Bone plate and fusion cage interface

• US 9,186,257 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rhausler, Inc
• Original Assignee: Rhausler, Inc
• Inventors: Geisler, Fred, Johnston, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Ellen C
• Application Number:
  US13/649,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20140107785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30011 differing in porosity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 using a locking plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30879 Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30909 Nets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30915 made of a stack of bonded perforated sheets, grids or wire meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3092 having an open-celled or open-pored structure
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00131 Tantalum or Ta-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 Ceramics or ceramic-like structures

Abstract

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a spinal implant for insertion between two adjacent vertebrae, the spinal implant including one or more of the following: a cage comprising: a frame sized to be inserted between the vertebrae, the frame comprising a fastener hole and a cage alignment structure, the cage alignment structure comprising at least one of: a cage groove and a cage ridge; a bone plate comprising a bone plate alignment structure a through hole, wherein the bone plate alignment structure comprises at least one of a bone plate groove and a bone plate ridge, and wherein the bone plate alignment structure and the cage alignment structure are configured to interact with each other to provide an indication when the bone plate is properly aligned with the cage; and a fastener to attach the bone plate to the cage when inserted through the through hole and into the fastener hole.

Claims

1. A spinal implant for insertion between two vertebrae, the spinal implant comprising:

a cage sized to be inserted between the two vertebrae, the cage including a cage alignment feature including two parallel ridges and a ridge that intersects the two parallel ridges; and

a bone plate configured to be attached to the cage and at least one vertebra,

wherein the bone plate includes a bone plate alignment structure including two parallel grooves intersected by a groove configured to interact with the two parallel ridges and ridge of the cage to provide an indication when the bone plate is properly aligned with the cage.

2. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein:

when the bone plate is properly aligned the ridge of the cage is seated within the groove.

3. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein:

when the bone plate is properly aligned with the cage comprises the ridge of the cage being seated within the groove of the bone plate.

4. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein:

the grooves are linear and the groove that intersects the parallel grooves is perpendicular to the parallel grooves.

5. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the bone plate is configured to attach to the cage such that the bone plate is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to the cage.

6. The spinal implant of claim 5, wherein the bone plate comprises a wedge-shaped foot that contacts the cage.

7. The spinal implant of claim 5, further comprising a wedge configured to be disposed between the cage and the bone plate.

8. A surgical kit comprising:

a cage sized to be inserted between two vertebrae;

a first bone plate configured to be attached to the cage, the first bone plate includes a first wedge having a bone plate alignment structure having linear features, the first wedge having an angled surface relative to the top side of the bone plate to receive the cage such that the bone plate is oriented at a first angle with respect to the cage; and

a second bone plate includes a second wedge having a bone plate alignment structure having linear features, the second wedge configured to be attached to the cage such that the bone plate is oriented at a second angle with respect to the cage,

wherein the first angle does not equal the second angle.

9. The surgical kit of claim 8, wherein:

the cage further includes a cage alignment structure, and

the bone plate alignment structure being configured to interact with the cage comprises

the bone plate alignment structure being configured to interact with the cage alignment structure.

10. The surgical kit of claim 9, wherein:

the bone plate alignment structure comprises at least one of;

a bone plate groove and a bone plate ridge;

the cage alignment structure comprises at least one of;

a cage groove and a cage ridge; and

the indication when the bone plate is properly aligned with the cage comprises at least one of;

the bone plate ridge being seated within the cage groove, and

the cage ridge being seated within the bone plate groove.

11. The surgical kit of claim 8, wherein:

the bone plate alignment structure includes a first linear feature and a second linear feature perpendicular to the first linear feature;

the first linear feature comprises at least one of;

a first groove and a first ridge; and

the second linear feature comprises at least one of;

a second groove and a second ridge.

12. An implant comprising:

a cage including a cage alignment feature including two parallel ridges and a third ridge that intersects the two parallel ridges; and

a bone plate configured to be attached to the cage and at least one bone,

wherein the bone plate includes a bone plate alignment structure including two parallel grooves intersected by a groove, configured to interact with the two parallel ridges and the third ridge of the cage to provide an indication when the bone plate is properly aligned with the cage.

13. The implant of claim 12, wherein:

the bone plate alignment structure comprises at least one of;

a bone plate groove and a bone plate ridge;

the cage alignment structure comprises at least one of;

a cage groove and a cage ridge; and

the indication when the bone plate is properly aligned with the cage comprises at least one of;

the bone plate ridge being seated within the cage groove, and

the cage ridge being seated within the bone plate groove.

14. The implant of claim 12, wherein:

the grooves are linear and the groove that intersects the parallel grooves is perpendicular to the parallel grooves.

15. The implant of claim 12, wherein the bone plate is configured to attach to the cage such that the bone plate is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to the cage.

16. The implant of claim 15, wherein the bone plate comprises a wedge-shaped foot that contacts the cage.

17. The implant of claim 15, further comprising a wedge configured to be disposed between the cage and the bone plate.

18. A spinal implant for insertion between two adjacent vertebrae, the spinal implant comprising:

a cage comprising;

a frame sized to be inserted between the two vertebrae, the frame comprising a fastener hole and a cage alignment structure, the cage alignment structure comprising two parallel ridges and a ridge that intersects the two parallel ridges

an inner rim surrounding a through bore extending between a top face and a bottom face of the cage;

a bone plate comprising a bone plate alignment structure, a through hole, a first screw hole, and a second screw hole,

wherein the first screw hole and the second screw hole are positioned to overlie the two vertebrae, respectively, when the bone plate is attached to the cage and the cage is inserted between the two vertebrae,

wherein the bone plate alignment structure includes two parallel grooves intersected by a groove and

wherein the bone plate alignment structure and the cage alignment structure are configured to interact with each other to provide an indication when the bone plate is properly aligned with the cage, the indication comprising;

the cage ridges being seated within the bone plate grooves and

a fastener operable to attach the bone plate to the cage when the fastener is inserted through the through hole of the bone plate and into the fastener hole of the frame.