# US 9,039,768 B2 · Composite vertebral spacers and instrument

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- Number: US 9,039,768 B2
- Document ID: US9039768B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/615,077
- Filed: 2006-12-22
- Published: 2008-06-26
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2006-12-22
- Assignees: Medos International Sarl
- Applicants: John C Voellmicke
- Inventors: John C Voellmicke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039768B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/4455: {for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442)}
- A61F 2/442: {Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient (non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455)}
- A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section}
- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- A61F 2/28: Bones
- A61F 2002/2817: {Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]}
- A61F 2002/2835: {Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material}
- A61F 2002/30062: {(bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive}
- A61F 2002/30112: {Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners}
- A61F 2002/30131: {horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped}
- A61F 2002/30166: {H-shaped or I-shaped}
- A61F 2002/30433: {using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws}
- A61F 2002/30471: {connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type}
- A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices}
- A61F 2002/30672: {temporary}
- A61F 2002/30772: {Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section}
- A61F 2002/3082: {Grooves}
- A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes}
- A61F 2002/30904: {serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed}
- A61F 2002/4627: {with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument}
- A61F 2002/4629: {connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection}
- A61F 2210/0004: bioabsorbable
- A61F 2220/0041: using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
- A61F 2220/0091: connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
- A61F 2230/0004: Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners
- A61F 2230/0013: Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
- A61F 2230/0028: Shapes in the form of latin or greek characters
- A61F 2250/0059: temporary
- A61F 2310/00011: Metals or alloys
- A61F 2310/00179: Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
- A61F 2310/00359: Bone or bony tissue
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

An intervertebral fusion cage that is adapted to contain an inserter within its inner volume during insertion of the cage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An intervertebral fusion cage, comprising:
a) a leading end having a right and left end, a front surface and a back surface, the back surface being adapted for reception of a rod, wherein the leading end has an upper surface and a lower surface that are each free of teeth,
b) first and second support members extending backwards from the right and left ends and terminating in a respective back surface, each member having an upper and lower surface adapted for bearing against and gripping adjacent vertebral bodies,
c) an open trailing end formed by the back surfaces of the support members,
wherein the first support member extends backwards exclusively from the right end,
wherein the second support member extends backwards exclusively from the left end, and
wherein each of the upper and lower surfaces of each support member comprise a plurality of teeth extending therefrom.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cage of claim 1 wherein each support member further comprises a side surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces, each side surface having at least one transverse hole therethrough.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cage of claim 1 wherein the back surface of the leading end forms a recess for reception of the rod.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cage of claim 1 wherein the back surface of the leading end forms a threaded recess for reception of the rod.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The cage of claim 1 wherein the back surface of the leading end forms a concave recess for reception of the rod.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The cage of claim 1 wherein the back surfaces of the support members are adapted for bearing against an inserter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The cage of claim 1 wherein the back surface of each support member has a concave recess.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The cage of claim 1 wherein the ends of the leading end and the support members are integrally connected.

### Claim 9

An assembly comprising:
a) an intervertebral fusion cage having a leading end and a trailing end having a pair of back surfaces having a respective recess, and
b) an inserter comprising:
i) a cannula having a bore therethrough, a distal end face and at least two extensions extending distally from the distal end face, each extension having a leading end bearing against the back surface of the respective recess of the trailing end of the cage, and
ii) a rod slidably received within the bore of the cannula, the rod having a distal end bearing against the leading end of the cage,
wherein each extension extends towards the leading end of the cage.

### Claim 10

An intervertebral fusion cage, comprising:
a) a leading end having a right and left end , a front surface and a back surface, wherein the front surface of the leading end is tapered,
b) first and second support members extending backwards from the right and left ends and terminating in a respective back surface, each member having an upper and lower surface adapted for bearing against and gripping adjacent vertebral bodies,
c) an open trailing end formed by the back surfaces of the support members, and
d) a strut connecting the first and second support members, the strut being located between the leading end and the open trailing end of the cage, the strut having a trailing end being adapted for reception of an inserter rod,
wherein the trailing end of the cage and the trailing end of the strut each face away from the leading end,
wherein the strut has a threaded hole adapted for threaded reception of the rod.