Stand-alone fusion implant secured by in-line fixation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10603092-B2
Application number	US-201816026220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2018
Priority date	Jan 14, 2016
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

Stand alone fusion cage assemblies that can be secured to the adjacent vertebral bodies via an in-line approach that is substantially perpendicular to the anterior wall of the stand alone cage (or substantially parallel to the cage insertion direction).

First claim

I claim:

1. A method of treating a spine, comprising the steps of:
i) inserting into a disc space an intervertebral fusion device having an anterior wall, a posterior wall, and first and second side walls connecting the anterior and posterior walls, an upper bearing surface and a lower bearing surface, the anterior wall having a height and an anterior surface, and a first threaded throughhole extending into the anterior wall from the anterior surface,
ii) disposing into the first threaded throughhole a fixation device comprising a proximal head and an intermediate flexible bellows having a corrugated wall comprising a helical threadform,

wherein the helical threadform threadably mates with the first threaded throughhole.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the proximal head of the device comprises an internal drive feature.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the proximal head of the device comprises an axial through hole.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the axial through hole is cylindrical.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the axial through hole is frustoconical.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the proximal head of the device is tapered and threaded.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the proximal head of the device has a peripheral groove.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising c) a guidewire extending through the fixation device.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising d) a sleeve, wherein the guide wire extends through the sleeve.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising e) a centering guide disposed in a hole in the intervertebral fusion device, wherein the sleeve extends through the centering guide.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a distal tip.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the distal tip has a tapered thread.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the head, bellow and tip are independent elements joined by first and second joints.

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Mazzuca Michael

Classifications

• A61B17/861

  specially shaped for gripping driver · CPC title

• A61B17/8605

  Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone · CPC title

• A61B17/8625 Primary

  Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue · CPC title

• A61B17/864

  hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated · CPC title

• A61B17/862

  at the periphery of the screw head · CPC title