Zero profile spinal fusion cage

• US 9,592,129 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Slivka, Michael A., Grinberg, Alexander, Hawkins, John Riley
• Primary Examiner(s): Iwamaye, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mathew, Seema
• Application Number:
  US14/887,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20160106550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8042 the additional component being a cover over the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• 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 2/4455 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 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 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• 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 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3079 Stepped or enlarged apertures, e.g. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4622 having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• 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 2002/4628 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 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• 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 2310/00059 : Chromium or Cr-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00161 : Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00203 : containing alumina or aluminium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00239 : containing zirconia or zirconium oxide ZrO2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00293 : containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite

Abstract

An interbody fusion cage having upper and lower canals for receiving the heads of bone screws that have been pre-installed in opposing vertebral body endplates. In certain embodiments, the interbody fusion cage can include a main interbody device having a guide surface canal, and a rail component configured to slidingly engage the guide surface canal.

Claims

1. An intervertebral fusion device comprising:

a first component having i) a proximal component end, ii) a distal component end opposite the proximal component end along a proximal-distal direction, iii) a first outer surface that extends between the proximal and distal component ends, and is positioned and configured to contact a vertebral endplate, iv) a through hole that extends through the first outer surface and adapted to promote vertebral fusion through the first component, and v) a first translation surface extending between the proximal component end and the distal component end and oriented at an oblique angle to the first outer surface;

a rail component having i) a proximal rail end, ii) a distal rail end, iii) a second outer surface that extends between the proximal and distal rail ends, iv) a hole extending distally from an opening in the proximal rail end, and v) a second translation surface that is oriented at an oblique angle to the second outer surface; and

a threaded screw disposed within the hole of the rail component,

wherein the first and second outer surfaces are configured to be substantially coplanar with each other when the rail component is movable with respect to the first component along the proximal-distal direction so as to cause the first and second translation surfaces to translate upon each other.

2. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first component further comprises a third translation surface oriented at an angle to the first outer surface,

the rail component further comprises a fourth translation surface oriented oblique to the second outer surface, and

wherein the first and second outer surfaces are further configured to be substantially coplanar with each other when the rail component is movable with respect to the first component along the proximal-distal direction so as to cause the third and fourth translation surfaces to translate upon each other.

3. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 2, wherein the first and third translation surfaces are non-parallel to each other.

4. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 3, wherein the first and third translation surfaces are sloped along opposite directions.

5. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 3, wherein the second and fourth translation surfaces of the rail component are disposed between the first and third translation surfaces of the first component.

6. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 3, wherein the first and third translation surfaces are aligned with each other along a direction that is perpendicular to the proximal-distal direction.

7. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 6, wherein the direction is normal to the first outer surface.

8. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 7, wherein the rail component comprises first and second separate bodies that define the second and fourth translation surfaces, respectively.

9. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 2, wherein the first translation surface is monolithic with the third translation surface, the second translation surface is monolithic with the fourth translation surface, the first and third translation surfaces are aligned with each other along a direction that is oriented substantially parallel to the first outer surface, and the second and fourth translation surfaces are aligned with each other along the direction that is oriented substantially parallel to the first outer surface.

10. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the hole of the rail component extends entirely through the rail component, and the screw extends through the hole.

11. A system comprising:

the intervertebral fusion device of claim 1 configured to be inserted into an intervertebral disc space defined by first and second vertebrae; and

at least one bone screw configured to be driven into one of the first and second vertebrae.

12. An intervertebral fusion device comprising:

a first component having i) a proximal component end, ii) a distal component end disposed such that the proximal and distal component ends are opposite each other along a proximal-distal direction, iii) a first outer surface that extends between the proximal and distal component ends, iv) a through hole extending through the first outer surface, and v) a first translation surface that is oblique to the first outer surface as it extends along the proximal-distal direction;

a rail component having i) a proximal rail end, ii) a distal rail end disposed such that the proximal and distal rail ends of the rail component are opposite each other along the proximal-distal direction, iii) a second outer surface that extends between the proximal and distal rail ends, wherein the second outer surface is parallel to the first outer surface, iv) a hole extending into the proximal rail end, and v) a second translation surface extending in a proximal-distal direction and oriented oblique to the second outer surface; and

a screw having a threaded shaft that that extends into the hole of the rail component,

wherein the first and second translation surfaces are translatable upon each other along the proximal-distal direction.

13. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 12, wherein the hole extends through the rail component.

14. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 13, wherein the screw extends through the hole.

15. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 14, wherein the first and third translation surfaces are sloped opposite each other.

16. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 15, wherein the first and third translation surfaces are aligned with each other along a direction that is perpendicular to the proximal-distal direction.

17. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 16, wherein the screw is a bone fixation screw direction is normal to a plane defined by the first outer surface.

18. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 12, wherein the first outer surface is positioned and configured to contact a vertebral endplate.

19. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the first component includes first and second halves, the first half defining the first translation surface, and the second half defining a third translation surface that is sloped opposite the first translation surface, and

the rail component further includes a fourth translation surface that is sloped opposite the second translation surface and is translatable upon the third translation surface along the proximal-distal direction while the first and second translation surfaces translate upon each other along the proximal-distal direction,

wherein the second translation surface is oriented parallel to the first translation surface, and the fourth translation surface is oriented parallel to the third translation surface.

20. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 19, wherein the second and fourth translation surfaces are disposed between the first and third translation surfaces.

21. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 12, wherein the first outer surface is coplanar with second outer surface.

22. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 12, wherein 1) the first component further defines a third translation surface, 2) the rail component defines a fourth translation surface that is translatable upon the third translation surface along the proximal-distal direction as the first and second translation surfaces translate upon each other along the proximal-distal direction, 3) the first and third translation surfaces are parallel to each other, and 4) the second and fourth translation surfaces are parallel to each other and to the first and third translation surfaces.

23. A system comprising:

the intervertebral fusion device of claim 12 configured to be inserted into an intervertebral disc space defined by first and second vertebrae; and

at least one bone screw configured to be driven into one of the first and second vertebrae.

24. An intervertebral fusion device comprising:

a first component having i) a proximal component end, ii) a distal component end disposed such that the proximal and distal component ends are opposite each other along a proximal-distal direction, iii) a first outer surface disposed between the proximal and distal component ends, and oriented substantially along a first plane, iv) a hole extending through the first outer surface, and v) a first pair of translation surfaces extending along the proximal-distal direction, wherein

     1) the first pair of translation surfaces are non-parallel to the first plane, and aligned with each other in a respective plane that is parallel to the first plane;

a rail component having i) a proximal rail end, ii) a distal rail end, iii) a second outer surface disposed between the proximal rail end and the distal rail end, iv) a hole that extends into the proximal rail end, and v) a second pair of translation surfaces that are monolithic with each other and, extend in the proximal-distal direction, are non-parallel to the first plane, and are spaced from each other in a respective plane that is parallel to the first plane; and

a screw having a threaded shaft, the screw extending through the hole of the rail component,

wherein the first and second pairs of translation surfaces are translatable upon each other as the rail component moves with respect to the first component along the proximal-distal direction.

25. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 24, wherein the screw is a bone screw, such that the shaft of the bone screw is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the plane when the bone screw extends through the aperture of the rail component.

26. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 24, wherein the hole of the rail component is a through hole that extends from the opening in the proximal rail end through the second outer surface.

27. The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 26, wherein the second outer surface is adapted to contact a vertebral endplate.

28. A system comprising:

the intervertebral fusion device of claim 24 configured to be inserted into an intervertebral disc space defined by first and second vertebrae; and

at least one bone screw configured to be driven into one of the first and second vertebrae.

29. An intervertebral fusion device comprising:

a first component having i) a proximal component end, ii) a distal component end opposite the proximal component end along a proximal-distal direction, iii) an outer surface that extends between the proximal and distal component ends, and is positioned and configured to contact a vertebral endplate, iv) a through hole that extends through the outer surface and adapted to promote vertebral fusion through the first component, v) first and second translation surfaces that extend between the proximal component end and the distal component end, and are non-parallel with the outer surface;

a rail component having i) a proximal rail end, ii) a distal rail end spaced from the proximal rail end, iii) a hole extending distally from an opening in the proximal rail end, and iv) third and fourth translation surfaces that extend between the proximal rail end and the distal rail end, and are non-parallel with the outer surface; and

a threaded screw that extends into the hole of the rail component,

wherein the rail component is translatable with respect to the first component along the proximal-distal direction, which causes

     1) the first and third translation surfaces to translate upon each other, and

     2) the second and fourth translation surfaces to translate upon each other,

wherein the first translation surface is monolithic with the second translation surface, the third translation surface is monolithic with the fourth translation surface, the first and second translation surfaces are aligned with each other along a direction that is oriented substantially parallel to the outer surface, and the third and fourth translation surfaces are aligned with each other along the direction that is oriented substantially parallel to the outer surface.

30. A system comprising:

the intervertebral fusion device of claim 29 configured to be inserted into an intervertebral disc space defined by first and second vertebrae; and

at least one bone screw configured to be driven into one of the first and second vertebrae.