Expandable corpectomy cage
AssigneeLife Spine, Inc.
InventorRobert Alex Hirschl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A corpectomy cage is provided with upper and lower telescoping members which move axially between extended and retracted positions. A fixed length sleeve fits over the telescoping members. The sleeve is load bearing to support axial loads on the cage from vertebral bodies. The sleeve also prevents the telescoping members from retracting and encloses an internal cavity within the cage for packing bone fusion material.
Claims17
A corpectomy cage, comprising:
- an inner member having a cylindrical sidewall, a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the cylindrical sidewall having a circumferential groove;
- an outer member having a cylindrical sidewall, a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the cylindrical sidewall having a circumferential groove, wherein the cylindrical side wall and the second end of the inner member is at least partially disposed within the cylindrical side wall and the second end of the outer member in a telescoping, non-load bearing engagement to allow axial movement between extendable and retractable positions, wherein the first end of the inner member is located opposite to the first end of the outer member;
- and
- a cylindrical sleeve configured to bear axial loads on the cage and having a fixed length, a first end, a second end, a first lip extending radially inward proximate the first end of the sleeve, and a second lip extending radially inward proximate the second end of the sleeve, the sleeve fit over the outer member with the first lip engaging the circumferential groove on the inner member and the second lip engaging the circumferential groove on the outer member.
A corpectomy cage for use between a first vertebra and a second vertebra in place of removed intervertebral discs and at last a portion of a vertebral body of a third vertebra located between the first vertebra and the second vertebra, the corpectomy cage comprising:
- a first segment with a cylindrical sidewall, a circumferential groove, and an end plate, the end plate configured to engage the first vertebra;
- a second segment with a cylindrical sidewall, a circumferential groove, and an end plate, the end plate configured to engage the second vertebra;
- a C-shaped cover with a fixed length, the cover having a first radial lip and a second radial lip extending inwardly and spaced apart from the first radial lip;
- the first and second segments being slidably assembled;
- and
- the cover removably mounted over the assembled first and second segments between the end plates so as to support physiologic loads on the cage, wherein the first radial lip engages the circumferential groove on the first segment and the second radial lip engages the circumferential groove on the second segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.