Expandable interbody fusion device

• US 9,655,743 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spine Wave Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spine Wave Incorporated
• Inventors: Kieval, Robert, Johnson, Wes, Lipschultz, Tyler, Wales, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comstock, David C
• Application Number:
  US14/628,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20150164654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 606246, 606249, 606300, 606 90, 606105, 623 1711, 623 1716
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7097 Stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant, e.g. balloon; devices for inserting or filling such implants disc prostheses made of inflatable chambers or pockets filled with fluid A61F2/441; replacing the nucleus pulposus A61F2002/444
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8852 capable of being assembled or enlarged, or changing shape, inside the bone or disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30237 partial tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30261 parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30385 the rib and groove having non-parallel, e.g. conically-tapered, cooperating sides, e.g. having a trapezoidal front cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30392 Rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/304 with additional means for limiting said sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30448 : using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30449 : the adhesive being cement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 : retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30476 : locked by an additional locking mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3049 : using a slidable sleeve covering the connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 : Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30599 : stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 : Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 : Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 : elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4485 : comprising three or more 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 2002/4666 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 : swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 : using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0082 : parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 : Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• 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 2310/00071 : Nickel or Ni-based alloys
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00353 : Bone cement, e.g. polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00359 : Bone or bony tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 : Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/907 : Composed of particular material or coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/912 : Radiolucent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/914 : Toolkit for installing or removing spinal positioner or stabilizer

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for interbody fusion including distracting, in a given direction, and supporting opposing vertebral bodies. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the vertebral bodies to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the vertebral bodies so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.

Claims

1. An expandable interbody fusion device for implantation into the intradiscal space between opposing vertebral bodies in a spine, comprising:

an elongate first element having an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, said lower surface including a beveled surface thereon;

an elongate second element aligned in the axial direction with said first element, said second element including opposing spaced apart sidewalls defining therebetween an interior cavity, at least a portion of said first element being received within said interior cavity, said first element being movable in an expansion direction away from said second element; and

an elongate expansion member movable within said cavity in a first axial direction in alignment axially with said first element and said second element, said expansion member including thereon first and second axially spaced beveled surfaces, said first and second beveled surfaces being movable together in said first axial direction upon movement of said expansion member in said first axial direction, said first beveled surface defining a lifting surface operable upon movement of said expansion member in the first axial direction to engage the beveled surface on said lower surface of said first element to move said first element and said second element relatively apart in an expansion direction generally transverse to said first axial direction.

2. The expandable device of claim 1, wherein said second element includes a front shoulder extending transversely between said opposing sidewalls.

3. The expandable device of claim 1, wherein said expansion member comprises a portion for coupling with said first element.

4. The expandable device of claim 1, wherein said expansion member comprises a portion for coupling with said second element.

5. The expandable device of claim 1, wherein one of said first element, said second element and said expansion member has an opening for receiving a filler material therein.

6. The expandable device of claim 1, further including a locking arrangement to resist movement of said expansion member upon expansion of said device in said axial direction.

7. The expandable device of claim 1, wherein said first beveled surface and said second beveled surface are inclined in the same direction along the axial direction.

8. The expandable device of claim 1, wherein said first and second beveled surfaces are planar and substantially parallel.

9. The expandable device of claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said first element is an outer surface configured for contacting an upper vertebral body, wherein said second element includes an outer surface configured for contacting an opposing lower vertebral body, said second element including an inner surface communicating with said interior cavity and facing said expansion member.

10. The expandable device of claim 9, wherein said first beveled surface faces upwardly toward said first element and said second beveled surface faces downwardly toward said inner surface.

11. An expandable interbody fusion device for implantation into the intradiscal space between opposing vertebral bodies in a spine, comprising:

a first element including an outer surface and a lower surface generally opposite said outer surface, said lower surface including a beveled surface;

a second element including opposing spaced apart sidewalls and opposing spaced apart front and rear endwalls defining therewithin a fully bounded interior cavity, at least a portion of said first element being received within said interior cavity, said rear endwall defining therethrough a channel in communication with said interior cavity, said first element being movable in an expansion direction away from said second element; and

an expansion member sized to be received between said first element and said second element into said interior cavity and movable therein in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said expansion direction, said expansion member including a beveled lifting surface operable upon movement of said expansion member to engage the beveled surface of said first element to move said first element away from said second element in the expansion direction and expand said device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said channel through said rear endwall is fully bounded and defines an access opening through which said expansion member is accessible for movement.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said beveled lifting surface on said expansion member faces upwardly toward said first element.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said expansion member further comprises a second beveled surface facing downwardly away from said first element.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said beveled lifting surface and said second beveled surface are inclined substantially parallel in the same direction.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein said second element includes an outer surface integral with said opposing spaced apart sidewalls and said opposing spaced apart front and rear endwalls, and an inner surface communicating with said interior cavity and facing said expansion member.

17. An expandable interbody fusion device for implantation into the intradiscal space between opposing vertebral bodies in a spine, comprising:

an elongate first element including an outer surface and a lower surface generally opposite said outer surface, said lower surface including a beveled surface;

an elongate second element axially aligned with said first element and including opposing spaced apart sidewalls defining therewithin an interior cavity, at least a portion of said first element being received within said interior cavity, said first element being movable in an expansion direction away from said second element, said second element including a stop surface;

an elongate expansion member sized to be received between said first element and said second element into said interior cavity and movable axially therein in a first axial direction that is substantially perpendicular to said expansion direction and in axial alignment with said first element and said second element, said expansion member including a beveled lifting surface operable upon movement of said expansion member to engage the beveled surface of said first element to move said first element away from said second element in the expansion direction and expand said device, a surface of said expansion member engaging said stop surface of said second element to limit axial movement of said expansion member in said first direction.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said expansion member further comprises a second beveled surface axially spaced from said beveled lifting surface.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said beveled lifting surface and said second beveled surface on said expansion member are movable together in said first axial direction upon movement of said expansion member in said first axial direction.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said beveled lifting surface and said second beveled surface are inclined substantially parallel in the same direction along said first axial direction.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said first and second beveled surfaces are planar.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein said expansion member comprises a portion for coupling with said first element.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said first element has a slot in slidable receipt of said portion of said expansion member.

24. The device of claim 17, further including a locking arrangement to resist movement of said expansion member upon expansion of said device in a second direction axially opposite said first axial direction.

25. An expandable interbody fusion device for implantation into the intradiscal space between opposing vertebral bodies in a spine, comprising:

an elongate upper element including an outer surface for engaging a first vertebral body and a lower surface generally opposite said outer surface;

an elongate lower element including an outer surface for engaging an opposing vertebral body and an inner surface generally opposite said outer surface, said upper element being movable in an expansion direction away from said lower element;

an elongate expansion member sized to be slidably received between said upper element and said lower element on said inner surface and movable axially thereon in a first axial direction that is substantially perpendicular to said expansion direction and in axial alignment with said upper element and said lower element, said expansion member including a beveled lifting surface operable upon movement of said expansion member to engage the lower surface of said upper element to move said upper element away from said lower element in the expansion direction and expand said device; and

a cooperating constraint comprising one of an elongate ridge or elongate groove on said lower surface of said upper element and a complementary elongate ridge or elongate groove on said expansion member, said complementary ridge and groove being engageable upon slidable receipt of said expansion member between said upper element and said lower element to constrain relative movement between said upper element and said expansion member in a direction transverse to said first axial direction.

26. The device of claim 25, further comprising complementary detents on said upper element and said expansion member engageable upon slidable receipt of said expansion member between said upper element and said lower element to limit axial travel of said expansion member relative to said upper element.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein said ridge on one of said upper element or said expansion member defines a cylindrical projection along the axial direction and said groove in the other of said upper element or said expansion member defines a cylindrical recess along the axial direction for slidable receipt of said cylindrical projection therein.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein said complementary ridge and groove define a dovetail configuration engageable upon slidable receipt of said expansion member between said upper element and said lower element to provide a lock between said upper element and said expansion member in the direction of expansion.

29. The device of claim 25, wherein, said lower surface of said upper element includes a beveled surface.