Shock-absorbing intervertebral implant
AssigneeAbbott Spine
InventorsRegis Le Couedic, Jacques Senegas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to an intervertebral implant comprising a spacer designed to be applied between two spinous processes of two vertebrae. The spacer comprises: two elements (10, 12) made of a first material, and each presenting a first end (10a, 12a) and a second end (10b, 12b), said first end (10a, 12a) being securable to a spinous process; and a connection piece (14) made of a second material of greater elastic deformability than said first material, said connection piece interconnecting said second ends (10b, 12b) of said two elements (10, 12) so that the stresses that are exerted on said two elements (10, 12) are damped, and said connection piece enabling said intervertebral implant to limit and brake the relative movements of said vertebrae.
Claims7
1/ An intervertebral implant comprising a spacer designed to be applied between two spinous processes (34, 36) of two vertebrae, the implant being characterized in that said spacer comprises:
- two elements (10, 12) made of a first material, and each presenting a first end securable to a spinous process (34, 36) and a second end (10b, 12b) presenting recesses (16);
- and
- a connection piece (14) made of a second material of greater elastic deformability than said first material, said connection piece interconnecting said second ends (10b, 12b) of said two elements (10, 12), said connection piece presenting projections (18) suitable for being inserted in said recesses (16) so as to increase the bonding forces between the connection piece and said two elements, and said connection piece enabling said intervertebral implant to limit and brake the relative movements of said vertebrae.
2/ An intervertebral implant according to claim 1, characterized in that said recesses (16) and said projections (18) with which they co-operate are oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said spacer.
3/ An intervertebral implant according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said second material of said connection piece (14) is constituted by a body obtained by polymerization.
4/ An intervertebral implant according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first material of said elements (10, 12) is a titanium alloy.
5/ An intervertebral implant according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each first end (10a, 12a) of said two elements (10, 12) forms a notch (10′a, 12′a) between two wings (20, 21, 22, 23) that is suitable for receiving a spinous process (34, 36), and in that said implant further comprises a tie of adjustable length (30, 32) interconnecting said two wings (20, 21;
- 22, 23), said tie (30, 32) surrounding a portion of said spinous process (34, 36) in such a manner as to secure said first end (10a, 12a) to said spinous process (34, 36).
6/ An intervertebral implant according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each first end (10a, 12a) of said two elements forms a notch (10′a, 12′a) between two wings (20, 21, 22, 23) that is suitable for receiving a spinous process (34, 36), and in that said implant further comprises a pin (40) that is suitable for passing laterally through said wings (20, 21, 22, 23) and said process (34, 36) in such a manner as to secure said first end (10a, 12a) to said spinous process (34, 36).
7/ An intervertebral implant according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each first end (10a, 12a) forms a notch (10′a, 12′a) between two wings (20, 21, 22, 23) that is suitable for receiving a spinous process (34, 36), and in that said implant further comprises a clip-forming semicircular part (42) interconnecting said wings (20, 21, 22, 23), said clip (42) surrounding a portion of said spinous process (34, 36) in such a manner as to secure said first end (10a, 12a) to said spinous process (34, 36).