US 6,471,724 B2Granted

Methods and instruments for interbody fusion

AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.

InventorsThomas Zdeblick, Thomas McGahan

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Abstract

A laparoscopic surgical technique is provided for preparing a site for implantation of a novel fusion device or implant. In accordance with one embodiment of the technique, a laparoscope is provided having an outer sleeve with distraction fingers at one end to distract the disc space. The laparoscope provides a sealed working channel to the disc space, through which the disc space is distracted, the vertebral endplates and surrounding disc is reamed, and the fusion device inserted. A distraction plug is provided for centering the outer sleeve and for providing midline distraction of the disc space. In one embodiment, a fusion device includes diverging bone screws passing through an end wall and upper and lower walls of the device to engage the adjacent vertebrae. In another embodiment, a connector plate is engaged to bilaterally position fusion devices to prevent rotation and resist expulsion of the devices from the disc space.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An interbody fusion apparatus for implantation in the disc space between adjacent vertebrae to be fused, comprising:

a hollow body having at least an upper substantially cylindrical portion and a lower substantially cylindrical portion defining an outer diameter greater than the height of the disc space between the adjacent vertebrae, said substantially cylindrical portions each configured to contact a portion of one of the adjacent vertebrae, said body having a first end and an opposite second end and including an end wall at said first end, said end wall defining an upper portion and a lower portion;
a first screw bore defined through said end wall upper portion, said first screw bore defining a first longitudinal axis oriented such that said first longitudinal axis intersects said upper substantially cylindrical portion and a second screw bore defined through said end wall lower portion, said second screw bore defining a second longitudinal axis oriented such that said second longitudinal axis intersects said lower substantially cylindrical portion, the longitudinal axis of said first and second screw bores diverging from each other toward said second end;
and
a first bone screw sized to extend through said first screw bore and project outward from said upper substantially cylindrical portion through a first aperture and a second bone screw sized to extend through said second screw bore and project outward from said lower substantially cylindrical portion through a second aperture disposed generally opposite said first aperture, said bone screws configured to threadedly engage the adjacent vertebrae to retain said hollow body within the disc space.

1 more element

An interbody fusion apparatus for implantation in the disc space between adjacent vertebrae to be fused, comprising:

a hollow body having at least an upper substantially cylindrical portion and a lower substantially cylindrical portion defining an outer diameter greater than the height of the disc space between the adjacent vertebrae, said substantially cylindrical portions each configured to contact a portion of one of the adjacent vertebrae, said body having a first end and an opposite second end and including an end wall at said first end, said end wall defining an upper portion and a lower portion;
a first screw bore defined through said end wall upper portion, said first screw bore defining a first longitudinal axis oriented such that said first longitudinal axis intersects said upper substantially cylindrical portion and a second screw bore defined through said end wall lower portion, said second screw bore defining a second longitudinal axis oriented such that said second longitudinal axis intersects said lower substantially cylindrical portion, the longitudinal axis of said first and second screw bores diverging from each other toward said second end;
and
a first bone screw sized to extend through said first screw bore and project outward from said upper substantially cylindrical portion through a first aperture and a second bone screw sized to extend through said second screw bore and project outward from said lower substantially cylindrical portion through a second aperture, said bone screws configured to threadedly engage the adjacent vertebrae to retain said hollow body within the disc space:
wherein said end wall of said hollow body defines a threaded bore between said two screw bores:
and
wherein said apparatus includes a locking screw configured for engagement within said threaded bore, said locking screw having a head sized to contact each of said two bone screws when said bone screws are extended through a respective one of said two screw bores and when said locking screw is engaged in said threaded

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/781,589Filed 5 Feb 2001 · division
Priority: 27 Mar 1995
Published: US 2001/0005796 A128 Jun 2001
Granted: 29 Oct 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification51 codes

A61B 1/3132
For introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes: for laparoscopy
A61B 1/3135
For introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes: for examination of the epidural or the spinal space
A61B 17/025
For holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors: joint distractors
A61B 17/1671
For particular parts of the body: for the spine

Family

Application08/411,017Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Mar 1995
Application08/604,874Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Feb 1996
Application09/014,901Parent of this division · filed 28 Jan 1998
US 2001/0005796 A1Pre-grant publication · published 28 Jun 2001
US 6,206,922 B1Parent of this division
Application09/014,901Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,782,919 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,471,724 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.