Spinal fusion cage and vertebral body clamp
OwnerThomas E. O'Harainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is directed to a fusion cage designed for lateral placement. The cage is roughly rectangular in shape and hollow on the inside to accommodate bone graft material. Staples can be incorporated into the fusion cage to assist in securing the cage in position in the spine. A rod can be attached to the staples to assist in positioning the staples. A cable can be attached to the rod to assist in positioning the cage and to assist in positioning the spine. A lateral plate can be used with the cage to further assist in maintaining the cage and the spine in the desired position.
Claims30
A spinal fusion cage comprising:
- a spinal cage configured to be positioned in an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae, the spinal cage having opposed lateral sides;
- at least one passageway disposed in the spinal cage and extending from one lateral side of the spinal cage to the opposite lateral side of the spinal cage;
- a threaded rod positioned in the at least one passageway, the threaded rod extending beyond the lateral sides of the spinal cage;
- a staple having a base and two spaced apart points extending from the base, a staple rotatably positioned on the threaded rod adjacent each of the opposed lateral edges of the spinal cage;
- the staples being disposed to have the spaced apart points engage the vertebrae above and below the spinal cage;
- a lock nut positioned on the threaded rod on the side of one of the staples that is spaced apart from the spinal cage whereby rotation of the threaded rod will advance the staples to cause the staple to engage the vertebrae above and below the cage whereby the staples assist in positioning the spinal cage in the spine.
A support structure for replacing a vertebrae in a spine, the spine having a vertebrae adjacent each side of the vertebrae that is being replaced comprising:
- a first support plate and a second support plate, the first and second support plates being disposed in spaced apart relationship;
- an adjustable length post extending between the first and second plates, the post designed to fit between vertebrae in the spine and then adjusting in length to place the first plate into contact with the vertebrae adjacent one side of the vertebrae that is being replaced and the second plate into contact with the vertebrae adjacent the other side of the vertebrae that is being replaced;
- a clamp operatively connected to the first and second plates for securing the first and second plates to the vertebrae adjacent the vertebrae that is being replaced.
An artificial disk for positioning between adjacent vertebrae in a spine comprising:
- a first plate disposed adjacent one of the adjacent vertebrae;
- a second plate disposed adjacent the other adjacent vertebrae;
- a clamp operatively connected to each of the first and second plates, the clamps engaging the opposed vertebrae to secure the first plate to one of the adjacent vertebrae and the second plate to the other adjacent vertebrae;
- a recess defined in the first plate;
- a projection extending from the second plate, the projection designed to be moveably positioned in the recess, the projection allowing relative movement between the adjacent vertebrae.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.