US 7,169,183 B2 · Vertebral implant for promoting arthrodesis of the spine

Abstract

This invention provides a vertebral implant for impaction in a disc space to restore and/or maintain desired disc space height and spinal orientation. The implant has an elongated basis body having a generally lens-shape provided by convex upper and lower surfaces. Bearing surfaces are provided on the cross-edge surfaces of the endwalls. Grooves are provided in the upper and lower surfaces positioned between the bearing surfaces. The implant can be prepared from a wide variety of materials including metallic materials, synthetic materials, polymeric materials, ceramic materials, and composite materials including reinforced materials i.e. glass, fiber, and/or carbon fiber reinforced materials (CFRP). These preferred materials for fabricating implants in the present invention reduce costs, increase service life and provide excellent physiological compatibility. The non-metallic material can be selected to be either a substantially permanent material, a biodegradable material or a bioerodable material. Further, the implant material can be provided to be radio opaque to facilitate monitoring of bone ingrowth both into the implant and between the opposing endplates of the adjacent vertebrae.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A vertebral implant for installation in a disc space comprising a box-shaped, elongated basis body defining a longitudinal axis, which is provided with a cavity extending transverse to the longitudinal axis and through upper and lower bearing surfaces, which cavity is bordered by two planar walls located opposite one another and extending along said longitudinal axis and between said upper and lower bearing surfaces, each of said planar walls having substantially smooth portions extending around said cavity and said planar walls extend between two frontal walls located opposite one another on opposite sides of said cavity, whose crosswise-extending edge surfaces serve as contact surfaces between the vertebrae and the vertebral implant, wherein the two frontal walls of the cavity are formed thicker than both of the longitudinal walls, thereby widening their crosswise-extending edge surfaces, and wherein the implant is made of synthetic material and a groove is formed in each of the crosswise-extending edge surfaces of both of the frontal walls, which groove extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the basis body, wherein the basis body has receiving means on one frontal end portion for receiving a hand tool such that, with this, a rotational moment about the longitudinal axis of the basis body can be exerted on the basis body and the receiving means has an outwardly open hole formed in the middle of the frontal wall of the basis body and two grooves formed to the side of the hole in the frontal wall of the basis body, which hole is open toward the outside.

An intervertebral implant provided for impaction into a disc space between adjacent vertebrae, said implant defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:

at least one tissue-receiving groove extending transverse to said longitudinal axis;
an elongated cavity bounded by a first endwall at a leading end of the implant and an opposite second endwall at a trailing end of the implant, said first endwall defining a first bearing surface and an opposite second bearing surface and said second endwall defining a third bearing surface and an opposite fourth bearing surface;
an upper surface extending between said first endwall and said second endwall and having an arcuate portion adapted to engage an inferior endplate of a first vertebra;
and an opposite lower surface extending between said first endwall and said second endwall and having an arcuate portion adapted to engage a superior endplate of second vertebrae, wherein said upper and lower surfaces are formed along edges of planar sidewalls on opposite sides of said cavity extending along said longitudinal axis between said first and second endwalls, said sidewalls joining said upper and lower surfaces in a rounded over edge and defining substantially smooth upper and lower surfaces between said cavity and each of said sidewalls, said first endwall further including opposing rounded corners extending from said leading end toward a respective one of said sidewalls, wherein at least one of said first and second end walls include at least one groove extending thereacross in a respective one of said bearing surfaces thereof, wherein said first, second, third and fourth bearing surfaces are each convexly curved along said longitudinal axis and said upper and lower surfaces are substantially smooth and convexly curved between respective ones of said first and third bearing surfaces and said second and fourth bearing surfaces.

1 more element

An implant for promoting fusion between adjacent vertebrae, said implant comprising:

an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and having an elongated opening extending therethrough transverse to the longitudinal axis, said body comprising:
a first supporting endwall terminating said body on a first end, said first supporting endwall including convexly curved upper and lower bearing surfaces extending from said opening to rounded over edges at a leading end spaced from said opening along said longitudinal axis;
an opposite second supporting endwall terminating said body on a second end, said first and second supporting endwalls positioned substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis and adapted to bear against cortical bone tissue in opposing endplates of the adjacent vertebrae,
a first planar sidewall and an opposite second planar sidewall extending along said axis on opposite sides of said opening and interconnecting said first supporting endwall and said second supporting endwall, wherein said body includes at least one tissue receiving groove extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall in at least one of said upper and lower bearing surfaces of said first supporting endwall and rounded corners about said first supporting endwall extending from said leading end toward respective ones of said first and second sidewalls and said sidewalls each include upper and lower surfaces along said opening that are smooth, wherein the first and second sidewalls each terminate in upper arcuate edge and an opposite lower arcuate edge in a direction along said longitudinal axis.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vertebral implant for promoting arthrodesis of the spine

Life of this patent

Vertebral implant for promoting arthrodesis of the spine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42