Intervertebral implant with fixation mechanism
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorsWilliam D. Armstrong, Gary S. Lindemann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present application is directed to implants for positioned between vertebral members. The implant may include a superior surface to contact against a first vertebral member, and an inferior surface to contact against a second vertebral member. The implant includes a fixation mechanism that is operable to extend a portion of the fixation mechanism into the vertebral members immediately above and below the implanted implant to affix the implant within the vertebral space between such vertebral members. The implant is substantially open in the superior and inferior directions to allow for the introduction of bone growth material within the interior of the implant to help promote fusion between the vertebral members.
Claims19
An implant to fit within an intervertebral space formed between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:
- a body having a walled perimeter being substantially open at its superior and inferior ends, the body including a height defined by a superior surface that contacts the first vertebral member and an inferior surface that contacts the second vertebral member;
- and
- a fixation mechanism having a pair of arms movable from a first position wherein the arms are within the walled perimeter of said body to a second position wherein a portion of said arms extend outside the walled perimeter of said body in superior and inferior directions such that said portions of said arms extend into the first and second vertebral members to affix said implant within the intervertebral space therebetween.
An implant to fit within an intervertebral space formed between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:
- a body having a generally rectangular walled perimeter, the body including a height defined by a superior surface that contacts the first vertebral member and an inferior surface that contacts the second vertebral member, the body being substantially open at its superior and inferior ends;
- and
- a fixation mechanism being operable from outside the perimeter of the body having a pair of arms movable from a first position wherein the arms are within the walled perimeter of said body to a second position wherein a portion of said arms extend outside the walled perimeter of said body in superior and inferior directions such that said portions of said arms extend into the first and second vertebral members to affix said implant within the intervertebral space therebetween.
An implant to fit within an intervertebral space formed between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:
- a body including a superior surface to contact the first vertebral member and an inferior surface to contact the second vertebral member, the body including a generally rectangular walled perimeter open at its superior and inferior ends;
- a screw member with a screw head extending through a wall of the walled perimeter of the body, the screw having a non-threaded shaft portion adjacent the screw head and a threaded shaft portion distal to said screw head extending into the interior of the body;
- a collar provided about the non-threaded shaft portion of the screw, said collar being affixed to the wall of the implant;
- an internally threaded ring provided about the threaded shaft portion of the screw;
- a first and second arm hingedly connected to the collar and ring, each of the first and second arms being provided with first and second arm segments hingedly connected together so that the arm segments can bend relative to one another, the first and second arms being diametrically disposed about the screw shaft in the superior and inferior directions;
- and
- a barb being provided on an end of each of the first arm segments adjacent the second arm segments;
- such that upon rotation of the screw head from outside the implant, the ring moves toward the screw head thereby causing the first and second arm segments of the first and second arms to bend away from each other in the superior and inferior directions whereby when the arms segments are nearest the screw shaft the arm segments and barbs are totally within the perimeter of the walled perimeter of the implant, and when the arm segments have moved farthest away from the screw shaft a portion the arm segments and the barbs are outside the walled perimeter of the body to contact the first and second vertebral members to affix the implant with the intervertebral space between the first and second vertebral members.
An implant to fit within an intervertebral space between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:
- A body having a walled perimeter being substantially open at its superior and inferior ends, the body including a height defined by a superior surface that contacts the first vertebral member and an inferior surface that contacts the second vertebral member;
- and
- A fixation means for securing the implant between the first and second vertebral members, the fixation means being operable, once the implant has been surgically implanted between the first and second vertebral members, to extend a portion thereof into the first and second vertebral members to affix the implant in place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.