US 8,409,283 B2Granted

Vertebral implant end cap

AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

InventorsThomas E. Drochner, Michael J. Merves, Bret M. Wilfong

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An implant and method for insertion between adjacent vertebral members. The implant comprising an implant body with a base section having a plurality of base extensions, and an end cap adapted for selective axial positioning at a selected point on the base section and subsequent rotational adjustment about an implant axis. The end cap also comprising a fixed aperture and a variable aperture, both configured to receive and lockingly engage corresponding base extensions to securely maintain the end cap positioned on the base section. The fixed and variable passages are configured and located to permit rotational end cap adjustment. The implant imparts end cap height and angulation to an adjacent vertebral body at the selected or desired point when the implant is positioned and lockingly engaged in the intervertebral space.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An implant for insertion into an intervertebral space between a first and second vertebral member, the implant comprising:

an implant body comprising a base section, the base section comprising at least a first base tooth and a second base tooth;
an end cap adapted for selective axial positioning at a selected point on the base section, the end cap comprising
an exterior contact surface that faces away from the implant body when the end cap is positioned on the base section,
a seating surface adapted to contact the base section when the end cap is positioned on the implant body,
an end cap angulation,
a fixed aperture extending through the exterior contact surface and the seating surface adapted to receive a corresponding first base tooth, and
a variable aperture extending through the exterior contact surface and the seating surface adapted to receive a corresponding second base tooth;
wherein the fixed aperture and variable aperture are configured to complementarily engage corresponding first and second base teeth to securely maintain the end cap positioned on the base section;
and
wherein the implant imparts the end cap angulation to an adjacent vertebral body at the selected point when the implant is positioned in the intervertebral space.

7 more elements

An end cap adapted for use with an implant having an implant body with at least one base section having a plurality of base extensions, the end cap comprising:

an exterior contact surface;
a seating surface;
a substantially vertical exterior cap wall extending between the exterior contact surface and the seating surface;
a fixed aperture extending through the exterior contact surface and the seating surface adapted to receive a corresponding first base extension, and
a variable aperture extending through the exterior contact surface and the seating surface adapted to receive a corresponding second base extension;
wherein the fixed aperture and variable aperture are configured to complementarily engage corresponding first and second base extensions to securely maintain the end cap positioned on the base section;
wherein the fixed and variable apertures enable the end cap to be axially positioned at a selected point on the implant base section;
and
wherein the end cap positioned on the implant imparts an end cap angulation to an adjacent vertebral body at the selected point when the implant is axially placed and rotationally positioned in an intervertebral space.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/845,891Filed 29 Jul 2010
Published: US 2012/0029634 A12 Feb 2012
Granted: 2 Apr 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification33 codes

A61F 2/4455
For the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs: for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion…
A61F 2/30744
Accessories: end caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
A61F 2002/2835
Bones: bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
A61F 2002/30092
Properties of materials and coating materials: using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol