Spinal implant

• US 8,673,006 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K2M, Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Igip LLC
• Inventors: Castro, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumberledge, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US12/804,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606/75
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• 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 2002/30158 trapezoidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30261 parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30354 Cylindrically-shaped protrusion and recess, e.g. cylinder of circular basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30481 using a locking clip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• 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

The present invention is a spinal implant that can be inserted into a surgically created cavity of one or more regions of the mammalian spine. Universal corner posts and one or more lateral universal posts are connected with a series of trapezoidal wedge-like braces. The series of braces includes a centralized brace, a first set of braces extending in a first direction away from the centralized brace and a second set of braces extending in a second direction away from the centralized brace. Embodiments of the current cage also include first and second lateral brakes and an end cap.

Claims

1. A spinal implant and an end cap for said spinal implant combination;

said combination comprising;

a) said spinal implant;

b) a coupler comprising;

i) a spacer;

ii) a frontal plate including at least one opening for receiving a fastener for securing said coupler to vertebrae; and

iii) pins attached perpendicularly to and extending away from an inward side of said spacer; and

c) a bridge comprising;

i) an outermost section surrounding a generally trapezoidal aperture;

said outermost section further comprising;

A) a surgeon facing side including a plurality of bores receiving said pins; and

B) a spinal implant facing side including bores therein; and

ii) docking slides for securely engaging a corresponding opening proximate a lengthwise end of said spinal implant.

2. A spinal implant and an end cap for said spinal implant combination;

said combination comprising;

a) said spinal implant further comprising;

i) a cephalic lengthwise end and a caudal lengthwise end;

ii) a length greater than said spinal implant'"'"'s width or said spinal implant'"'"'s depth; and

iii) an opening associated with one of said lengthwise ends of said spinal implant;

b) a coupler comprising;

i) a frontal plate including at least one opening for receiving a fastener for securing said coupler to vertebrae; and

ii) one or more extensions; and

c) a bridge comprising;

i) bores receiving said extensions; and

ii) slides securely engaging a portion of an inward perimeter of said opening associated with one of said lengthwise ends of said spinal implant.

3. The end cap of claim 2, wherein said coupler further comprises a spacer.

4. The end cap of claim 3, wherein said bridge further comprises a spinal implant facing side including bores therein.