Methods and apparatus for intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11857438-B2
Application number	US-202017111357-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2020
Priority date	Aug 6, 2004
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A method for inserting an intervertebral disc prosthesis into a space between two vertebrae involves inserting the prosthesis partway into the space under constraint to prevent endplates of the prosthesis from articulating, releasing the prosthesis from constraint, and inserting the unconstrained prosthesis farther into the space. In some embodiments, the method involves grasping the prosthesis with a grasping device to insert the prosthesis partway under constraint, loosing the grasping device to release the prosthesis from constraint, and pushing the prosthesis farther into the disc space using the grasping device and/or one or more separate pusher devices. A system includes a grasping device, at least one separate pushing device, and optionally a vertebral spreading device and/or a vertebral midline indicator device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis into a space between two adjacent vertebrae, the system comprising:
an intervertebral prosthesis having two endplates movable with respect to one another, wherein the two endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis have a width in a lateral direction of the endplates between opposite lateral sides of the endplates, wherein the width is greater than a depth in an anterior/posterior direction of the endplates;
a prosthesis grasping device, wherein the prosthesis grasping device is configured to insert the two endplates in an assembled configuration into the space between two adjacent vertebrae and wherein the prosthesis grasping device is configured to grasp the two endplates from an anterior side of the endplates with movable opposing jaws configured to articulate laterally in a same plane as the width of the intervertebral prosthesis; and
at least one prosthesis pusher device which is discrete from the prosthesis grasping device, the prosthesis pusher device having a distal end configured to push against the endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis, wherein after the intervertebral prosthesis is inserted into the space, the at least one prosthesis pusher device is used to engage and push the prosthesis farther into the space.

2. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the prosthesis grasping device is shaped to pass between two opposable jaws of a vertebral spacing device disposed between the two adjacent vertebrae.

3. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one pusher device comprises:
an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
a concave pusher portion disposed at the distal end, the pusher portion adapted to push the endplates either simultaneously or individually into the space; and
a handle disposed at the proximal end.

4. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the at least one pusher device has a concave shape configured for pushing against inner rims of the two endplates.

5. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the intervertebral prosthesis includes a core and the grasping member is configured to grasp the two endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis with the core located between the endplates.

6. A system as in claim 5 , wherein inner rims of the intervertebral prosthesis surround the core when the core is located between the endplates.

7. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the two endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis are separable from each other.

8. A system for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis into a space between two adjacent vertebrae, the system comprising:
an intervertebral prosthesis having two endplates movable with respect to one another, wherein the two endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis have a width in a lateral direction of the endplates between opposite lateral sides of the endplates, wherein the width is greater than a depth in an anterior/posterior direction of the endplates;
a prosthesis grasping device, wherein the prosthesis grasping device is configured to insert the two endplates in an assembled configuration into the space between two adjacent vertebrae and wherein the prosthesis grasping device is configured to grasp the two endplates from an anterior side of the endplates with movable opposing jaws configured to articulate laterally in a same plane as the width of the intervertebral prosthesis, and shaped to simultaneously grasp an inner rim of each of the two endplates; and
at least one prosthesis pusher device which is discrete from the prosthesis grasping device, the prosthesis pusher device having a distal end configured to push against the endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis, wherein after the intervertebral prosthesis is inserted into the space, the at least one prosthesis pusher device is used to engage and push the prosthesis farther into the space.

9. A system as in claim 8 , wherein the prosthesis grasping device is shaped to pass between two opposable jaws of a vertebral spacing device disposed between the two adjacent vertebrae.

10. A system as in claim 8 , wherein the at least one pusher device comprises:
an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
a concave pusher portion disposed at the distal end, the pusher portion adapted to push the endplates either simultaneously or individually into the space; and
a handle disposed at the proximal end.

11. A system as in claim 8 , wherein the distal end of the at least one pusher device has a concave shape configured for pushing against the inner rims of each of the two endplates.

12. A system as in claim 8 , wherein the intervertebral prosthesis includes a core and the grasping member is configured to grasp the two endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis with the core located between the endplates.

13. A system as in claim 8 , wherein the two endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis are separable from each other.

14. A system as in claim 13 , wherein the inner rims of each of the two endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis collectively surround the core when the core is located between the endplates.

15. A system for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis into a space between two adjacent vertebrae, the system comprising:
an intervertebral prosthesis having two endplates movable with respect to one another, wherein the two endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis have a width in a lateral direction of the endplates between opposite lateral sides of the endplates, wherein the width is greater than a depth in an anterior/posterior direction of the endplates;
a prosthesis grasping device, wherein the prosthesis grasping device is configured to insert the two endplates in an assembled configuration into the space between two adjacent vertebrae, the prosthesis grasping device includes an actuator for actuating a pair of laterally moveable opposing jaws shaped to grasp the two endplates from an anterior side of the endplates, and wherein the movable opposing jaws articulate laterally in a same plane as the width of the intervertebral prosthesis, and are shaped to simultaneously grasp an inner rim of each of the two endplates; and
at least one prosthesis pusher device which is discrete from the prosthesis grasping device, the prosthesis pusher device having a distal end configured to push against the endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis, wherein after the intervertebral prosthesis is inserted into the space, the at least one prosthesis pusher device is used to engage and push the prosthesis farther into the space.

16. A system as in claim 15 , wherein the opposing jaws of the prosthesis grasping device are shaped to pass between two opposable jaws of a vertebral spacing device disposed between the two adjacent vertebrae.

17. A system as in claim 15 , wherein the at least one pusher device comprises:
an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
a concave pusher portion disposed at the distal end, the pusher portion adapted to push the endplates either simultaneously or individually into the space; and
a handle disposed at the proximal end.

18. A system as in claim 17 , wherein the distal end of the at least one pusher device has a concave shape configured for pushing against the inner rims of the two endplates.

19. A system as in claim 15 , wherein the two endplates of the intervertebral prosthesis are separable from each other.

20. A system as in claim 15 , wherein the intervertebral prosthesis includes a core and the two opposable jaws of the grasping member a

Assignees

• Simplify Medical Pty Ltd

Inventors

• De Villiers Malan
• Hahnle Ulrich
• Hovda David

Classifications

• A61F2/4611 Primary

  of spinal prostheses · CPC title

• A61F2/442

  Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient (non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455) · CPC title

• A61F2/4425

  made of articulated components · CPC title

• A61F2/4455

  for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442) · CPC title

• A61F2/4465

  having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine · CPC title