SPINAL IMPLANT CO-INSERTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
A system and method for substantially simultaneous co-insertion of an implant, such as a cage and plate. An inserter is secured to the cage and plate and is used to hold the components while implanting the components during a surgical procedure.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/017,622, filed Jan. 31, 2011, which claims priority to provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/300,102, filed Feb. 1, 2010, to which Applicant claims the benefit of the earlier filing date. These applications are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to spinal implants and, more particularly, to a co-insertion system and method for substantially simultaneously inserting or implanting a cage and plate in a patient during a surgical procedure.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to stabilize two adjacent vertebrae of the spine, surgeons will typically place two components. The first is a bone-filled generally cuboidal device, termed a cage, in-between the adjacent vertebrae. The second is a plate device bridging the adjacent vertebrae and attached to the vertebrae via bone screws or similar means. The placement of these two devices is performed in a serial fashion with additive operative time. Additionally, different insertion instruments are utilized for the plate and cage components, resulting in increased cost, complexity and duplication.
Recently, there have been efforts to integrate the plate and cage components into either a unified or mechanically coupled device as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,235,059, which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. An advantage of such a unified device is that it creates efficiency for the surgeon by reducing the number of implantation steps and instruments. A disadvantage of such a device is that it doesn't allow for uncoupled motion between the cage and plate components, despite the fact that these components are subjected to differing biomechanical loads after implantation.
What is needed, therefore, is a combination cage-plate device with a co-inserter instrument that allows for loading of both implants on a single inserter and simultaneous co-implantation of separate plate and cage components. The inserter can be removed following implantation resulting in the appropriate positioning of the two independent and uncoupled components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne object of the invention is to provide a combination cage-plate device with a co-inserter that allows for substantially simultaneous loading and placement of both the cage and plate on the co-inserter.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method for simultaneous co-implantation of the separate plate and cage components of an implant.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an inserter for inserting a cage and plate that can be removed following implementation of the two independent and un-coupled components.
In one aspect, one embodiment of the invention comprises a spinal implant co-insertion system comprising an inserter having a handle and an inserter fastener, a cage having at least one coupler adapted to be fastened to the inserter fastener, and a plate, the inserter being adapted to simultaneously receive the plate and the cage for simultaneous co-implantation of the plate and cage, wherein the inserter fastener comprises at least one of threads, a cam, a key, a spread or a clamp, the at least one coupler of the cage being adapted to be fastened or coupled to the inserter fastener, wherein the plate is not securely coupled or fixed to the cage so that the plate can move, migrate or float with respect to the cage after the plate and the cage are implanted.
In another aspect, another embodiment of the invention comprises a plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system, comprising a body, the body having an internal wall that defines a through-hole for receiving an inserter having an inserter end that is screwed into a cage so that the inserter can simultaneously receive the cage and the plate so that they can be simultaneously implanted during a surgical procedure.
In still another aspect, another embodiment of the invention comprises a method for co-inserting a cage and a plate during a surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of coupling an inserter to the cage and the plate so that the inserter simultaneously receives and supports the cage and plate, simultaneously implanting the cage and plate using the inserter during a surgical procedure, removing the inserter from the cage, and removing the inserter from the plate.
This invention, including all embodiments shown and described herein, could be used alone or together and/or in combination with one or more of the features covered by one or more of the claims set forth herein, including but not limited to one or more of the features or steps mentioned in the following bullet list and the claims:
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- The plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the internal wall is threaded.
- The plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the internal wall is threaded and adapted to threadably receive a threaded end of the inserter so that the threaded end may be screwed into both the plate and the cage.
- The plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the plate comprises a bone-penetrating prong to facilitate stabilizing the plate during or following insertion or when the inserter is removed from the plate and cage.
- The plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the plate comprises an aligner for operatively aligning the cage and the plate together.
- The plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the aligner is integrally formed in the plate.
- The plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the aligner comprises at least one projection that causes the plate and cage to become aligned when they are received on the inserter.
- The plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system wherein aligner comprises a plurality of projections that cause the plate and cage to become aligned when they are received on the inserter.
- The plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the plurality of projections cooperate to define a receiving area for receiving and aligning the cage relative to the plate.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the inserter fastener is at an end of the inserter.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the inserter fastener comprises threads, a cam, a key, a spread or a clamp, at least one coupler of the cage being adapted to be fastened or coupled to the inserter fastener.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the inserter comprises a shoulder to facilitate maintaining the plate and the cage in a generally adjacent position during a surgical procedure.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the plate comprises an internal wall that defines a through-hole for receiving the inserter.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the internal wall is threaded and the inserter fastener is threaded.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the plate comprises an internal wall that defines a through-hole to permit the end of the inserter to pass.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the inserter fastener are threads and the internal wall is threaded and adapted to threadably receive the threaded end of the inserter so that the threaded end may be screwed into both the plate and the cage.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the plate comprises a bone-penetrating prong to facilitate stabilizing the plate during or following insertion or when the inserter is removed from the plate and cage.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein at least one of the cage or plate has an aligner for operatively aligning the cage and the plate together.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the aligner is integrally formed in the plate.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the aligner comprises at least one projection that causes the plate and cage to become aligned when they are received on the inserter.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the aligner comprises a plurality of projections that cause the plate and cage to become aligned when they are received on the inserter.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the cage comprises a plurality of aligning apertures for receiving the plurality of projections in order to align the cage relative to the plate.
- The spinal implant co-insertion system wherein the inserter simultaneously receives the plate and cage so that while the plate and cage are simultaneously co-implanted, the plate and cage are coupled together by the inserter and after the plate and cage are implanted and the inserter is removed from the plate and cage, the cage and plate are independent, uncoupled and separate components.
- The method wherein the first removing step is performed before the second removing step.
- The method wherein the method further comprises the steps of passing inserter through the plate, screwing an end of the inserter into a threaded opening in the cage so that the plate becomes mounted on the inserter with the cage securing it to the inserter.
- The method wherein the plate and the cage each have a threaded opening; the method further comprising the step of screwing an end of the inserter into the threaded opening in the plate and then into a threaded opening in the cage.
- The method wherein the method further comprising the step of aligning the plate to the cage before the inserter is secured to the cage and plate.
- The method wherein the method further comprising the step of aligning the plate to the cage before the inserter is secured to the cage and plate.
- The method wherein the method further comprises the step of packing the cage with graft material before the coupling step.
- The method wherein the method further comprises the step of packing the cage with graft material after the coupling step and before the implanting step.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
Referring now to
The inserter 16 further comprises an integral elongated portion 16c which couples the first end 16a to the second end 16b.
The inserter 16 comprises a stop or shoulder 18. As described in more detail later herein, the shoulder 18 (
In the illustration being described and as mentioned, the second end 16b comprises an inserter fastener 20 which in the illustration being described comprises threads 22. Although the inserter fastener 20 is shown as having threads 22 in the illustration, it should be understood that the inserter fastener 20 could be any suitable means for coupling the inserter 16 to at least one of the cage 12 or plate 14 so that they may be substantially simultaneously mounted on the inserter 16 and implanted into a patient P (
For ease of illustration,
Referring now to
Referring back to
Referring now to
The plate 14 has an internal wall 48 that defines a through-hole 50 for receiving the second end 16b of the inserter 16. In the illustration shown in
As shown in
As illustrated in
In one embodiment and in order to maintain the relationship of the cage 12 to the plate 14 during insertion, at least one of or both of the cage 12 or plate 14 may comprise at least one or plurality of aligners 54 and 56 (
The at least one or plurality of aligners 54 and 56 facilitate aligning the cage 12 to the plate 14 and also facilitate preventing the plate 14 or cage 12 from any rotational movement when the inserter 16 is unscrewed or dismounted from the cage 12 and plate 14. In the illustration being described, the at least one or plurality of aligners 54 and 56 are integral projections that extend away from surface 14b as shown in
Although the embodiments being shown and described herein illustrate various means for securing the cage 12 and plate 14 together using the threads 22 that are threadably received in at least one or both of the cage 12 and plate 14, other means for securing the inserter 16 to the cage 12 and plate 14 may be used without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
The system and method 10 for co-inserting the cage 12 and plate 14 into the patient during a surgical procedure will now be described. In general, the end 16d of the inserter 16 is passed through the through-hole 50 and then screwed into the threaded opening 34 in the cage 12. Note that if the embodiment of
The inserter 16 substantially simultaneously receives and supports the cage 12 and plate 14 so that simultaneous implanting of the cage 12 and plate 14 using the inserter 16 can be performed during a surgical procedure. In this regard, note in
After the cage 12 and plate 14 are positioned, the inserter 16 may be unscrewed or rotated and removed from the cage 12 and plate 14. In this regard, note that the inserter 16 may be held in place while at least one of the plurality of screws 28 is used to secure the plate 14 to at least one of the vertebra 24 or 26. Thereafter, the inserter 16 may be unscrewed from the cage 12 and/or plate 14. It should be understood, therefore, that the inserter 16 is first removed from the cage 12 and then removed from the plate 14 at the end of the surgical procedure. In contrast the inserter 16 is inserted first through the plate 14 and then into the cage 12 when the inserter 16 is mounted to these components.
As alluded to earlier herein, when the inserter 16 is mounted to the cage 12 and plate 14, the at least one or plurality of aligners 54 and 56, may be used to align and maintain alignment of the cage 12 and plate 14 together.
Advantageously, the system and method 10 enable the co-insertion or substantially simultaneous insertion of the cage 12 and plate 14 using a single tool, namely, the inserter 16. In a preferred embodiment, the cage 12 is first packed or loaded with the graft material 15 (
Other features may include:
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- 1. At least one or a plurality of bone-penetrating prongs (not shown) may be situated on the second side 14b of the plate 14 to penetrate the bone and facilitate stabilizing the plate 14 during or following insertion or when the inserter 16 is removed from the plate 14 and cage 12.
- 2. Note that the at least one or plurality of aligners 54 and 56 are illustrated as being integral with the plate 14, other types of aligners could be used and/or the aligners could be situated on or even integral with the cage 12, with the plate 14 being adapted to receive the at least one or plurality of aligners 54 and 56, such as by providing receiving apertures in the plate 14.
- 3. Another feature of the system and method 10 described herein is that it facilitates or enables implantation of two independent and un-coupled components, namely the cage 12 and plate 14. In this regard, even if the components comprise an aligner, the cage 12 and plate 14 are not coupled directly together in the illustrations being described. It is envisioned that this feature of the plate 14 relative to the cage 12 can be provided similar to that which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,182,782, which is owned by the Assignee of the present application and which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
- 4. The plate 14 may be comprised of a shortened length plate 14 which does not extend past the upper and lower borders of the cage 12.
- 5. The plate 14 may incorporate various screw-plate locking mechanisms to prevent rotation and/or expulsion of fixation screws 28.
- 6. The plate 14 may comprise various screw arrangements and/or angulations, such as one upward screw 28 or downward screw alone; one upward and one downward; two upward and one downward; one upward and two downward; or two upward and two downward or the like.
- 7. The cage 12 may comprise a reduced, fenestrated or eliminated front wall, such that the inserter 16 can transverse the plate 14 and a substantial depth of the cage 12 with the inserter 16 engaging a rearward wall 12a of the cage 12. This feature is illustrated in
FIGS. 6A and 6B and shows the inserter 16 traversing the depth of the cage 12 so that it can fasten to a rear wall 12a of the cage 12 as shown. - 8. The inserter 16 to cage 12 mechanical coupling may incorporate various fixation means mentioned earlier, such as threading, camming, keying, spreading, clamping and otherwise reversibly locking the inserter 16 to the cage 12.
In the illustrations, the components can be made from any biocompatible material. Potential biocompatible materials comprise metals (for example, titanium), metal alloys (for example, titanium alloy), carbon fibers, composites, polymers or hybrid materials.
This invention, including all embodiments shown and described herein, could be used alone or together and/or in combination with one or more of the features covered by one or more of the claims set forth herein, including but not limited to one or more of the features or steps mentioned in the Summary of the Invention and the claims.
While the system and method herein described constitute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise system and method, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A spinal implant co-insertion system comprising:
- an inserter having a handle and an inserter fastener;
- a cage having at least one coupler adapted to be fastened to said inserter fastener; and
- a plate;
- said inserter being adapted to simultaneously receive said plate and said cage for simultaneous co-implantation of said plate and cage;
- wherein said inserter fastener comprises at least one of threads, a cam, a key, a spread or a clamp, said at least one coupler of said cage being adapted to be fastened or coupled to said inserter fastener;
- wherein said plate is not securely coupled or fixed to said cage so that said plate can move, migrate or float with respect to said cage after said plate and said cage are implanted.
2. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 1 wherein said inserter fastener is at an end of said inserter.
3. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 2 wherein said inserter fastener comprises threads, a cam, a key, a spread or a clamp, at least one coupler of said cage being adapted to be fastened or coupled to said inserter fastener.
4. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 1 wherein said inserter comprises a shoulder to facilitate maintaining said plate and said cage in a generally adjacent position during a surgical procedure.
5. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plate comprises an internal wall that defines a through-hole for receiving said inserter.
6. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 5 wherein said internal wall is threaded and said inserter fastener is threaded.
7. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 3 wherein said plate comprises an internal wall that defines a through-hole to permit said end of said inserter to pass.
8. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 7 wherein said inserter fastener are threads and said internal wall is threaded and adapted to threadably receive said threaded end of said inserter so that said threaded end may be screwed into both said plate and said cage.
9. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plate comprises a bone-penetrating prong to facilitate stabilizing said plate during or following insertion or when said inserter is removed from said plate and cage.
10. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said cage or plate has an aligner for operatively aligning said cage and said plate together.
11. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 10 wherein said aligner is integrally formed in said plate.
12. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 11 wherein said aligner comprises at least one projection that causes said plate and cage to become aligned when they are received on said inserter.
13. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 10 wherein said aligner comprises a plurality of projections that cause said plate and cage to become aligned when they are received on said inserter.
14. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 13 wherein said cage comprises a plurality of aligning apertures for receiving said plurality of projections in order to align said cage relative to said plate.
15. The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in claim 1 wherein said inserter simultaneously receives said plate and cage so that while said plate and cage are simultaneously co-implanted, said plate and cage are coupled together by said inserter and after said plate and cage are implanted and said inserter is removed from said plate and cage, said cage and plate are independent, uncoupled and separate components.
16. A plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system, comprising:
- a body;
- said body having an internal wall that defines a through-hole for receiving an inserter having an inserter end that is screwed into a cage so that said inserter can simultaneously receive said cage and said plate so that they can be simultaneously implanted during a surgical procedure.
17. A method for co-inserting a cage and a plate during a surgical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:
- coupling an inserter to the cage and the plate so that said inserter simultaneously receives and supports said cage and plate;
- simultaneously implanting the cage and plate using the inserter during a surgical procedure;
- removing said inserter from said cage; and
- removing said inserter from said plate.
18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said first removing step is performed before said second removing step.
19. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
- passing inserter through said plate;
- screwing an end of said inserter into a threaded opening in said cage so that said plate becomes mounted on said inserter with said cage securing it to said inserter.
20. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said plate and said cage each have a threaded opening; said method further comprising the step of:
- screwing an end of said inserter into said threaded opening in said plate and then into a threaded opening in said cage.
21. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said method further comprising the step of:
- aligning said plate to said cage before said inserter is secured to said cage and plate.
22. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said method further comprising the step of:
- aligning said plate to said cage before said inserter is secured to said cage and plate.
23. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
- packing said cage with graft material before said coupling step.
24. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
- packing said cage with graft material after said coupling step and before said implanting step.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 9, 2015
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2015
Applicant: X-SPINE SYSTEMS, INC. (Miamisburg, OH)
Inventor: David Louis Kirschman (Dayton, OH)
Application Number: 14/593,348
International Classification: A61F 2/44 (20060101); A61B 17/70 (20060101); A61F 2/46 (20060101);