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US 2012/0078371 A1Published application
Fusion cage with in-line single piece fixation
AssigneeDePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
InventorsThomas Gamache, Joseph Childs, Matthew Parsons, Kevin Flaherty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for securing a intervertebral cage to one or more levels of the spine with fixation. The fixation, which is typically a staple, is intended to be driven perpendicular to the proximal face of the cage and in-line with the inserter. After the cage is placed and positioned according to surgeon preference, a single piece fixation clip is then deployed and fixed in a manner that produces a zero-profile device.
Claims38
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall having an anterior face having a recess therein, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, the cage having an anterior end, b) a staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom,
- wherein at least a portion of the first crossbar of the staple is disposed in the recess in the anterior face of the anterior wall, and
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage,
- wherein the anterior face is the anterior end of the cage.
1 more element
A two piece intervertebral fusion device consisting of:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall having an anterior face having a recess therein, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface,
- b) a staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom,
- wherein at least a portion of the first crossbar of the staple is disposed in the recess in the anterior face of the anterior wall, and
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage.
1 more element
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface,
- b) a single staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom,
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage,
- wherein the staple comprises a shape memory material defining a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein at least one tyne forms a first angle with the crossbar in the first configuration and a second angle with the crossbar in the second configuration,
- wherein the second angle is less than the first angle.
2 more elements
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface,
- b) a single staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom,
- wherein the first crossbar of the staple is connected to the anterior wall of the cage, and
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage,
- wherein a proximal portion of the first tyne extends in a first direction and a distal portion of the first tyne extends in a second direction, the second direction being more parallel to the upper surface of the cage than the first direction.
2 more elements
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface,
- b) a single staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom,
- wherein the first crossbar of the staple is connected to the anterior wall of the cage, and
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage,
- wherein a proximal portion of the first tyne extends away from the cage and a distal portion of the first tyne extends towards the cage.
2 more elements
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface,
- b) a staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom, each tyne having a distal end,
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage,
- wherein the staple comprises a shape memory material defining a first configuration and a second configuration,
- wherein the distal ends of the tynes in the first configuration are separated by a first distance, and wherein the distal ends of the tynes in the second configuration are separated by a second distance,
- wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.
3 more elements
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall having an anterior face having a recess therein, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface,
- b) a staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom, the cross bar comprising an intermediate portion,
- c) a set screw passing through the staple,
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage, and
- wherein both the set screw and the intermediate portion of the first crossbar of the staple are fully disposed in the recess in the anterior face of the anterior wall.
2 more elements
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall having an anterior face having a recess therein, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface,
- b) a staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom, the first crossbar having a posterior face,
- wherein at least a portion of the first crossbar of the staple is disposed in the recess in the anterior face of the anterior wall, and
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage,
- wherein the posterior face of the crossbar forms a sharp blade.
2 more elements
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall having an anterior face having a recess therein, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, the cage having an anterior end,
- b) a staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom, each tyne having a proximal portion and a distal portion
- wherein at least a portion of the first crossbar of the staple is disposed in the recess in the anterior face of the anterior wall, and
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage,
- wherein the distal portion of each tyne forms an enlarged head.
2 more elements
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall having an anterior face having a recess therein, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, the cage having an anterior end,
- b) a staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom, each tyne having a proximal portion and a distal portion,
- wherein at least a portion of the first crossbar of the staple is disposed in the recess in the anterior face of the anterior wall,
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage,
- wherein the distal portion of each tyne forms a plurality of teeth.
2 more elements
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall having an anterior face having a recess therein, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, the cage having an anterior end,
- b) a staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom, each tyne having a proximal portion and a distal portion,
- wherein at least a portion of the first crossbar of the staple is disposed in the recess in the anterior face of the anterior wall,
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage,
- wherein the first and second tynes are in a skewed relation.
2 more elements
An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall having an anterior face having a recess therein, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, the cage having an anterior end,
- b) a staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom,
- wherein at least a portion of the first crossbar of the staple is disposed in the recess in the anterior face of the anterior wall,
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage,
- wherein the crossbar comprises an anterior face having a recess therein adapted for coupling to an inserter instrument.
2 more elements
An intervertebral fusion device consisting of:
- a) an intervertebral fusion cage comprising an anterior wall having an anterior face having a recess therein, a posterior wall, a pair of side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, the cage having an anterior end,
- b) a staple comprising a first crossbar and first and second tynes extending therefrom,
- wherein at least a portion of the first crossbar of the staple is disposed in the recess in the anterior face of the anterior wall,
- wherein the first tyne extends above the upper surface of the cage and the second tyne extends below the bottom surface of the cage.
1 more element
A method of inserting a fusion device into an intervertebral disc space of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- a) selecting a fusion cage having an anterior wall having an anterior face having a recess therein,
- b) inserting the cage into the disc space so that the anterior face faces anteriorly,
- c) placing a staple into the recess in the anterior face to produce a zero profile device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.