Intervertebral implants and related tools

• US 9,216,096 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2015
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spine Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pinnacle Spine Group, LLC
• Inventors: Lynn, Jim R., Nelson, Russell W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Ellen C
• Application Number:
  US14/694,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20150223947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/46 Special tools or methods for implanting or extracting artificial joints, accessories, bone grafts or substitutes, or particular adaptations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• 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 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• 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 2002/30261 parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30281 wedge-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30754 Implants for interposition between two natural articular surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• 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 2002/4631 the prosthesis being specially adapted for being cemented
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 Metals or alloys

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a method for promoting spinal fusion using a spinal implant comprises providing a spinal implant, wherein the spinal implant comprises an anterior wall, a posterior wall and two lateral walls configured to extend between the anterior wall and the posterior wall. In some embodiments, the spinal implant further comprises at least one internal chamber generally positioned between the anterior wall, the posterior wall and the two lateral walls, wherein the internal chamber being is adapted to receive at least one graft and/or other fill material. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the graft and/or other fill material delivered into the internal chamber is configured to exit through the one or more of the openings of the anterior wall.

Claims

1. A spinal fusion system for placing an implant and graft material within a target intervertebral space, the system comprising:

(i) an implant comprising;

a first wall and a second wall, the second wall being generally opposite of the first wall;

first and second side walls configured to extend between the first wall and the second wall;

a top surface configured to at least partially engage a lower surface of a first vertebral body;

a bottom surface configured to at least partially engage an upper surface of a second vertebral body, the second vertebral body being adjacent to the first vertebral body;

at least one internal chamber defined, at least in part, by the first wall, the second wall, the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the at least one internal chamber extends from the top surface to the bottom surface of the implant; and

an access port extending through the first wall and being in fluid communication with the at least one internal chamber;

wherein graft material is configured to be passed through the access port so at least a volume of graft material is selectively delivered into the at least one internal chamber;

(ii) an implant insertion tool sized and configured to position the implant to a target intervertebral space; and

(iii) a graft material delivery system for delivering a volume of graft material into the at least one internal chamber of the implant, the graft material delivery system comprising a conduit, wherein a volume of graft material is configured to be delivered to the at least one internal chamber of the implant via the conduit;

wherein, after delivery of the implant within the target intervertebral space, the first and second walls and the first and second sidewalls of the implant are configured to extend between superior and inferior vertebral members adjacent the target intervertebral space; and

wherein the walls and sidewalls of the implant form a continuous peripheral boundary around the at least one chamber upon implantation into the target intervertebral space such that the at least one chamber contains graft material delivered through the access port, thereby enabling the at least one internal chamber to be filled such that graft material is in flush contact with endplate surfaces of the adjacent superior and inferior vertebral members.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit is configured to pass through the access port of the implant to position the conduit within the at least one internal chamber of the implant.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the graft material delivery system additionally comprises a fill tool assembly, the fill tool assembly being configured to selectively engage at least a portion of the implant, wherein the fill tool assembly comprises a cannulated shaft.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the fill tool assembly is configured to ensure that a distal end of the conduit routed through the cannulated shaft of the fill tool assembly is properly positioned within the at least one internal chamber of the implant.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein graft material is configured to be delivered through the fill tool assembly, either directly through the cannulated shaft or via the conduit, wherein the conduit is removably positioned through the cannulated shaft.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the fill tool assembly comprises at least one alignment feature configured to engage at least a portion of the implant, wherein at least one alignment feature provides assurance that the fill tool assembly is properly positioned relative to the implant.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the last one alignment feature comprises at least one of a tab and a wing.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant insertion tool is configured to releasably secure to the access port.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second side walls of the implant does not comprise any openings.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises at least one of polyether etherketone (PEEK), a metal and an alloy.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the implant is generally planar.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the implant is generally curved.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises a lordotic implant, such that a height of the first wall is different than a height of the second wall.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises a lateral implant, a TLIF implant, an ALIF implant or a PLIF implant.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the fill tube assembly further comprises a plunger assembly configured to be positioned within the conduit, wherein the plunger assembly is selectively actuated in order to provide the necessary driving force to move a volume of graft material through the conduit and into the at least one internal chamber of the implant.

16. A spinal fusion system for placing an implant and graft material within a target intervertebral space, the system comprising:

(i) an implant comprising;

a first wall and a second wall, the second wall being generally opposite of the first wall;

side walls configured to extend between the first wall and the second wall;

a top surface configured to at least partially engage a lower surface of a first vertebral body;

a bottom surface configured to at least partially engage an upper surface of a second vertebral body, the second vertebral body being adjacent to the first vertebral body;

at least one internal chamber defined, at least in part, by the first wall, the second wall and the side walls, wherein the at least one internal chamber extends from the top surface to the bottom surface of the implant, wherein the first and second walls and side walls form a continuous peripheral boundary around the at least one chamber upon implantation into a target intervertebral space; and

an access port extending through the first wall and being in fluid communication with the at least one internal chamber;

wherein graft material is configured to be passed through the access port for delivery into the at least one internal chamber;

(ii) an implant insertion tool sized and configured to position the implant to a target intervertebral space; and

(iii) a graft material delivery system for delivering graft material into the at least one internal chamber of the implant, the graft material delivery system comprising a conduit, wherein a volume of graft material is configured to be delivered to the at least one internal chamber of the implant via the conduit;

wherein, after delivery of the implant within the target intervertebral space, the first and second walls and the first and second sidewalls of the implant are configured to extend between superior and inferior vertebral members adjacent the target intervertebral space; and

wherein the at least one internal chamber is configured to contain graft material enabling the at least one internal chamber to be filled such that graft material is in flush contact with endplate surfaces of the adjacent superior and inferior vertebral members.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the graft material delivery system additionally comprises a fill tool assembly, the fill tool assembly being configured to selectively engage at least a portion of the implant, wherein the fill tool assembly comprises a cannulated shaft.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the fill tool assembly is configured to ensure that a distal end of the conduit routed through the cannulated shaft of the fill tool assembly is properly positioned within the at least one internal chamber of the implant.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein graft material is configured to be delivered through the fill tool assembly, either directly through the cannulated shaft or via the conduit, wherein the conduit is removably positioned through the cannulated shaft.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the fill tube assembly further comprises a plunger assembly configured to be positioned within the conduit, wherein the plunger assembly is selectively actuated in order to provide the necessary driving force to move a volume of graft material through the conduit and into the at least one internal chamber of the implant.