Devices and methods for facilitating controlled bone growth or repair

#This invention is directed generally to devices and methods for facilitating bone growth, and, in particular, to bone implantable devices and implantation methodologies that augment beneficial bone growth or repair while limiting bone growth in undesirable directions.

#In orthopedic and neurological surgical procedures it is often important to facilitate the growth or fusion of bony structures. This may entail growth “bone-to-bone” or, depending on the nature of the procedure, bone to device.

#Chronic back problems, for example, cause pain and disability for a large segment of the population. In many cases, such problems are attributable to relative movement between vertebrae in the spine. Spinal surgery includes procedures to stabilize adjacent vertebrae. Common stabilization methods often involve fusing adjacent vertebrae together.

#FIG. 1 anatomically illustrates a bilateral posterior insertion of two inventive spine fusion cages to achieve fusion across the L5/S1 disc space.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of an inventive cage having preselected perforated and non-perforated zones on its outer surface.

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

#Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is important to understand that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction illustrated and the steps described herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

#As used herein the phrases “bone growth inducing agent(s),” “bone growth agent(s),” “bone growth accelerant”, “bone morphogenic protein(s),” and “BMP” refer synonymously to any substance useful in stimulating bone growth, whether a protein or not. Such substances are well known in the art.

#As used herein the terms “carrier” and “carrier material” refer synonymously to any material capable of absorbing or otherwise holding or containing a bone growth inducing agent and which allows for the delivery of such agent to a target bone structure.