US 8,075,596 B2 · Spinal prosthesis systems

Abstract

A spinal prosthesis system includes: an anterior portion having an upper component and a lower component, the upper and lower components capable of relative movement about a first point; a posterior portion separate from the anterior portion, the posterior portion having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper and lower portions capable of relative movement concentric to the upper and lower components about the first point. In another form, a method includes: determining a motion profile of a vertebral motion segment; determining a point of rotation based upon the motion profile; and manufacturing a spinal stabilization system having an anterior portion and a posterior portion, the anterior and posterior portions each having a center of rotation located at the point of rotation.

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Drawings

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method of implanting a spinal stabilization system into a vertebral motion segment having a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, the method comprising:

providing a spinal stabilization system, the spinal stabilization system having an anterior portion and separate first and second posterior portions;
the anterior portion having an upper component and a lower component capable of spherical relative movement about an anterior center of rotation, each of the first and second posterior portions having an upper rod portion with an elongated upper articulation surface that is curved along its length and width and a lower rod portion with an elongated lower articulation surface that is curved along its length and width, the elongated upper and lower articulation surfaces articulatingly mating such that the upper and lower rod portions are capable of spherical relative movement about a posterior center of rotation defined by the elongated upper and lower articulation surfaces;
inserting the anterior portion into an anterior section of the vertebral motion segment such that the upper component engages the superior vertebra, the lower component engages the inferior vertebra, and the upper and lower components undergo spherical relative movement about a first point defined by the anterior center of rotation;
identifying the location of the first point relative to the vertebral motion segment;
inserting the first posterior portion into a first posterior section of the vertebral motion segment such that the posterior center of rotation of the first posterior portion is aligned with the first point and such that the elongated upper and lower articulation surfaces of the first posterior portion are a first distance from the first point;
fixedly securing the upper rod portion of the first posterior portion to the superior vertebra and fixedly securing the lower rod portion of the first posterior portion to the inferior vertebra such that the posterior center of rotation of the first posterior portion is maintained in alignment with the first point and such that the elongated upper and lower articulation surfaces of the first posterior portion are maintained at the first distance from the first point;
inserting the second posterior portion into a second posterior section of the vertebral motion segment such that the posterior center of rotation of the second posterior portion is aligned with the first point and such that the elongated upper and lower articulation surfaces of the second posterior portion are a second distance from the first point, the second distance being greater than the first distance;
and
fixedly securing the upper rod portion of the second posterior portion to the superior vertebra and fixedly securing the lower rod portion of the second posterior portion to the inferior vertebra such that the posterior center of rotation of the second posterior portion is maintained in alignment with the first point and such that the elongated upper and lower articulation surfaces of the second posterior portion are maintained at the second distance from the first point.

6 more elements

A method of implanting a spinal stabilization system into a vertebral motion segment having a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, the method comprising:

inserting an anterior portion of a spinal stabilization system into an anterior section of the vertebral motion segment such that an upper component of the anterior portion engages the superior vertebra, a lower component of the anterior portion engages the inferior vertebra, and the upper and lower components undergo spherical relative movement about an anterior point of rotation defined by the anterior portion of the spinal stabilization system;
fixedly securing a first posterior portion of the spinal stabilization system to a first posterior section of the vertebral motion segment such that a first posterior center of rotation of the first posterior portion is aligned with the anterior point of rotation and such that elongated upper and lower articulation surfaces of the first posterior portion articulatingly mate at a first distance from the anterior point of rotation such that the upper and lower articulation surfaces undergo spherical relative movement about the anterior point of rotation;
fixedly securing a second posterior portion of the spinal stabilization system to a second posterior section of the vertebral motion segment such that a second posterior center of rotation of the second posterior portion is aligned with the anterior point of rotation and such that elongated upper and lower articulation surfaces of the second posterior portion articulatingly mate at a second distance from the anterior point of rotation such that the upper and lower articulation surfaces undergo spherical relative movement about the anterior point of rotation, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,089 words

Summary229 words

#Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to devices and methods for accomplishing spinal surgery, and more particularly in some embodiments, to devices and methods relating to spinal prosthesis systems having anterior and posterior portions with a concentric (i.e., same) center of rotation.

#Spinal implants are often comprised of multiple components. For example, some spinal implants include anterior and posterior portions that are each configured to preserve at least some vertebral motion. However, the anterior and posterior portions can adversely affect each other during motion by placing undesirable loads on the opposing portion. Although existing devices and methods have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been entirely satisfactory in all respects.

#In one embodiment, a spinal prosthesis having a motion-preserving anterior portion and a motion-preserving posterior portion is provided. The anterior and posterior portions function so as not to adversely affect one another during motion.

Brief description of the drawings9 figures

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an arrangement that embodies aspects of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 1 taken along section line 2-2.

#FIG. 2B is a sectional view of an arrangement similar to FIG. 2A, but showing an alternative embodiment.

Detailed description4,711 words

#For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments, or examples, illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the embodiments. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an arrangement 10 that embodies aspects of the present invention. The arrangement 10 includes a vertebra 12, a vertebra 14, and an apparatus 15. FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the arrangement 10 of FIG. 1 taken along section line 2-2. FIG. 3 is diagrammatic posterior view of the arrangement 10 of FIG. 1.

#Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the vertebra 12 includes a spinous process 16, a left pedicle 18, a right pedicle 19, and an inferior endplate 20. Similarly, the vertebra 14 includes a spinous process 22, a left pedicle 24, a right pedicle 26, and a superior endplate 28.

Facts

Application

11/622,778Filed 12 Jan 2007

Published

US 2008/0172090 A117 Jul 2008

Granted

13 Dec 2011

Term ends

1 Apr 2029

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 810 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification12 codes

A61F 2/4405
For the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs: for apophyseal or facet joints, i.e. between adjacent spinous or transverse processes
A61B 17/7025
Longitudinal elements having flexible parts, or parts connected together, such that after implantation the elements can move relative to each…
A61F 2/4425
Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient: made of articulated components
A61B 17/7032
Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae: screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which…

Timeline

12 Jan 2007Application filedUS 11/622,778
12 Jan 2007Assigned to Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
17 Jul 2008PublishedUS 2008/0172090 A1
13 Dec 2011GrantedUS 8,075,596 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
1 Apr 2029Term endsEstimated, includes 810 days of adjustment

Spinal prosthesis systems

Life of this patent

Spinal prosthesis systems

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims27

Description5,089 words

Drawings

Classification12 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,089 words