Spinal interbody spacers

• US 8,172,902 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MiMedx Processing Services LLC (Mimedx Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spinemedica, LLC (Mimedx Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kapitan, John, Nijenbanning, Gert, Denoziére, Guilhem, Tomko, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRAY, STUART SAMUEL
• Application Number:
  US12/503,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20100016970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606246-250
• US Class Current: 623/17.14
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30014 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30228 Cylinders of elliptical or oval basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30286 barrel-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30354 Cylindrically-shaped protrusion and recess, e.g. cylinder of circular basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30372 with additional means for limiting said translation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30481 using a locking clip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30546 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30568 Multiple spring systems including two or more helical springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30571 Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30573 2-D spiral springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 : with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30581 : having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30586 : having two or more inflatable pockets or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30589 : Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30599 : stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 : Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30937 : with cut-outs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 : having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• 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 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 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0063 : Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 : for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0012 : for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 : differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 : Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

Non-articulating semi-rigid spinal implants include upper and lower rigid endplates that define at least one aligned pair of rigid male and female members. The respective female member having an interior facing cavity and the respective male member facing toward the female cavity. At least one elastic member resides in each female member cavity. The device can include an optional housing with at least one bore for each of the at least one aligned pairs of female and male members. The housing bore is sized and configured to snugly encase each respective aligned pair of endplate male and female members while leaving an upper outer surface of the upper endplate and a lower outer surface of the lower endplate exposed.

Claims

1. A non-articulating semi-rigid spinal implant, comprising:

upper and lower rigid non-articulating endplates that define at least one aligned pair of substantially rigid male and female members, a respective female member having an interior facing cavity and the respective male member facing toward the female cavity; and

at least one elastic member in communication with the male member and/or the female member cavity, wherein the at least one elastic member is a resiliently deformable member that changes shape while residing in the female member cavity and defines a soft stop before the endplates with the respective male and female members bottom out during compressive loading, wherein the semi-rigid spinal implant is a spacer for fusion spinal therapy and has dynamic stabilization,

wherein the lower endplate includes a lower portion with a surface that is configured to contact local bone and a second surface that is vertically spaced apart from and resides above the lower portion, the second surface being attached to the female member, and wherein each respective male member comprises a first end portion that merges into a larger medial portion, with at least one spring held under the larger medial portion about the first end portion, wherein the first end portion of the respective male member is able to travel up and down a distance between about 1-2.5 mm in the respective female interior facing cavity while the at least one spring is held above the respective female cavity under the larger medial portion of the respective male member.

2. A non-articulating semi-rigid spinal implant, comprising:

upper and lower rigid non-articulating endplates that define at least one aligned pair of substantially rigid male and female members, a respective female member having an interior facing cavity and the respective male member facing toward the female cavity; and

at least one elastic member in communication with the male member and/or the female member cavity, wherein the at least one elastic member is a resiliently deformable member that changes shape while residing in the female member cavity and defines a soft stop before the endplates with the respective male and female members bottom out during compressive loading,

wherein the semi-rigid spinal implant is a spacer for fusion spinal therapy and has dynamic stabilization,

wherein the at least one aligned pair of substantially rigid male and female members is at least two pair, with respective male members comprising a first end portion that merges into a larger medial portion and with at least one spring held under the larger medial portion about the first end portion, wherein the first end portion of the respective male member is able to travel up and down a distance between about 1-2.5 mm in the respective female interior facing cavity while the at least one spring is held above the respective female cavity under the larger medial portion of the respective male member, and wherein the at least one elastic member is a resilient plug that resides inside a respective female cavity.

3. A non-articulating semi-rigid PLIF or TLIF interbody spinal spacer, comprising:

upper and lower rigid endplates, one having two spaced apart male members and the other having two spaced apart female members, pairs of the male and female members being longitudinally aligned and slidably engaged, each female member having a cavity facing the respective male member; and

at least one elastic member in communication with the male and female members,

wherein the at least one elastic member comprises a resiliently deformable member that is configured to define a soft stop before the endplates with the respective male and female members bottom out during compressive loading,

wherein respective male members comprise a first end portion that merges into a larger medial portion, the spacer further comprising at least one spring held under the larger medial portion about the first end portion, wherein the first end portion of the respective male member is able to travel up and down a distance between about 1-2.5 mm in the respective female interior facing cavity while the at least one spring is held above the respective female cavity under the larger medial portion of the respective male member, and wherein the at least one elastic member is a resilient plug that resides inside a respective female cavity.