Artificial disc

• US 9,414,931 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Hansell, Noah, Bennett, Jeff, Boyer, Michael Lee II
• Primary Examiner(s): Woznicki, Jacqueline
• Application Number:
  US14/077,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20140142703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• 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 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4603 for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30011 differing in porosity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30065 thermoplastic, i.e. softening or fusing when heated, and hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30115 circular-O-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30166 H-shaped or I-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30242 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30518 with possibility of relative movement between the prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30553 for adjusting a position by translation along an axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30565 having spring elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 : with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30581 : having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30584 : filled with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30594 : slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30614 : Sets comprising both primary and revision endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 : Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30624 : Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30632 : with rotation-limiting stops, e.g. projections or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30649 : Ball-and-socket joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30652 : Special cut-outs, e.g. flat or grooved cut-outs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30654 : Details of the concave socket
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30662 : with rotation-limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30769 : madreporic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 : Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30779 : arcuate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30802 : arcuate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30825 : arcuate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30828 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30879 : Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30886 : externally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3093 : for promoting ingrowth of bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 : having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• 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 2002/4627 : 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 2002/4629 : connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 : with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 : circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0028 : Shapes in the form of latin or greek characters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0071 : spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0008 : for adjusting a position by translation along an axis or two perpendicular axes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 : differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00047 : Aluminium or Al-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00407 : Coating made of titanium or of Ti-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0097 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics

Abstract

An intervertebral artificial disc is provided with a first endplate having a plurality of protrusions for attaching to an adjacent vertebrae and an extension portion extending towards a second adjacent vertebrae. A second endplate is provided with a plurality of protrusions for attaching to a second adjacent vertebrae and an extension portion extending towards the first adjacent vertebrae. A flexible member having an upper portion and a lower portion and a slider plate positioned within the upper portion of the flexible member is also provided. The extension portion of the first endplate is adapted to fit within a first cavity in the upper portion of the flexible member and the extension portion of the second endplate is adapted to fit within a second cavity in the lower portion of the flexible member.

Claims

1. A surgical method comprising:

performing a total or partial discectomy to remove disc material from the disc space; and

inserting a disc assembly into the disc space via a posterior approach, wherein the disc assembly comprises an upper endplate, with keels, a lower endplate with keels, a flexible core element and a slider plate,

wherein an extension portion of the upper endplate is adapted it fit within a first cavity in an upper portion of the flexible core element and an extension portion of the second endplate is adapted to fit within a second cavity in the lower portion of the flexible core element,

wherein the slider plate is positioned completely within the first cavity in the upper portion of the flexible core element, and

wherein the extension portion of the first endplate engages with the slider plate to allow translation and rotation.

2. The surgical method of claim 1, wherein the upper endplate comprises an extension portion having a curved surface in contact with the slider plate.

3. The surgical method of claim 1, wherein the slider plate is positioned in between the upper endplate and the flexible core element.

4. The surgical method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a trial into the disc space.

5. The surgical method of claim 1, wherein the upper endplate further comprises a plurality of teeth.

6. The surgical method of claim 1, wherein the extension portion of the upper endplate is positioned completely within the first cavity in the upper portion of the flexible core element.

7. The surgical method of claim 1, wherein the keels guide the disc assembly into position during insertion into the disc space.

8. The surgical method of claim 1, wherein the upper endplate and the lower endplate include respective screw holes for receiving an instrument for positioning the disc assembly within the disc space.