Systems and methods for spinal fusion

• US 8,608,804 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Inventors: Curran, Matthew, Peterson, Mark, Pimenta, Luiz
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Ellen C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRAY, STUART SAMUEL
• Application Number:
  US13/747,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20130138216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30265 Flat parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30266 wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30617 Visible markings for adjusting, locating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3082 Grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3093 for promoting ingrowth of bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4615 of spacers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes

Abstract

A system and method for spinal fusion comprising a spinal fusion implant of non-bone construction releasably coupled to an insertion instrument dimensioned to introduce the spinal fusion implant into any of a variety of spinal target sites.

Claims

1. A spinal fusion implant of non-bone construction positionable within an interbody space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, said implant comprising:

an upper surface including generally parallel ridges to contact said first vertebra when said implant is positioned within the interbody space, a lower surface including generally parallel ridges to contact said second vertebra when said implant is positioned within the interbody space, a distal wall, a proximal wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall generally opposite from the first sidewall, wherein said distal wall, proximal wall, first sidewall, and second sidewall comprise a radiolucent material;

wherein said implant has a longitudinal length extending from a proximal end of said proximal wall to a distal end of said distal wall, wherein said longitudinal length of said implant is greater than 40 mm said implant has a maximum lateral width extending from said first sidewall to said second sidewall along a medial plane that is generally perpendicular to said longitudinal length, said implant has a height extending from said upper surface to said lower surface and extending generally perpendicular to said longitudinal length and said maximum lateral width, wherein said longitudinal length is greater than said maximum lateral width, and said maximum lateral width is greater than said height;

a threaded receiving aperture configured to releasable mate with an inserter tool, the threaded receiving aperture extending into said proximal wall and having a central longitudinal axis generally parallel to said longitudinal length of said implant;

first and second lateral grooves positioned in said proximal wall and positioned laterally of said threaded receiving aperture;

at least a first fusion aperture extending through said upper surface and lower surface and configured to permit bone growth between the first vertebra and the second vertebra when said implant is positioned within the interbody space, wherein the first fusion aperture is symmetric about the central longitudinal axis of the threaded receiving aperture, said first fusion aperture having;

a longitudinal aperture length extending generally parallel to the longitudinal length of said implant, and a lateral aperture width extending between said first sidewall to said second sidewall, wherein the longitudinal aperture length is greater than the lateral aperture width; and

first, second, third, and fourth radiopaque markers positioned in said radiolucent material, each of said first, second, third, and fourth radiopaque markers including an elongate body oriented generally parallel to said height of the implant, wherein the first radiopaque marker is positioned in said distal wall, wherein the second radiopaque marker is positioned in said proximal wall, wherein the third radiopaque marker is positioned in the first sidewall and extends in the medial plane, wherein the fourth radiopaque marker is positioned in the second sidewall and extends in the medial plane.

2. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said generally parallel ridges of said upper surface extend generally perpendicular to said longitudinal length.

3. The spinal fusion implant of claim 2, wherein two of said generally parallel ridges extend over a medial support wall extending between the first and second sidewalls, wherein said medial support wall is positioned along said medial plane.

4. The spinal fusion implant of claim 3, wherein said generally parallel ridges of said upper surface are configured to be anti-migration elements to engage the first vertebra when said implant is positioned within the interbody space.

5. The spinal fusion implant of claim 4, wherein said generally parallel ridges of said lower surface extend generally perpendicular to said longitudinal length, and wherein said generally parallel ridges of said lower surface are configured to be anti-migration elements to engage the second vertebra when said implant is positioned within the interbody space.

6. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, further comprising a medial support wall extending between the first and second sidewalls, wherein said medial support wall is positioned along said medial plane.

7. The spinal fusion implant of claim 6, wherein the implant comprises the first fusion aperture and a second fusion aperture extending through said upper surface and lower surface and configured to permit bone growth between the first vertebra and the second vertebra when said implant is positioned within the interbody space, wherein the first and second fusion apertures are positioned on opposite sides of the medial support wall.

8. The spinal fusion implant of claim 7, wherein the first fusion aperture is symmetric with the second fusion aperture relative to the medial plane.

9. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said height of said implant extends in said medial plane, and wherein said height of said implant is greater than a distal face height of said distal wall and is greater than a proximal face height of said proximal wall.

10. The spinal fusion implant of claim 9, wherein said proximal face height of said proximal wall is greater than said distal face height of said distal wall.

11. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said implant includes four openings defined in said second sidewall, a first pair of said four openings being located in the second sidewall on a first said of said medial plane, and a second pair of said four openings being located on a first said of said medial plane.

12. The spinal fusion implant of claim 11, wherein the four openings defined in said second sidewall have the same shape.

13. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said first radiopaque marker is symmetric with the second radiopaque marker relative to said medial plane.

14. The spinal fusion implant of claim 13, wherein said third radiopaque marker is symmetric with the fourth radiopaque marker relative to a central longitudinal plane extending along the central longitudinal axis of the threaded receiving aperture and generally parallel to said height of the implant.

15. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said first sidewall is symmetric with said second sidewall relative to the central longitudinal axis of the threaded receiving aperture.

16. The spinal fusion implant of claim 15, wherein said first and second sidewalls each define at least one viewing aperture in communication with the first fusion aperture, wherein said at least one viewing aperture of the first sidewall is symmetric with said at least one viewing aperture of the second sidewall relative to the central longitudinal axis of the threaded receiving aperture.

17. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein the maximum longitudinal length of the implant is at least two and half times greater than the maximum lateral width.

18. The spinal fusion implant of claim 17, wherein said maximum lateral width of said implant is approximately 18 mm.

19. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said first and second sidewalls each include an outwardly bowed surface portion facing outwardly away from said first fusion aperture, wherein a convex curvature of the outwardly bowed surface portion of the first sidewall is symmetric with a convex curvature of the outwardly bowed surface portion of the second sidewall relative to a central longitudinal plane extending along the central longitudinal axis of the threaded receiving aperture and generally parallel to said height of the implant.

20. The spinal fusion implant of claim 19, wherein said first and second sidewalls each define at least one viewing aperture in communication with the first fusion aperture wherein said at least one viewing aperture of the first sidewall is symmetric with said at least one viewing aperture of the second sidewall relative to the central longitudinal plane.

21. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said maximum lateral width of said implant is approximately 18 mm.

22. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said maximum lateral width of said implant is greater than a maximum lateral width of said distal wall and is greater than a maximum lateral width of said proximal wall.

23. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said threaded receiving aperture and said first and second lateral grooves are configured to releasably mate with a lateral, trans-psoas inserter tool.

24. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said radiolucent material comprises PEEK.

25. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said implant includes at least one visualization aperture extending through at least one of said first sidewall and said second sidewall.

26. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower surfaces are generally parallel to one another.

27. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower surfaces are generally angled relative to one another to approximately correspond to lordosis of a lumbar spine when said implant is positioned within the interbody space.

28. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said first fusion aperture is one of generally rectangular and generally oblong in shape.

29. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein the lateral aperture width of said first fusion aperture is more than two time greater than a lateral thickness of said first sidewall and is more than two time greater than a lateral thickness of said second sidewall.

30. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, further comprising an osteoinductive material positioned with said first fusion aperture.

31. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, wherein said first and second sidewalls each include an outwardly bowed surface portion facing outwardly away from said first fusion aperture, wherein a convex curvature of the outwardly bowed surface portion of the first sidewall is symmetric with a convex curvature of the outwardly bowed surface portion of the second sidewall relative to the central longitudinal axis of the threaded receiving aperture.

32. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, further comprising fifth and sixth radiopaque markers positioned in said radiolucent material, wherein the fifth radiopaque marker is positioned in said distal wall, wherein the sixth radiopaque marker is positioned in said proximal wall.