Spinal fusion system and method for fusing spinal bones
AssigneeX-spine Systems, Inc.
InventorDavid Louis Kirschman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a spinal fusion system and method for use as a prosthetic implant. The system and method includes a housing dimensioned to be situated between adjacent spinal bones, such as adjacent vertebrae. The housing cooperates with the spinal bones to define a graft area for receiving graft material, which may be inserted anteriorly into the housing during a surgical operation such as a vertebrectomy or discectomy. A housing may have various features such as migration preventers to prevent the housing from migrating posteriorly towards a spinal column during or after insertion of the housing; a plurality of projections or crossbars may be removably inserted into the housing and can be used with a cover that permits the housing to “float” relative thereto.
Claims172
A spinal fusion system for use as a prosthetic implant comprising:
- a housing dimensioned to be situated between adjacent spinal bones, said housing defining a graft area;
- said housing comprising at least one wall that defines an opening after said housing is situated between said adjacent spinal bones to permit in-situ loading of graft material;
- a cover for covering said opening to facilitate preventing anterior migration of said graft material;
- and
- said cover adapted to be secured to at least one of said adjacent spinal bones such that it permits said housing to migrate or float relative to said cover.
A spinal bones fusing system comprising:
- a housing adapted to be situated between a first spinal bone and a second spinal bone;
- said housing being generally U-shaped and cooperating with said first and second spinal bones to define an opening that opens into a graft area for receiving graft material;
- and
- a cover for covering said opening to facilitate preventing anterior migration of said graft material;
- said cover being adapted to be secured to at least one of said first or second spinal bones such that it permits said housing to migrate or float relative to said cover while said cover is covering said opening.
A method for fusing spinal bones together, comprising the steps of:
- situating a cage in a graft area between spinal bones, said cage adapted to cooperate with said spinal bones to define an anterior opening for introducing graft material into said graft area;
- situating said graft material through said anterior opening and into said graft area;
- and
- covering said anterior opening with a cover;
- said cover adapted to be secured to at least one of said spinal bones such that it permits said cage to migrate or float relative to said cover while covering said anterior opening.
An implant for facilitating grafting spinal bones together, comprising:
- a housing for situating between said spinal bones, said housing cooperating with said spinal bones to define a graft area and an opening for introducing graft material into said graft opening;
- and
- a cover adapted to be secured to said spinal bones;
- said cover not being secured to said housing and substantially simultaneously covering said opening after said graft material is situated in said graft area such that it permits said housing to migrate or float relative to said cover mounted over said opening.
A method for fusing spinal bones together, comprising the steps of:
- providing a housing for situating between spinal bones, said housing cooperating with said spinal bones to define an opening for introducing graft material into said graft area after said housing is situated between said spinal bones;
- enabling said graft material to be introduced through said opening and into said graft area after said housing is situated between said spinal bones;
- and
- providing a plate adapted to be secured to said spinal bones to fix said spinal bones into a predetermined position relative to each other and to facilitate covering said opening after said graft material is introduced into said graft area such that said housing can float or migrate relative to said plate.
A spinal fusion system for use as a prosthetic implant comprising:
- a housing dimensioned to be situated between adjacent spinal bones, said housing defining a graft area for receiving a graft or graft-like material for generating a fusion between said adjacent spinal bones;
- said housing comprising at least one wall that defines an opening after said housing is situated between said adjacent spinal bones to permit post-placement loading of graft material;
- a cover for covering said opening to facilitate preventing anterior migration of said graft material;
- and
- said cover being adapted to be secured to at least one of said adjacent spinal bones such that it permits said housing to migrate or float relative to said cover.
A method for fusing spinal bones together, comprising the steps of:
- removal of diseased or injured spinal bones and/or vertebral disks;
- situating either a single cage or a plurality of cages between remaining spinal bones, said cage or cages cooperating with said spinal bones to define an anterior opening for introducing graft or graft-like material with the purpose of generating a fusion between adjacent spinal bones into said graft area;
- situating graft material through said anterior opening and into said graft area;
- covering said anterior opening with a cover such that said cover permits either said single cage or said plurality of cages to migrate or float relative to said cover while performing said covering step;
- and
- securing said cover to a plurality of spinal bones.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.