Inter-body implant

• US 9,877,844 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2014
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R Tree Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: R Tree Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Puno, Rolando M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Olivia C
• Application Number:
  US14/331,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20140330384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/708 with tubular extensions coaxially mounted on the bone anchors
• 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 2/46 Special tools or methods for implanting or extracting artificial joints, accessories, bone grafts or substitutes, or particular adaptations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• 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 2002/30056 differing in radiographic density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30365 with additional means for limiting said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30571 Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• 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 2002/30624 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 2002/30672 : temporary
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30808 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30879 : Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 : elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• 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 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• 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 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0032 : differing in radiographic density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

A system for implanting an inter-body device between adjacent vertebrae comprises an inter-body device having a plurality of cans secured to a flexible bridge and having a relief portion therebetween. An inserter tube and complementary bullnoses are advantageously secured to the vertebrae by an extension arm for securing the assembly precisely in place. A plurality of articulating trial implants are provided to test fit a disc space for the proper sized inter-body device.

Claims

1. An interbody device for insertion into a disc space and replacing a disc between adjacent vertebrae or fusing adjacent vertebrae comprising:

a pair of spaced cans spaced apart from each other and connected to each other by a flexible bridge, each of the pair of cans having an upper and lower surface for contacting said adjacent vertebrae, and each having an anterior and posterior wall disposed between the upper and lower surfaces, and wherein one of the pair of cans is a proximal can, the proximal can disposed on a proximal end of the interbody device and wherein the other of the pair of cans is a distal can, the distal can disposed on a distal end of the interbody device;

a pair of passageways generally parallel to each other wherein one of the pair of passageways is adjacent the anterior wall of each of the pair of cans and the other of the pair of passageways is adjacent the posterior wall of each of the pair of cans; and

a suture running through both pairs of passageways so as to engage a distal end of the distal can.

2. An interbody device for insertion into a disc space and replacing a disc between adjacent vertebrae or fusing adjacent vertebrae comprising:

a first can having upper and lower surfaces for contacting adjacent vertebrae, a distal and proximal end, and an anterior wall;

a second can having upper and lower surfaces for contacting adjacent vertebrae, a distal and proximal end and an anterior wall, said distal end of said second can spaced from said proximal end of said first can by a predetermined distance;

a flexible bridge secured to the distal end of said first can and to the proximal end of said second can, wherein a relief space is defined by the area between said bridge and the anterior walls of said first and second cans;

a pair of passageways generally parallel to each other wherein one of the pair of passageways is adjacent the anterior wall of the first and second cans and the other of the pair of passageways is adjacent the posterior wall of the first and second cans; and

a second flexible bridge secured to the distal end of said first can and to the proximal end of said second can, wherein a second relief space is defined by the area between said flexible bridge, said second flexible bridge, and the anterior walls of said first and second cans.

3. An interbody device for insertion into a disc space and replacing a disc between adjacent vertebrae or fusing adjacent vertebrae comprising:

a first can having upper and lower surfaces for contacting adjacent vertebrae, a distal and proximal end, and an anterior wall;

a second can having upper and lower surfaces for contacting adjacent vertebrae, a distal and proximal end and an anterior wall, said distal end of said second can spaced from said proximal end of said first can by a predetermined distance;

a flexible bridge secured to the distal end of said first can and to the proximal end of said second can, wherein a relief space is defined by the area between said bridge and the anterior walls of said first and second cans;

a pair of passageways generally parallel to each other wherein one of the pair of passageways is adjacent the anterior wall of the first and second cans and the other of the pair of passageways is adjacent the posterior wall of the first and second cans; and

wherein the first can includes a beveled distal edge portion to facilitate insertion of said device in said disc space.

4. An interbody device for insertion into a disc space and replacing a disc between adjacent vertebrae or fusing adjacent vertebrae comprising:

a first can having upper and lower surfaces for contacting adjacent vertebrae, a distal and proximal end, and an anterior wall;

a second can having upper and lower surfaces for contacting adjacent vertebrae, a distal and proximal end and an anterior wall, said distal end of said second can spaced from said proximal end of said first can by a predetermined distance;

a flexible bridge secured to the distal end of said first can and to the proximal end of said second can, wherein a relief space is defined by the area between said bridge and the anterior walls of said first and second cans;

a pair of passageways generally parallel to each other wherein one of the pair of passageways is adjacent the anterior wall of the first and second cans and the other of the pair of passageways is adjacent the posterior wall of the first and second cans; and

a suture running through both pairs of passageways so as to engage a distal end of the first can.