Spinal surgical implant and related methods

• US 9,101,491 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Inventors: Rodgers, W. Blake, Curran, Matthew, Arnold, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Ellen C
• Application Number:
  US12/317,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20110125266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,416 Days
• Field of Search: 606/279, 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• 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 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30565 having spring elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30624 Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30779 arcuate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30784 Plurality of holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30879 Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30967 Diffusion bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 : elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• 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 2002/4628 : 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 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures

Abstract

An intervertebral implant consisting of multiple elements connected by a flexible member and a method of positioning said implant via an operative corridor having an axis oblique to the disc plane. The implant is advanced through the operative corridor by altering the orientation of the first element of the implant such that it is in general alignment with the disc space plane without altering the alignment of the second element of the implant. Upon insertion of the first element into the disc space, the orientation of the second element is altered to be in general alignment with the disc space and the second element is inserted into the disc space.

Claims

1. A method of positioning an implant within the intervertebral disc space between a pair of adjacent vertebral endplates, said implant having a longitudinal axis, said disc space having a plane and said plane being generally parallel to said vertebral endplates, said method comprising the steps of:

a) creating an operative corridor via a lateral approach to said intervertebral disc space, said operative corridor having a longitudinal axis oblique to said disc space plane;

b) advancing said implant through said operative corridor, wherein said longitudinal axis of said implant is aligned with said operative corridor longitudinal axis;

c) altering the orientation of a first element of said implant such that it is aligned with said disc space plane, while a second element of said implant remains aligned with said operative corridor longitudinal axis;

d) advancing said first element into said disc space,

e) altering the orientation of said second element such that it is aligned with said disc space plane, f) and advancing said second element into said disc space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said disc space is L5-S1.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said operative corridor begins at a skin entry site superior to L5-S1.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said skin entry site is superior to the iliac crest.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said operative corridor is created with at least one of a tissue retraction system and a tissue distraction system.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of providing said implant with said first element and said second element connected about said longitudinal axis of said implant via a flexible member.

7. The method of 1, comprising the additional step of providing said implant with said first element and said second element connected about said longitudinal axis via an articulating member.

8. The method of 1, comprising the additional step of providing said implant with said first element and said second element connected via at least of a tether and a wire.