Expandable intervertebral spacers and methods of use

• US 8,372,148 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2011
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Edie, Jason A., Cooper, Lloyd Guyton Bowers, Walker, Don Byron II
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Ellen C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRAY, STUART SAMUEL
• Application Number:
  US13/156,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.12, 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 623/17.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/484 Fluid means, i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• 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 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30581 having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid
• 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 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• 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 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 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00976 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF

Abstract

An intervertebral spacer for positioning between vertebral members. The spacer may include contact surfaces that are configured to contact against the vertebral members. A fluid cylinder may be positioned between the first and second contact surfaces and configured to contain a fluid. The fluid cylinder may include an outer cylinder with an open first end that telescopingly receives an inner cylinder. The spacer is configured to maintain the distance between the contact surfaces at a desired amount.

Claims

1. An intervertebral spacer comprising:

a first contact surface;

a second contact surface;

a fluid chamber positioned between the first and second contact surfaces and configured to contain a fluid, the fluid chamber including an outer member with an open end, a sidewall, and a closed end, the outer member telescopingly receives an inner member;

a slot in the sidewall of the outer member that extends inward from the open end; and

a seal positioned in the slot to prevent the fluid from leaking from the fluid chamber;

a retaining member attached to the outer member with a first section positioned on a first side of the slot and a second section positioned on an opposing second side of the slot; and

wherein the retaining member is rotatably positioned within an opening in the outer member and movable between a first position with a width of the slot being a first distance and a second position with the width of the slot being a smaller second distance.

2. The intervertebral spacer of claim 1, wherein the fluid chamber has a circular cross-sectional shape.

3. The intervertebral spacer of claim 1, further comprising a port that extends through the sidewall of the outer member and includes an inlet, the inlet positioned between the open end and the closed end of the outer member and away from the slot.

4. The intervertebral spacer of claim 1, wherein the outer member is integral with the first contact surface and the inner member is integral with the second contact surface.

5. The intervertebral spacer of claim 1, further comprising a ring seal that extends around an exterior of the inner member and is positioned within the outer member.

6. An intervertebral spacer comprising:

a first contact surface;

a second contact surface;

a fluid chamber positioned between the first and second contact surfaces and configured to contain a fluid, the fluid chamber including an outer member with an open end that telescopingly receives an inner member;

a slot that extends through the outer member and intersects with the fluid chamber; and

an elongated retaining mechanism that extends across the slot and includes longitudinal first and second sections, the first section of the retaining mechanism positioned in the outer member on a first side of the slot and the second section of the retaining mechanism positioned in the outer member on an opposing second side of the slot, the outer member on the first side of the slot being movable relative to the outer member on the opposing second side of the slot to adjust a width of the slot.

7. The intervertebral spacer of claim 6, further comprising a seal positioned in the slot.

8. The intervertebral spacer of claim 7, wherein the seal extends along a sidewall and a closed bottom end of the outer member.

9. The intervertebral spacer of claim 6, wherein the retaining mechanism is a screw with a threaded shaft that engages within threads in an opening of the outer member.

10. The intervertebral spacer of claim 9, wherein the opening of the outer member is spaced away from the fluid chamber.

11. The intervertebral spacer of claim 6, wherein the outer member includes a sidewall that extends between the open end and a closed end, the slot extends inward from the open end along and the sidewall.

12. The intervertebral spacer of claim 6, wherein the outer member is integral with the first contact surface and the inner member is integral with the second contact surface.

13. An intervertebral spacer comprising:

a first contact surface;

a second contact surface;

a fluid chamber positioned between the first and second contact surfaces and configured to contain a fluid, the fluid chamber including an outer member with an open first end that telescopingly receives an inner member;

a slot that extends through the outer member at the open first end and intersects with the fluid chamber;

a seal positioned in the slot to prevent the fluid from leaking from the fluid chamber; and

a screw that extends through an opening in the outer member and across the slot with a first portion of the screw positioned on a first side of the slot and a second portion of the screw positioned on an opposing second side of the slot.

14. The intervertebral spacer of claim 13, wherein the outer member includes a closed second end opposite from the open first end and a sidewall that extends between the ends, the slot extending along the sidewall.

15. The intervertebral spacer of claim 14, wherein the slot further extends along the closed second end.

16. The intervertebral spacer of claim 15, wherein the seal is positioned in the slot and extends along the sidewall and along the closed second end.

17. The intervertebral spacer of claim 14, further comprising a ring seal that extends around an exterior of the inner member and is positioned within the outer member.