Vertebral body replacement device and method for use to maintain a space between two vertebral bodies within a spine

• US 8,690,950 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2013
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aesculap Implant Systems LLC (Sartorius AG)
• Original Assignee: Aesculap Implant Systems LLC (Sartorius AG)
• Inventors: Refai, Daniel, Farris, Jeffrey A., Ebersole, Jeffrey T., Trischler, Cory Alan, Kistler, Gordon Paul, Wing, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLES, SAMEH RAAFAT
• Application Number:
  US13/900,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20130282120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30734 Modular inserts, sleeves or augments, e.g. placed on proximal part of stem for fixation purposes or wedges for bridging a bone defect
• 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 2/442 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4637 for connecting or disconnecting two parts of a prosthesis
• 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 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30364 Rotation about the common longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30367 with additional means for preventing said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30372 with additional means for limiting said translation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30411 having two threaded end parts connected by a threaded central part with opposite threads at its opposite ends, i.e. for adjusting the distance between both end parts by rotating the central part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30495 using a locking ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 : unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 : by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30525 : Worm gears
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3054 : about a connection axis or implantation axis for selecting any one of a plurality of radial orientations between two modular parts, e.g. Morse taper connections, at discrete positions, angular positions or continuous positions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 : for adjusting length
• 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 2002/30601 : telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 : Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 : Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30818 : castellated or crenellated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4622 : having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• 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 2002/4628 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 : connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4638 : Tools for performing screwing, e.g. nut or screwdrivers, or particular adaptations therefor

Abstract

A vertebral body replacement device includes a body member and a central rod member having two threaded portions and configured to be operatively associated with the body member. The device also includes a first end member and a second end member with the end members configured to threadingly engage the threaded portions of the central rod member. The body member and the two end members are further constructed to inhibit rotational movement of the two end members when the device is positioned within a space within a spine as the two end members will engage the adjacent respective vertebral bodies following rotational actuation of the central rod member causing the end members to move in an axial direction relative to the body member, thereby allowing the two end members to apply a force to the two vertebral bodies. A surgical instrument and method for using the device are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A vertebral body replacement device comprising:

a hollow, cylindrical body member having an outer wall with at least one tool port

defined therein and an end receptacle extending in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the body member;

a modular end member which slidingly engages the end receptacle, a first end of the modular end member facing away from the body member and having a circular projection extending therefrom, the circular projection encompassing the longitudinal axis and having an annular groove defined therein;

a footplate having an annular inner wall which defines a central opening extending through the footplate, an annular slot defined in the inner wall of the footplate and opposing the annular groove when the footplate is positioned on the circular projection of the modular end member; and

a snap ring disposed in an aperture defined by the annular groove and the annular slot opposing each other, the snap ring detachably coupling the footplate to the end member.

2. The vertebral body replacement device according to claim 1, further comprising a central rod member extending through the body member and threadably coupled to the modular end member.

3. The vertebral body replacement device according to claim 2, wherein the central rod member comprises a gear wheel portion having a toothed surface and a support surface, wherein the gear wheel portion is engageable by a tool via the at least one tool port.

4. The vertebral body replacement device according to claim 3, further comprising a support ring having a bearing surface contacting the support surface of the gear wheel portion of the central rod member when the central rod member is operatively positioned within the body member.

5. The vertebral body replacement device of claim 4, wherein the support ring is C-shaped.

6. The vertebral body replacement device according to claim 1, wherein the modular end member further comprises a first end face opposing the body member and a second end face opposing the footplate.

7. The vertebral body replacement device according to claim 6, wherein the first end face comprises an end receptacle receiving aperture and a threaded hole defined therein.

8. The vertebral body replacement device according to claim 7, wherein the end receptacle receiving aperture encompasses the threaded hole.

9. The vertebral body replacement device according to claim 7, wherein the end receptacle receiving aperture comprises a plurality of slots.

10. The vertebral body replacement device according to claim 1, wherein the modular end member comprises an end receptacle receiving aperture which receives the end receptacle therein, the modular end member bounds the end receptacle internally and externally in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the body member when the end receptacle is inserted into the end receptacle receiving aperture.

11. The vertebral body replacement device of claim 1, wherein the modular end member further comprises at least one travel limiting mechanism defined on an outer wall thereof.

12. The vertebral body replacement device of claim 11, wherein the at least one travel limiting mechanism comprises at least one longitudinal slot configured to receive a pin therein.

13. The vertebral body replacement device of claim 12, wherein the at least one longitudinal slot includes a terminal end which limits an expansion length the modular end member can be axially moved relative to the body member.

14. The vertebral body replacement device of claim 1, wherein the body member further comprises a projection extending in the radial direction away from the outer wall, the projection being defined by channels extending in the outer wall parallel relative to the longitudinal axis of the body member.

15. The vertebral body replacement device of claim 14, wherein the projection has a dovetail configuration and each channel has a V-shaped cross-sectional profile.

16. The vertebral body replacement device of claim 1, wherein the modular end member includes a locking mechanism which fixes a position of the modular end member relative to the body member.

17. The vertebral body replacement device of claim 16, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking element and a locking pin aperture configured to receive the locking element therein.