Minimally invasive interbody device and method

• US 8,043,381 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maertens, John, Hestad, Hugh D., Hudgins, Robert Garryl
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert; Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHNEIDER, LYNNSY M
• Application Number:
  US11/926,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 623/7, 623/8, 604 9601-10314, 604104-109, 606/90, 606 92- 94, 606/192, 606/195, 606/202
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30586 having two or more inflatable pockets or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped

Abstract

Methods and devices for insertion between adjacent vertebrae in a spine following removing at least a portion of a nucleus from within a disc. In one embodiment, the device includes a member having a flexible wall surrounding an internal volume and a coupler that is secured to the flexible wall. The member is adapted to expand when filled with a first filler material to form an interior cavity. The coupler has a first access point, a second access point, a first coupler side hole, and an optional second coupler side hole. The first and second access points are adapted to removably receive one or more fill tubes. The fill tubes cooperate with the first and optional second coupler side holes to direct the first filler material into the internal volume and a second filler material into the interior cavity.

Claims

1. An orthopedic system adapted for insertion between adjacent vertebrae in a spine, the system comprising:

an annular member having a flexible wall surrounding an internal volume, the annular member having first and second ends and being adapted to expand when filled with a first filler material thereby forming an interior cavity;

a coupler positioned between and spacing apart the first and second ends of the annular member, the coupler connecting the first and second ends of the annular member, the coupler comprising a rigid material, the coupler having a first access point, a second access point, a first coupler side hole, and an optional second coupler side hole adapted to removably receive one or more fill tubes that cooperate with the first and optional second coupler side holes to direct the first filler material into the internal volume and that cooperate to direct a second filler material into the interior cavity, wherein the coupler includes an annular flange;

a member fill tube defining a first passage and adapted for removable cooperation with the coupler via the first access point, the member fill tube having a closed proximal end and one or more side holes adjacent the proximal end, the member fill tube configured such that when the member fill tube is inserted into the coupler, the closed proximal end abuts the annular flange and is prevented from extending through the second access point, and the one or more side holes of the member fill tube are in fluid communication with the internal volume via the first coupler side hole, and the optional second coupler side hole; and

a cavity fill tube defining a second passage and adapted for removable cooperation with the coupler via the first access point and the second access point such that when the cavity fill tube is inserted into the coupler, an opening at a proximal end of the cavity fill tube is in fluid communication with the interior cavity via the second passage and the second access point, wherein the proximal end of the cavity fill tube is sized such that the annular flange on the coupler prevents the cavity fill tube from extending through the second access point.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a plurality of endplate anchors attached to the flexible wall, the endplate anchors being adapted to engage an endplate of the adjacent vertebrae.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first filler material comprises a first elastomeric material and the second filler material comprises a second elastomeric material that is more elastic than the first elastomeric material.