Spinal implant

• US 9,788,973 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• 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:
  US13/725,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20130184827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1716
• 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 implant configured for placement within an intervertebral space, between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body, of a subject, comprising:

an anterior wall and a posterior wall, the posterior wall being generally opposite of said anterior wall, wherein the posterior wall does not comprise any openings;

a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall extending between the anterior wall and the posterior wall;

at least one internal chamber defined, at least in part, by the anterior wall, the posterior wall and the first and second lateral walls, the at least one internal chamber extending at least partially from a top surface to a bottom surface of the implant; and

at least one opening extending through the anterior wall, said at least one opening being in fluid communication with the at least one internal chamber;

wherein the implant comprises a lateral lumbar implant that is configured to be inserted into an intervertebral space using a lateral delivery approach;

wherein the implant comprises a length of at least 40 mm to laterally span across the first and second vertebral bodies when the implant is inserted using a lateral delivery approach, and wherein each of the first and second lateral walls is configured to generally align with peripheral bearing areas of the first and second vertebral bodies and to support adjacent cortical rims of the first and second vertebral bodies, wherein the adjacent cortical rims are located near the lateral, circumferential ends of the first and second vertebral bodies, such that, after implantation, a bearing load created by the adjacent vertebral bodies is concentrated toward the walls of the implant and away from a central portion of each of the vertebral bodies;

wherein a length of the first and second lateral walls is a minimum of 12% of an overall length of the implant; and

wherein an axis that extends along a width of the implant between the anterior wall and the posterior wall is generally linear.

2. The implant of claim 1, further comprising an access port along at least one of the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, the access port configured to releasably secure to an insertion tool.

3. The implant of claim 2, wherein the access port is generally circular.

4. The implant of claim 2, wherein the access port is adapted to receive a fill conduit therethrough, said fill conduit being configured to selectively deliver a grafting material into the at least one internal chamber of the implant.

5. The implant of claim 2, wherein a minimum ratio of a diameter of the access port to a height of the first or second lateral wall through which the at least one access port is located is approximately 0.5.

6. The implant of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall comprises a tapered portion to facilitate insertion of the implant into the intervertebral space.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant is configured for placement within a lumbar or thoracic portion of a subject'"'"'s spine.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant is configured for lateral insertion into the intervertebral space.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises polyether etherketone (PEEK).

10. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal chamber does not comprise any interior walls or baffles.

11. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal chamber comprises at least two internal sub-chambers divided by at least one interior wall.

12. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises at least one radio-opaque marker.

13. A spinal implant configured for placement within an intervertebral space, between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body, of a subject, comprising:

an anterior wall and a posterior wall, the posterior wall being generally opposite of said anterior wall;

a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall extending between the anterior wall and the posterior wall;

the anterior wall, the posterior wall, the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall defining at least one internal chamber, wherein the implant comprises a lateral lumbar implant that is configured to be inserted into an intervertebral space using a lateral delivery approach; and

at least one access port extending through the first lateral wall or the second lateral wall, the at least one access port configured to releasably secure the implant to a delivery tool for advancing the implant into the intervertebral space of the subject;

wherein the implant comprises a length of at least 40 mm so that each of the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall is generally aligned with a peripheral bearing area of the first and second vertebral bodies of the subject and so that the implant laterally spans across the first and second vertebral bodies when the implant is inserted using a lateral delivery approach, wherein each of the first and second lateral walls is shaped, sized and configured to support adjacent cortical rims of the first and second vertebral bodies, the cortical rims defining a central portion of each vertebral body, wherein the adjacent cortical rims are located near the lateral, circumferential ends of the first and second vertebral bodies, such that, after implantation, a bearing load created by the adjacent vertebral bodies is concentrated along the walls of the implant and away from the central portions of the vertebral bodies;

wherein a length of the first and second lateral walls is a minimum of 12% of an overall length of the implant; and

wherein an axis that extends along a width of the implant between the anterior wall and the posterior wall is generally linear.

14. The implant of claim 13, wherein the implant is configured for lateral or translateral insertion into the intervertebral space.

15. The implant of claim 13, wherein the at least one internal chamber does not comprise any interior walls or baffles.

16. The implant of claim 13, wherein the implant comprises at least one radio-opaque marker.

17. The implant of claim 13, wherein the at least one access port comprises a minimum diameter of approximately 6 mm.

18. The implant of claim 13, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the at least one access port to a height of the lateral walls is between approximately 0.4 and 0.8.

19. The implant of claim 18, wherein a minimum ratio of a diameter of the at least one access port to a height of the lateral walls is approximately 0.5.

20. A spinal implant configured for placement within an intervertebral space, between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body, of a subject, comprising:

an anterior wall and a posterior wall, the posterior wall being generally opposite of said anterior wall;

a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall extending between the anterior wall and the posterior wall;

the anterior wall, the posterior wall, the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall defining at least one internal chamber, wherein the implant comprises a lateral lumbar implant that is configured to be inserted into an intervertebral space using a lateral delivery approach; and

at least one access port extending through the first lateral wall or the second lateral wall, the at least one access port configured to releasably secure the implant to a delivery tool for advancing the implant into the intervertebral space of the subject;

wherein the implant is sized, shaped and configured to laterally span across the first and second vertebral bodies when the implant is inserted using a lateral delivery approach;

wherein each of the first and second lateral walls is configured to generally align with peripheral bearing areas of the first and second vertebral bodies and to support adjacent cortical rims of the first and second vertebral bodies, wherein the adjacent cortical rims are located near the lateral, circumferential ends of the first and second vertebral bodies, such that, after implantation, a bearing load created by the adjacent vertebral bodies is concentrated toward the walls of the implant;

wherein a length of the first and second lateral walls is a minimum of 12% of an overall length of the implant; and

wherein an axis that extends along a width of the implant between the anterior wall and the posterior wall is generally linear.