Devices and methods for cervical lateral fixation

• US 9,381,048 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2011
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Gamache, Thomas J., Sorrenti, Michael, Hawkins, J. Riley, Gorhan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): MERENE, JAN CHRISTOP L
• Application Number:
  US13/222,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20130053894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606/246
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7007 Parts of the longitudinal elements, e.g. their ends, being specially adapted to fit around the screw or hook heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7011 Longitudinal element being non-straight, e.g. curved, angled or branched adjustable length longitudinal elements A61B17/7014; A61B17/7019 takes precedence, e.g. coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7014 with means for adjusting the distance between two screws or hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7062 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs rib fixation devices A61B17/8076; Tools for such devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/844 with expandable anchors or anchors having movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• 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 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• 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 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 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• 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 2002/30616 Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30779 arcuate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30797 : internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30858 : Threads interrupted by grooves or sidewalls, e.g. flat sidewalls
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• 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

Devices and methods are provided for treatment of the cervical spine. The devices and methods allow for treatment to be delivered from a lateral or posterior-lateral location of a subject, proximate to the cervical region of the spine. One exemplary embodiment of a spinal implant includes an elongate cage member and a plate member appended to a proximal end of the cage member. The plate member can be oriented in a manner such that it is asymmetric with respect to a long axis of the cage member. In another exemplary embodiment, an implant includes a cage member having a distal end that has an asymmetrical, bulleted shape such that the distal end is biased towards a superior or cranial direction. In a third exemplary embodiment, an implant includes a spinal fixation element and at least two mounting eyelets formed thereon. Exemplary methods related to implanting spinal implants from a lateral or posterior-lateral location are also provided.

Claims

1. A spinal implant, comprising:

an elongate cage member having a distal insertion end, a proximal anchoring end, and an external surface extending between the proximal and distal ends that is defined by a superior surface, an inferior surface, an anterior wall, and a posterior wall, the cage member having an interior open space defined by interior surfaces of the distal insertion end, the proximal anchoring end, the anterior wall, and the posterior wall, the open space extending from the superior surface to the inferior surface, a plurality of openings formed in the external surface, and a first long axis which, when viewed from above the superior or inferior surface, extends from the distal insertion end to the proximal anchoring end at a longest dimension therebetween and is disposed between the interior surfaces of the posterior and anterior walls; and

a plate member extending from a portion of the cage member that encompasses a portion of the proximal anchoring end and a portion of the anterior wall such that a portion of the plate member located closest to the posterior wall is spaced from the posterior wall, the plate member having a second long axis that is generally perpendicular to the first long axis and having a curve along a short axis thereof, the plate member having a length extending along the second long axis that is greater than a width extending along the short axis, and the plate member being asymmetric with respect to the first long axis such that the short axis of the plate member forms an oblique angle in the range of about 35 degrees to about 80 degrees with respect to the first long axis of the elongate cage member.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the plate member is oriented with respect to the elongate cage member such that a midpoint of the plate member is disposed anterior to the first long axis.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the superior surface of the cage member is generally concave and the inferior surface of the cage member is generally convex.

4. The implant of claim 3, wherein the distal insertion end of the cage member has an asymmetrical, bulleted shape such that a radius of curvature of the inferior surface is greater than a radius of curvature of the superior surface such that the distal insertion end is biased toward a superior direction.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein at least one of the superior and inferior surfaces of the cage member includes one or more surface features configured to prevent migration of the implant.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the posterior wall of the cage member includes a curve that is generally concave.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the anterior wall of the cage member includes a curve that is generally convex.

8. The implant of claim 7, wherein a radius of the curve of the anterior wall of the cage member is substantially the same as a radius of the curve of the short axis of the plate member.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the plate member includes a plurality of wings configured to engage a surface by way of attachment features.

10. The implant of claim 1, further comprising one or more bores configured to receive a screw to aid in securing the implant to bone.

11. The implant of claim 1, wherein a surface of the proximal anchoring end flares outward toward the plate member and a surface of the anterior wall flares outward toward the plate member to integrally append the plate member to the cage member.

12. A spinal implant, comprising:

an elongate cage member having a distal insertion end, a proximal anchoring end, and an external surface extending between the proximal and distal ends that is defined by a superior surface that is generally concave, an inferior surface that is generally convex, an anterior wall, and a posterior wall, the cage member having an interior open space defined by interior surfaces of the distal insertion end, the proximal anchoring end, the anterior wall, and the posterior wall, the open space extending from the superior surface to the inferior surface, a plurality of openings formed in the external surface, and a first long axis which, when viewed from above the superior or inferior surface, extends from the distal insertion end to the proximal anchoring end at a longest dimension therebetween and is disposed between the interior surfaces of the posterior and anterior walls; and

a plate member extending from a portion of the cage member that encompasses a portion of the proximal anchoring end and a portion of the anterior wall such that a portion of the plate member located closest to the posterior wall is spaced from the posterior wall, the plate member having a second long axis that is generally perpendicular to the first long axis and having a curve along a short axis thereof, the plate member having a length extending along the second long axis that is greater than a width extending along the short axis, and the plate member being asymmetric with respect to the first long axis such that the short axis of the plate member forms an oblique angle with respect to the first long axis of the elongate cage member,

wherein the distal insertion end of the cage member has an asymmetrical, bulleted shape such that a radius of curvature of the inferior surface is greater than a radius of curvature of the superior surface such that the distal insertion end is biased toward a superior direction.

13. The implant of claim 12, wherein the plate member is oriented with respect to the elongate cage member such that a midpoint of the plate member is disposed anterior to the first long axis.

14. The implant of claim 12, wherein at least one of the superior and inferior surfaces of the cage member includes one or more surface features configured to prevent migration of the implant.

15. The implant of claim 12, wherein a surface of the proximal anchoring end flares outward toward the plate member and a surface of the anterior wall flares outward toward the plate member to integrally append the plate member to the cage member.

16. A spinal implant, comprising:

an elongate cage member having a distal insertion end, a proximal anchoring end, and an external surface extending between the proximal and distal ends that is defined by a superior surface, an inferior surface, an anterior wall, and a posterior wall, the cage member having an interior open space defined by interior surfaces of the distal insertion end, the proximal anchoring end, the anterior wall, and the posterior wall, the open space extending from the superior surface to the inferior surface, a plurality of openings formed in the external surface, and a first long axis which, when viewed from above the superior or inferior surface, extends from the distal insertion end to the proximal anchoring end at a longest dimension therebetween and is disposed between the interior surfaces of the posterior and anterior walls; and

a plate member extending from a portion of the cage member that encompasses a portion of the proximal anchoring end and a portion of the anterior wall such that a portion of the plate member located closest to the posterior wall is spaced from the posterior wall, the plate member having a second long axis that is generally perpendicular to the first long axis and having a curve along a short axis thereof, the plate member having a length extending along the second long axis that is greater than a width extending along the short axis, and the plate member being asymmetric with respect to the first long axis such that the short axis of the plate member forms an oblique angle with respect to the first long axis of the elongate cage member,

wherein the anterior wall of the cage member includes a curve that is generally convex, and a radius of the curve of the anterior wall is substantially the same as a radius of the curve of the short axis of the plate member.

17. The implant of claim 16, wherein the plate member is oriented with respect to the elongate cage member such that a midpoint of the plate member is disposed anterior to the first long axis.

18. The implant of claim 16, wherein the superior surface of the cage member is generally concave and the inferior surface of the cage member is generally convex.

19. The implant of claim 16, wherein at least one of the superior and inferior surfaces of the cage member includes one or more surface features configured to prevent migration of the implant.

20. The implant of claim 16, wherein a surface of the proximal anchoring end flares outward toward the plate member and a surface of the anterior wall flares outward toward the plate member to integrally append the plate member to the cage member.