Arcuate fixation member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11617654-B2
Application number	US-202017032016-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2020
Priority date	Apr 15, 2009
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

Arcuate fixation members with varying configurations and/or features are provided, along with additional components for use therewith in provided intervertebral implants. The arcuate fixation members may be of different lengths, cross sectional geometries, and/or cross sectional areas. Applications of intervertebral implants utilizing arcuate fixation members are particularly suitable when a linear line-of-approach for delivering fixation members is undesirable.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method for fixing an intervertebral implant in an intervertebral space defined between an upper vertebral body and a lower vertebral body, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a spacer body of the intervertebral implant into the intervertebral space so that upper and lower bone-engaging surfaces of the spacer body engage the upper and lower vertebral bodies, respectively, wherein a fixation plate of the intervertebral implant is coupled to the spacer body, wherein the fixation plate comprises retaining members which are received in complementary retaining grooves of the spacer body to couple the fixation plate to the spacer body opposite a posterior wall of the spacer body, the fixation plate defining a plurality of guide apertures extending therethrough for receiving a plurality of curved bone fixation members,
wherein the spacer body includes a pair of side walls that extend between the posterior wall and the fixation plate, the spacer body defines an aperture that extends from the lower bone-engaging surface to the upper bone-engaging surface and extends between the pair of side walls along a first direction and extends between the posterior wall and the fixation plate along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction,
the posterior wall defining an inner surface that faces toward the fixation plate, the inner surface defining at least one cavity that is open to the aperture, the at least one cavity defining a recessed surface that is positioned intermediate the inner surface and an outer surface of the posterior wall;
disposing bone growth inducing substance into the aperture such that at least some of the bone growth inducing substance extends within the at least one cavity; and
inserting a plurality of curved bone fixation members into respective ones of the plurality of guide apertures such that each curved bone fixation member fixes the intervertebral implant to one of the upper and lower vertebral bodies.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disposing step comprises packing the bone growth inducing substance into the aperture prior to the inserting step.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bone growth inducing substance is disposed into the aperture to fill the aperture and allowing boney ingrowth into the at least one cavity.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cavity is elongate along the first direction.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cavity comprises a plurality of cavities.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the curved bone fixation members of the plurality of curved bone fixation members is rotationally fixed in a respective one of the plurality of guide apertures as the at least one curved bone fixation member is inserted into engagement with one of the upper and lower vertebral bodies.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one curved bone fixation member is guided along an insertion trajectory through the one of the upper and lower vertebral bodies, and wherein a guidance member disposed at least partially along a distal end of the at least one curved bone fixation member facilitates the guiding.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the guidance member comprises a keel extending from the distal end, at least one wing disposed adjacent the keel, and a flute disposed between the keel and the at least one wing.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the guidance member further comprises a second wing disposed adjacent the keel, such that the keel is disposed between the wings.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the flute extends substantially parallel to the insertion trajectory.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising driving a curved intermediate portion of the at least one curved bone fixation member, the curved intermediate portion extending between a proximal end and the distal end of the at least one curved bone fixation member, wherein the driving step comprises sliding the curved intermediate portion through the respective one of the plurality of guide apertures such that a cross-sectional shape of the curved intermediate portion resides within a conforming cross-sectional shape of the respective one of the plurality of guide apertures.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein a tapered tip of the at least one curved bone fixation member cuts into the one of the upper and lower vertebral bodies during insertion.

13. The method of claim 6 , further comprising positioning at least one blocking member with respect to the plurality of curved bone fixation members such that a portion thereof extends behind a proximal end of the at least one curved bone fixation member, thereby blocking the at least one curved bone fixation member from backing out of the respective one of the plurality of guide apertures.

14. A method for implanting an intervertebral implant in an intervertebral space, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a spacer body of the intervertebral implant into the intervertebral space so that upper and lower bone-engaging surfaces of the spacer body engage upper and lower vertebral bodies, respectively,
wherein a fixation plate of the intervertebral implant is coupled to the spacer body, the fixation plate comprises retaining members which are received in complementary retaining grooves of the spacer body to couple the fixation plate to an anterior wall of the spacer body opposite a posterior wall of the spacer body, the fixation plate defining a plurality of guide apertures extending therethrough for receiving a plurality of bone fixation members, the spacer body includes a pair of side walls that are spaced from each other along a first direction, the sidewalls extending between the anterior and posterior walls along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the spacer body defining a first aperture and a second aperture that each extend from the lower bone-engaging surface to the upper bone-engaging surface along a third direction that is perpendicular to the first and second directions, wherein the first and second apertures are located between the side walls along the first direction and between the anterior and posterior walls along the second direction, the spacer body further defining an inner wall that extends between the anterior and posterior walls along the second direction and separates the first and second apertures,
disposing bone growth inducing substance into the first and second apertures such that at least some of the bone growth inducing substance extends within first and second cavities defined within an inner surface of the posterior wall, wherein the first cavity is open to the first aperture and the second cavity is open to the second aperture, and each of the first and second cavities defines a recessed surface positioned intermediate the inner surface and an outer surface of the posterior wall; and
inserting a plurality of bone fixation members into respective ones of the plurality of guide apertures such that each bone fixation member fixes the intervertebral implant to one of the upper and lower vertebral bodies.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the disposing step comprises packing the bone growth inducing substance into the first and second apertures prior to the inserting step, and wherein the bone growth inducing substance is disposed into the first and second apertures to fill the first and second apertures and allow boney ingrowth into the first and second cavities.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the bone fixation members of the plurality of bone fixation members is rotationally

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Donner Thomas
• Schoenly Jared
• Evans David E
• Gfeller Andreas

Classifications

• A61F2002/30604

  modular · CPC title

• A61F2310/00023

  Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys · CPC title

• A61F2/30965

  Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping · CPC title

• A61F2220/0016

  with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes · CPC title

• A61B17/7056

  Hooks with specially-designed bone-contacting part · CPC title