Interbody fusion device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9750616-B2
Application number	US-201313768922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2013
Priority date	Feb 17, 2012
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

Devices for fixing interbody fusion devices to bone by helically or corkscrew-shaped elements are provided. Methods for surgically implanting an interbody fusion device using helically-shaped fixation wire are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An implantable device comprising:
a spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a groove comprising a generally helical shape, the passage having a substantially straight longitudinal axis through its entire length; and
a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire,
wherein the groove comprising the generally helical shape is configured to guide and house the single wire when the single wire extends through the passage and into a bony structure to secure the spacer to a bone.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the helically-shaped body includes a sharp tip capable of piercing the bone on one end and a feature that engages a driving instrument on the opposite end.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the generally helical shape of the groove corresponds to a diameter and a pitch of the helically-shaped body.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the generally helical shape of both the helically-shaped body and the groove are correspondingly timed such that as the helically-shaped body passes through the spacer, the sharp tip is the first portion of the helically-shaped body to come in contact with the bone.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the helically-shaped body and the groove are timed with respect to having a common rotational position about the longitudinal axis.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the sharp tip comes into contact with the bone from a generally perpendicular direction.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a design feature that prevents the helically-shaped body from turning once the helically-shaped body has reached a final desired implanted position.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the passage in the spacer is configured such that the helically-shaped body extends through the passage to secure the spacer to a superior vertebral body.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the spacer has at least a second passage configured such that a second helically-shaped body extends through the second passage to secure the spacer to an inferior vertebral body.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the second passage is slanted toward the inferior surface.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the passage comprises a hole through which the helically-shaped body passes that is smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the helically-shaped body.

12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an opening in the spacer having a hole insert.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the passage and the groove are disposed on the hole insert, and wherein the generally helical shape of the groove corresponds to a diameter and a pitch of the helically-shaped body.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the hole insert provides an intermediate layer of material between the helically-shaped body and an inner surface of the opening.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the passage is slanted toward the superior surface.

16. A method for treating a spine, comprising:
Inserting a spacer between two vertebral bodies, the spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a groove comprising a generally helical shape, the passage having a substantially straight longitudinal axis through its entire length; and
Inserting a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire through the passage to secure the spacer to a vertebral body, wherein the groove comprising the generally helical shape guides and houses the single wire.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising engaging a proximal end of the helically-shaped body to a proximal feature of the passage in the spacer.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising inserting a second helically-shaped body through a second passage in the spacer to secure the spacer to a second, adjacent vertebral body.

19. An implantable device comprising:
a spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a generally helical-shaped groove; and
a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire having an outer surface,
wherein the generally helical-shaped groove is configured to engage the outer surface of the single wire when the single wire extends through the passage, the fixation device having a substantially straight longitudinal axis when extending through the passage.

20. An implantable device comprising:
a spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a generally helical-shaped groove; and
a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire having an outer surface,
wherein the generally helical-shaped groove is configured to engage the outer surface of the single wire when the single wire extends through the passage,
an opening in the spacer having a hole insert, wherein the passage and the generally helical-shaped groove are disposed on the hole insert.

Assignees

• Spinal Elements Inc

Inventors

• Blain Jason
• Johnson Dean

Classifications

• A61F2002/30593

  hollow · CPC title

• A61B17/869

  characterised by an open form, e.g. wire helix · CPC title

• A61F2002/30289

  helically-coiled · CPC title

• A61F2002/30904

  serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed · CPC title

• A61F2/4455 Primary

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