US 10,376,380 B2 · Devices and methods for cervical lateral fixation

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for treatment of the cervical spine. The devices and methods allow for treatment to be delivered from a lateral or posterior-lateral location of a subject, proximate to the cervical region of the spine. One exemplary embodiment of a spinal implant includes an elongate cage member and a plate member appended to a proximal end of the cage member. The plate member can be oriented in a manner such that it is asymmetric with respect to a long axis of the cage member. In another exemplary embodiment, an implant includes a cage member having a distal end that has an asymmetrical, bulleted shape such that the distal end is biased towards a superior or cranial direction. In a third exemplary embodiment, an implant includes a spinal fixation element and at least two mounting eyelets formed thereon. Exemplary methods related to implanting spinal implants from a lateral or posterior-lateral location are also provided.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A spinal implant, comprising:

an elongate cage member having distal and proximal ends and an external surface extending therebetween, the external surface being defined by a generally concave superior surface, a generally convex inferior surface, an anterior wall, and a posterior wall, the cage having a hollow interior and a plurality of openings formed in the external surface;
wherein the inferior surface located at the distal end of the elongate cage member is biased in a superior direction towards the superior surface located at the distal end of the elongate cage member, the bias of the inferior surface being greater than a bias in the superior direction of the superior surface located at the distal end of the elongate cage member such that the distal end of the elongate cage member has an asymmetrical, bulleted shape.

An elongate cage member, comprising:

a distal insertion end;
a proximal anchoring end opposed to the distal insertion end;
a superior surface extending between the distal insertion end and the proximal anchoring end;
an inferior surface extending between the distal insertion end and the proximal anchoring end, the inferior surface being opposed to the superior surface;
a curved anterior wall extending between the distal insertion end and the proximal anchoring end and the superior surface and the inferior surface;
a curved posterior wall extending between the distal insertion end and the proximal anchoring end and the superior surface and the inferior surface, the curved posterior wall being opposed to the curved anterior wall,
wherein a radius of curvature of a distal portion of the inferior surface at the distal insertion end is greater than a radius of curvature of a distal portion of the superior surface at the distal insertion end, the distal portions of the inferior and superior surfaces being opposed to each other.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Devices and methods for cervical lateral fixation

Life of this patent

Devices and methods for cervical lateral fixation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18