Zero profile spinal fusion cage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016106550-A1
Application number	US-201514887718-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 20, 2015
Priority date	Mar 30, 2009
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An interbody fusion cage having upper and lower canals for receiving the heads of bone screws that have been pre-installed in opposing vertebral body endplates. The proximal wall of the cage preferably has a vertical slot that communicates with each canal and is adapted to allow access by a screwdriver and tightening of the screws.

First claim

1 . An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
a first component having i) a proximal endface, ii) a distal endface, iii) a first outer surface that extends between the proximal and distal endfaces and positioned and configured to contact a vertebral endplate, iv) a through hole that extends through the first outer surface and adapted to promote vertebral fusion through the first component, and v) a first translation surface extending along a proximal-distal direction and oriented at an angle to the first outer surface; a rail component having i) a proximal end, ii) a distal end, iii) a second outer surface that extends between the proximal and distal ends, iv) a hole extending distally from an opening in the proximal end, and v) a second translation surface extending along the proximal-distal direction and oriented at an angle to the second outer surface; and a threaded screw disposed within the hole of the rail component, wherein the first and second translation surfaces are translatable upon each other along the proximal-distal direction, and wherein the first and second outer surfaces are substantially coplanar.

2 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first component further comprises vi) a third translation surface extending along the proximal-distal direction and oriented at an angle to the first outer surface, the rail component further comprises vi) a fourth translation surface extending along the proximal-distal direction and oriented oblique to the second outer surface, and the third and fourth translation surfaces are translatable upon each other along the proximal-distal direction.

3 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first and third translation surfaces are non-parallel to each other.

4 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first and third translation surfaces are sloped along opposite directions.

5 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the second and fourth translation surfaces of the rail component are disposed between the first and third translation surfaces of the first component.

6 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first and third translation surfaces are aligned with each other along a direction that is perpendicular to the proximal-distal direction.

7 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the direction is normal to the first outer surface.

8 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first translation surface is oriented oblique to the first outer surface, and the second translation surface is oriented oblique to the second outer surface

9 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first translation surface is parallel to the second translation surface.

10 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hole of the rail component extends entirely through the rail component, and the screw extends through the hole.

11 . An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
a first component having i) a proximal endface, ii) a distal endface disposed such that the proximal and distal endfaces are opposite each other along a proximal-distal direction, iii) a first outer surface that extends between the proximal and distal endfaces, iv) a through hole extending through the first outer surface, and v) a first translation surface extending in a proximal-distal direction and oriented oblique to the first outer surface; a rail component having i) a proximal end, ii) a distal end disposed such that the proximal and distal ends of the rail component are opposite each other along the proximal-distal direction, iii) a second outer surface that extends between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the second outer surface is parallel to the first outer surface, iv) a hole extending into the proximal end, and v) a second translation surface extending in a proximal-distal direction and oriented oblique to the second outer surface; and a screw having a threaded shaft that that extends into the hole of the rail component, wherein the first and second translation surfaces are translatable upon each other along the proximal-distal direction.

12 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the hole extends through the rail component.

13 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the screw extends through the hole.

14 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the threaded shaft is elongate along a direction parallel to the first outer surface.

15 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first outer surface is positioned and configured to contact a vertebral endplate.

16 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 11 , wherein:
the first component includes first and second halves, the first half defining the first translation surface, and the second half defining a third translation surface that is sloped opposite the first translation surface, and the rail component further includes a fourth translation surface that is sloped opposite the second translation surface and is translatable upon the third translation surface along the proximal-distal direction while the first and second translation surfaces translate upon each other along the proximal-distal direction, wherein the second translation surface is oriented parallel to the first translation surface, and the fourth translation surface is oriented parallel to the third translation surface.

17 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 16 , wherein the second and fourth translation surfaces are disposed between the first and third translation surfaces.

18 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first outer surface is coplanar with second outer surface.

19 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second outer surface is positioned and configured to contact a vertebral endplate.

20 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the hole further extends through the second outer surface, and the screw extends through the hole, such that the threaded shaft is oriented oblique to the second outer surface.

21 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 20 , wherein the screw is a bone fixation screw.

22 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first component further defines a third translation surface, and the rail component defines a fourth translation surface that is translatable upon the third translation surface along the proximal-distal direction as the first and second translation surfaces translate upon each other along the proximal-distal direction.

23 . The intervertebral fusion device as recited in claim 22 , wherein the first and third translation surfaces are parallel to each other, and the second and fourth translation surfaces are parallel to each other and to the first and third translation surfaces.

24 . An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
a first component having i) a proximal end, ii) a distal end disposed such that the proximal and distal ends are opposite each other along a proximal-distal direction, iii) a first outer surface disposed between the two ends and oriented along a first plane, iv) a hole extending th

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Slivka Michael A
• Grinberg Alexander
• Hawkins John Riley

Classifications

• A61F2002/30593

  hollow · CPC title

• A61F2002/3079

  Stepped or enlarged apertures, e.g. having discrete diameter changes · CPC title

• A61F2002/30594

  slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots · CPC title

• A61F2/30965

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

• A61F2/446

  having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones · CPC title