinal cage assembly, comprising:

a spinal cage comprising a support structure suitable to maintain two vertebrae separate from each other and having an interior having at least some empty space; and

a spin-plate engaged with said spinal cage and rotatable with respect to said spinal cage, wherein said spin-plate comprises a blade and a shaft attached to said blade, said spin-plate having a rotational axis, and said shaft engaging with said spinal cage at a first end of said shaft and at a second end of said shaft opposed to said first end of said shaft;

wherein said spin-plate comprises a first structure having a circumference in which some points are at a greater radial distance from said rotational axis and some other points are at a lesser radial distance from said rotational axis, and said spinal cage comprises a second structure extending into said interior, said second structure being capable of interaction with said first structure;

wherein, at least a first set of one or more rotational positions of said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage, said first structure and said second structure are positioned relative to one another such that relative rotation of said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage is permitted and a first amount of torque resulting from said interaction of said first structure and said second structure is required to rotate said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage;

wherein at least a second set of one or more rotational positions of said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage, said first structure and said second structure are positioned relative to one another such that relative rotation of said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage is permitted and a second amount of torque resulting from said interaction of said first structure and said second structure is required to rotate said spin-plate relative to said spinal cage; and

wherein said first amount of torque is different from said second amount of torque.

14. A spinal cage assembly, comprising:

a spinal cage comprising a structure suitable to maintain two vertebrae separate from each other and having an interior having at least some empty space, and comprising a post protruding from said spinal cage into said interior; and

a spin-plate comprising a first tapered side surface and an axis of rotation, said spin-plate being mateable to said spinal cage;

wherein said post comprises a second tapered side surface, said post being located away from said axis of rotation of said spin-plate;

wherein said spin-plate interacts with a surface of said post so as to restrict motion of said spin-plate with respect to said spinal cage, wherein said first tapered side surface is tapered in a direction corresponding to said second tapered side surface; and

wherein said post has a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to said axis of rotation of said spin-plate.

15. A spinal cage assembly, comprising:

a spinal cage comprising a structure suitable to maintain two vertebrae separate from each other and having an interior having at least some empty space, and comprising a post protruding from said spinal cage into said interior; and

a spin-plate comprising a first tapered side surface and an axis of rotation, said spin-plate being mateable to said spinal cage;

wherein said post comprises a second tapered side surface, said post being located away from said axis of rotation of said spin-plate;

wherein said spin-plate interacts with a surface of said post so as to restrict motion of said spin-plate with respect to said spinal cage, wherein said first tapered side surface is tapered in a direction corresponding to said second tapered side surface; and

wherein said post has a generally frustoconical geometry.

16. A spinal cage assembly, comprising:

a spinal cage comprising a support structure suitable to maintain two vertebrae separate from each other and having an interior having at least some empty space; and

a spin-plate engaged with said spinal cage and rotatable with respect to said spinal cage;

wherein said spin-plate is provided with a first structure and said spinal cage is provided with at least one second structure that is capable of interaction with said first structure;

wherein said spin-plate and said spinal cage define a stowed configuration in which said spin-plate is entirely contained within said interior of said spinal cage, and said spin-plate and said spinal cage define a deployed configuration in which a part of said spin-plate extends outside an envelope of said spinal cage, said spin-plate and said spinal cage also define an intermediate configuration between said stowed configuration and said deployed configuration;

wherein, in said stowed configuration, said interaction of said first structure and said at least one second structure releasably retains said spin-plate against rotation such that a nonzero first threshold torque, resulting from said interaction of said first structure and said at least one second structure, is required to rotate said spin-plate out of said stowed configuration toward said deployed configuration;

wherein, in said intermediate configuration, a second torque resulting from said interaction of said first structure and said at least one second structure is required to rotate said spin-plate toward said deployed configuration; and

wherein said nonzero first threshold torque is greater than said second torque.