Patent US6344057B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6344057B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable vertebral body replacement
Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Inc
•
Filing: 1998-05-05
•
Granted: 2002-02-05
•
Expires: 2018-05-05
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable vertebral body replacement implant and assembly includes a thin-walled cylindrical body configured to span over most of the length between intact vertebrae when damaged or diseased vertebrae have been removed. The cylindrical body defines a hollow interior and includes endplates with end surfaces configured to contact the adjacent vertebra and to engage the cylindrical body therebetween. Said end surface includes a blade or plurality of blades configured to penetrate the adjacent vertebra and to facilitate insertion and removal of the implant. This end surface also defines a bore through said endplate. In one embodiment, an end cap which includes a porous body such as porous tantalum manufactured under the name HEDROCEL® is placed in said bore. The end cap provides strength to carry the vertebral loading while allowing vascularization between the intact vertebral and bone growth material disposed within the implant. In another embodiment, the end cap includes an anchor embedded in the bone growth material. The end cap may also include a positioning surface to align the end cap within the bore.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Marie Rabbe
- 👤 Lawrence M. Boyd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30744; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7059
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A device for fusion of the existing intact vertebrae through a vertebral replacement implant interposed in a space left by one or more removed vertebrae between adjacent intact vertebrae, comprising: a replacement body with opposite ends sized to span the space between the intact vertebrae, said replacement body includes a cylindrical wall defining a hollow interior, said hollow interior contains bone growth material disposed within said replacement body; and a pair of endplates attached to each of said opposite ends, each of said endplates having an end surface defining a bore through said endplate; and an end cap for closing said bore, said end cap including a body formed of a porous material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A device for fusion of the existing intact vertebrae through a vertebral replacement implant interposed in a space left by one or more removed vertebrae between adjacent intact vertebrae, comprising: a replacement body with opposite ends sized to span the space between the intact vertebrae, said replacement body includes a cylindrical wall defining a hollow interior, said hollow interior contains bone growth material disposed within said replacement body; and a pair of endplates attached to each of said opposite ends, each of said endplates having an end surface defining a bore through said endplate; and an end cap for closing said bore, said end cap including a body formed of a porous material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein said porous material is formed to permit bone growth through said end cap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein said porous material includes interconnecting interstices throughout said body of said end cap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein said end cap is removable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein said end cap includes a positioning surface to align said end cap within said bore.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein: said end cap includes an anchor extending from said body and configured to project into said hollow interior, whereby said anchor is embedded in the bone growth material within said interior to secure said end cap to said end surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein said porous body includes a porous tantalum material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein said porous body includes a porous metal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
193 words
A device for fixation of a vertebral replacement implant interposed in a space left by one or more removed vertebrae between adjacent intact vertebrae, comprising: a replacement body with opposite ends sized to span a portion of the space between the intact vertebrae, said replacement body having first threads defined thereon at each of said opposite ends; said replacement body includes a wall defining a hollow interior for containing bone growth material therein, said wall further defining a plurality of apertures therethrough, said apertures being in communication with said hollow interior; a pair of endplates each having an end surface for contacting a respective one of the intact vertebra when the implant is interposed in the space, each of said endplates having a cylindrical portion defining a bore therethrough extending through said end surface, said cylindrical portion having second threads thereon configured to threadingly engage the first threads on said replacement body; an endcap for closing said bore of one of said end plates; and a plurality of blades attached to each of said endplates, said blades projecting from said end surface for insertion in a corresponding one of the adjacent intact vertebra.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
193 words
A device for fixation of a vertebral replacement implant interposed in a space left by one or more removed vertebrae between adjacent intact vertebrae, comprising: a replacement body with opposite ends sized to span a portion of the space between the intact vertebrae, said replacement body having first threads defined thereon at each of said opposite ends; said replacement body includes a wall defining a hollow interior for containing bone growth material therein, said wall further defining a plurality of apertures therethrough, said apertures being in communication with said hollow interior; a pair of endplates each having an end surface for contacting a respective one of the intact vertebra when the implant is interposed in the space, each of said endplates having a cylindrical portion defining a bore therethrough extending through said end surface, said cylindrical portion having second threads thereon configured to threadingly engage the first threads on said replacement body; an endcap for closing said bore of one of said end plates; and a plurality of blades attached to each of said endplates, said blades projecting from said end surface for insertion in a corresponding one of the adjacent intact vertebra.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device according to claim 9 , wherein said first threads on said replacement body are external threads and said second threads on said cylindrical portion are internal threads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device according to claim 9 , wherein said blades are wedge-shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 9 , wherein said end cap includes a porous body to allow vascularization between the existing intact vertebrae and said bone growth material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device according to claim 9 , wherein said end cap includes a positioning surface to align said end cap within said bore.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device according to claim 9 , wherein said end cap includes an anchor extending from said body and configured to project into said hollow interior, whereby said anchor is embedded in the bone growth material within said interior to secure said end cap to said end surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
148 words
A vertebral replacement device extending between a pair a of vertebrae, comprising: a central body having opposite ends positionable toward a respective one of the pair of vertebrae, said central body including a wall defining a hollow interior extending between said opposite ends, said central body further including a plurality of apertures therethrough in communication with said hollow interior; and a pair of cylindrical portions each attached to a respective one of said opposite ends, said cylindrical portions each having an end face with a bearing surface for contacting an endplate of a respective one of the pair of vertebrae, each cylindrical portion further defining a bore therethrough opening at said end face and configured so that said hollow interior remains substantially unobstructed between said end openings, said bores and said hollow interior receiving bone growth therethrough to provide a bony column extending between the pair of vertebrae.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
148 words
A vertebral replacement device extending between a pair a of vertebrae, comprising: a central body having opposite ends positionable toward a respective one of the pair of vertebrae, said central body including a wall defining a hollow interior extending between said opposite ends, said central body further including a plurality of apertures therethrough in communication with said hollow interior; and a pair of cylindrical portions each attached to a respective one of said opposite ends, said cylindrical portions each having an end face with a bearing surface for contacting an endplate of a respective one of the pair of vertebrae, each cylindrical portion further defining a bore therethrough opening at said end face and configured so that said hollow interior remains substantially unobstructed between said end openings, said bores and said hollow interior receiving bone growth therethrough to provide a bony column extending between the pair of vertebrae.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device according to claim 15 , wherein said cylindrical portions each include a flange extending therearound and defining said end face.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
the device according to claim 15 , further comprising at least one blade extending from said end face.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device according to claim 15 , further comprising at least one spike extending from said end face.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device according to claim 15 , further comprising an end cap for closing each of said bores.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 15 , wherein said central body is cylindrical and said cylindrical portions are threadingly attached to a respective one of said opposite ends.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device according to claim 20 , wherein said central body includes external threads and each of said cylindrical portions has internal threads.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 21 , further comprising means for fixing said central body to each of said cylindrical portions to prevent unthreading thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device according to claim 15 , wherein said hollow interior contains bone growth material disposed within said central body, and further comprising an end cap positionable in each of said bores, said endcap including a porous body to allow vascularization between the existing intact vertebrae and said bone growth material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4401112A
Cited
US4554914A
Cited
US4553273A
Cited
EP0179695A1
Cited
US4657550A
Cited
US4636217A
Cited
US4599086A
Cited
US4820305A
Cited
US5147404A
Cited
US4911718A
Cited
FR2636227A1
Cited
US5108395A
Cited
US4932975A
Cited
US5062850A
Cited
US5019108A
Cited
US5236460A
Cited
US5192327A
Cited
DE4109941A1
Cited
US5282861A
Cited
EP0567424A1
Cited
US5423816A
Cited
US5571190A
Cited
US5458641A
Cited
WO1995020370A1
Cited
US5571192A
Cited
WO1996017564A1
Cited
US5702453A
Cited
DE19509317A1
Cited
US5989290A
Cited
US5702449A
Cited
US5766253A
Cited
US5645598A
Cited
DE19622827A1
Cited
US6015436A
Cited
US5702455A
Cited
US5876457A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-02-04 | 2005-08-06 | 2006-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-02-04 | 2009-08-06 | 2010-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-02-04 | 2013-08-06 | 2014-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |