IMPLANTABLE VERTEBRAL FRAME SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODS FOR SPINAL REPAIR
A system for performing surgical repair of the spine includes a distractor and a permanently implanted bone plate system. A surgical repair methodology is also disclosed that employs an implanted bone plate system with a substantially void internal volume which is attached to adjacent vertebrae subsequent to the distraction and adjustment of curvature of the vertebrae and prior to the excision of disc and/or end plate tissue through the bone plate. The device further facilitates the subsequent delivery of an interbody repair device for the purpose of either fusion or dynamic stabilization, such as by disc arthroplasty. The plate may be permanently implanted, such as when a fusion between the attached vertebral bodies is desired, but it need not be permanently implanted.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/839,533, filed on Jun. 14, 2022 (published as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2022-0304729), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/720,330, filed on Dec. 19, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,389,210, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/265,166 filed on Apr. 29, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,548,645, which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/616,762 filed Nov. 11, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,709,054. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/855,124 filed Sep. 13, 2007 and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/954,511 filed Aug. 7, 2007. Each patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCEAll publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to a system for performing surgical repair of the spine, such as for but not limited to the delivery of an interbody repair device for the purpose of either fusion or dynamic stabilization. It is current practice in spinal surgery to use bone fixation devices to improve the mechanical stability of the spinal column and to promote the proper healing of injured, damaged or diseased spinal structures. Typically, corrective surgery entails the removal of damaged or diseased tissue, a decompression of one or more neural elements, followed by the insertion of an intervertebral implant for the purposes of a fusion or disc arthroplasty. In cases where spinal fusion is the desired surgical outcome, the final step is often to apply a bone plate in order to immobilize adjacent vertebral bones to expedite osteogenesis across said vertebral segments.
Most current surgical techniques require that damaged vertebral tissue be placed under rigid axial distraction throughout much of the procedure. This allows for greater ease in the removal of tissue, provides a larger working space for instrument maneuverability, enhances the surgeon's visibility and assists with the fit of the interbody implant once the distractor apparatus is removed. Conventional distraction of the spine typically employs the use of temporary “distractor pins” placed directly into the bone tissue adjacent to the disc space to be repaired, which are subsequently induced to move axially by the attachment and adjustment of a secondary tool. An alternative method employs the use of a ratcheting spreader device which is inserted directly into the vertebral interspace and is adjusted thereafter to achieve desired distraction. These distraction methods offer an imprecise means to restore preferred vertebral alignment, add several steps, require more time to install and remove, increase the risk for entwining of surrounding vascular structures or peripheral nerves and can present significant physical impediments and technical challenges to the surgeon. Additionally, because the distractor device remains temporarily inserted during the decompression and fusion portions of the procedure, the surgeon must essentially work around the obtrusive projecting devices while completing the majority of the surgery.
It is also known that current distraction methods, while generally not designed or intended for this purpose, are often employed to adjust or maintain the angular alignment of adjacent vertebra in an attempt to restore normal lordotic curvature. The outcomes are varied, the degree of distraction and the angular correction produced by current distraction methods are often imprecise, require substantial subjective assessment by the surgeon and can vary significantly from patient to patient. Further, excessive distraction can result in a negative surgical outcome which can result in nerve damage or on-going post surgical pain for the patient.
There is a high degree of dimensional variability in the resulting intervertebral volume after distraction has been achieved using these devices. As a result, the surgeon must often make “trial and error” assessments as to the size and shape of the interbody implant to be inserted and may be required to customize the implant intraoperatively prior to final insertion.
In the conventional method, once the implant has been inserted, the distractor device is removed and the vertebrae can be secured by the attachment of a bone plate. Such bone plates, including a plurality of bone screws, are applied near the completion of the procedure to provide vertebral fixation and prohibit undesirable migration of the intervertebral implant.
Several design constructs have already been proposed in which a device is applied to adjacent vertebrae at the start of a procedure, prior to tissue removal, for the purposes of achieving and maintaining preferred vertebral alignment while serving also to constrain tissue removal throughout the procedure. The disclosed or published art in this method can generally be categorized into two broad categories: removable devices and permanently implantable devices.
The removable devices differ from the present proposed invention in that the devices used to maintain preferred vertebral alignment are temporary inserts and are subsequently removed after tissue removal so that a repair device may be delivered thereafter. The prior art which discloses permanently implantable devices differs in that the devices function solely to maintain preferred vertebral alignment and are not part of a comprehensive system and related method to precisely control and permanently maintain the preferred spatial relationship of adjacent vertebral members for controlled tissue removal and delivery of a repair device.
Removable Devices
U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,304 entitled Instrument System for Preparing a Disc Space Between Adjacent Vertebral Bodies to Receive a Repair Device, issued Dec. 26, 2006 to Robie et al., discloses a removable instrument system for preparing a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies using a series of distractors that restore natural lordosis before a temporary template is attached for vertebral immobilization and to function as a guide for an insertable reamer meant for tissue removal.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,623 to Michelson, entitled Milling Instrumentation and Method for Preparing a Space Between Adjacent Vertebral Bodies, issued Aug. 1, 2006, discloses a removable milling device and method for preparing a space between adjacent vertebral bodies which essentially maintains preferred vertebral alignment while functioning as a saw guide to control bone and soft tissue removal.
US Pat. App. 2005/0043740 to Haid, entitled Technique and Instrumentation for Preparation of Vertebral Members, published Feb. 24, 2005, discloses a removable instrumentation set and technique for preparation of vertebral members utilizing a docking ring which is temporarily applied to the anterior spine to maintain preferred vertebral alignment and to function as a docking plate for an articulating bone removal device.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,362 to McGahan, entitled Instruments and Techniques for Disc Space Preparation, issued Apr. 25, 2006, discloses a removable instrumentation set and method for disc space preparation whereby an intervertebral device is temporarily inserted for the purpose of constraining tissue removal and guiding the position of an intervertebral repair device.
US Pat. App. 2003/0236526 to Van Hoeck, entitled Adjustable Surgical Guide and Method of Treating Vertebral Members, published Dec. 25, 2003, discloses a removable surgical guide and method with adjustable functionality for the preparation of adjacent vertebra.
US Pat. App. No. 2006/0247654 to Berry, entitled Instruments and Techniques for Spinal Disc Space Preparation, published Nov. 2, 2006, discloses a removable milling instrument assembly for vertebral endplate preparation which constrains a cutting path obliquely oriented to the axis of the vertebra.
Permanently Implanted Devices
US Pat. App. 2004/0097925 to Boehm, entitled Cervical Spine Stabilizing System and Method, published May 20, 2004, discloses a permanently implantable spine stabilizing system and method whereby a plate configured to be positively centered along the midline is placed to retain adjacent vertebra in a desired spatial relationship during discectomy and fusion procedures. The disclosed invention uses a series of temporary implants and removable drill templates in an attempt to assure the alignment of the implanted device along the midline of the spinal column. This alignment is typically not considered to be significant in determined the clinical outcome of the procedure and is further considered impractical for the purposes of performing repair procedures on multiple adjacent disk spaces due to the normal scoliotic curvature of the spine.
US Pat. App. 2005/0149026 to Butler et al., entitled Static and Dynamic Cervical Plate Constructs, published Jul. 7, 2005, describes an implanted cervical bone plate having a graft window located between the bone screw holes for the purposes of providing visualization and access to an intervertebral implant. The device described is applied after the intervertebral space has been repaired and after the implant has been positioned. The specification states specifically that an appropriately “sized dynamic plate is placed over the inserted bone implant”; thereafter the bone plate is located with respect to the implant by viewing the implant through the graft window and secured in place using bone screws.
Additional bone plate devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,205 to Markolf et al, and US Pat. Apps 2005/0149026 to Butler et al and 2007/0233107 to Zielinski.
Accordingly, it is apparent that there remains a need for a permanently implantable spinal repair system and related method whereby the final preferred vertebral alignment and fixation occurs prior to the surgical removal of damaged tissue, without the use of temporary implants or fasteners and where the surgical procedures can be performed there-through in the minimum amount of time with the minimum number of entries into the surgical field. It is further apparent that there is a need for a system wherein subsequent recovery procedures can be performed with minimal effort should implantation fail or should subsequent surgery be required.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe invention relates generally to systems and methods for establishing and securing adjacent vertebrae in a defined spatial relationship prior to the excision and repair of damaged tissue. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one distraction device, at least one implantable vertebral frame, at least one interbody repair implant, and at least one retention member. In this embodiment, the distraction device is configured for temporary placement between adjacent vertebrae for achieving a desired spatial relationship between the vertebrae. In this embodiment, the implantable vertebral frame is configured to span between the adjacent vertebrae, the frame being configured to attach to each of the adjacent vertebra while the distraction device is in place to postoperatively maintain the desired spatial relationship between the vertebrae after the distraction device is removed, the frame also having at least one internal operating aperture there-through for providing access to at least one intervertebral disk space. In this embodiment, the interbody repair implant is sized in relationship to the aperture of the frame to fit there-through and into the intervertebral space. And finally, in this embodiment, the retention member is attachable to the frame to cover at least a portion of the aperture.
In various embodiments of the above summarized system, the frame may assume various forms and include various features that will now be summarized. In some embodiments of the system, the frame may be configured to span between and remain postoperatively attached to at least three adjacent vertebrae. In some embodiments of the system, the frame may include external walls having integrally manufactured retractor blade engaging features. In some embodiments of the system, the frame may have a plurality of through holes to facilitate attachment of the frame to adjacent vertebrae by means of bone screws. In some of these particular embodiments, the holes may be a combination of elongated slots and circular holes to accommodate the insertion of bone screws there-through into vertebral bone tissue. In some embodiments of the system, the frame may have a plurality of protrusions to facilitate attachment of the frame to the adjacent vertebrae by means of impingement into the bone tissue of the adjacent vertebrae.
Further, in some embodiments of the system, the frame may have one or more receiving elements to accept a locking member for securing the retention member. In various of these particular embodiments, the locking member may be any of a threaded screw device, a snap lock device, or a cam lock device, and further in some of these particular embodiments, the one or more receiving elements for the retention member may accommodate the temporary location of at least one tissue retractor pin.
Still further, in some embodiments of the system, the frame may be configured to receive bone screws there-through to attach the frame to the vertebrae, the retention member being adapted to cover the bone screws when the member is attached to the frame to prevent back-out of the screws.
In some embodiments of the system, the retention member may be configured to retain the interbody implant in its surgically established position.
According to an aspect of the invention, a vertebral implant may be provided. Embodiments of the implant are configured to rigidly interconnect at least two vertebrae, the implant being manufactured from a generally rigid material having thereon contact surfaces for engaging on vertebral bone material, the contact surfaces including a biocompatible, compressible, polymeric material. In some of these embodiments, the generally rigid material may also include a biocompatible metallic material.
In another aspect of the invention, various embodiments of methods are provided for applying the system and/or the vertebral implant, as summarized above. In one method of applying the system, the adjacent vertebrae are distracted and spatially oriented with the distraction device, the vertebral frame is secured to the adjacent vertebrae, the damaged tissue is excised through the operating aperture in the vertebral frame, the vertebral interspace is prepared to receive the repair implant, said implant being placed through the operating aperture into said prepared interspace, and the retention member is then installed onto the vertebral frame.
Another embodiment of a method for applying the system is also provided. In this embodiment, the vertebral frame is attached to one or more vertebrae, the vertebrae are then distracted and spatially oriented by operating through the operating aperture in the vertebral frame, the vertebral frame is secured to each adjacent vertebrae, the damaged tissue is excised through the operating aperture in the vertebral frame, the vertebral interspace is prepared through the operating aperture to receive the repair implant, the interbody implant is inserted through the operating aperture into the prepared interspace and the retention member is installed onto the vertebral frame.
In another aspect of the invention, a method for treating a portion of a spinal column is provided. The method includes distracting and spatially orienting adjacent vertebral bodies of the spinal column, securing a vertebral frame to the adjacent vertebral bodies, the vertebral frame having at least one operating aperture there-through, preparing a vertebral interspace to receive an interbody implant, inserting the interbody implant through the operating aperture and into the prepared interspace, and maintaining the vertebral frame in place on the vertebral bodies postoperatively.
In some embodiments of this method for treating a portion of a spinal column, the distracting step is performed using a distraction device placed between the vertebral bodies, and the distraction device is removed from between the vertebral bodies through the operating aperture in the vertebral frame after the vertebral frame is secured to the vertebral bodies. In some of these methods for treating a portion of the spinal column, the method may further include the step of excising damaged tissue through the operating aperture in the vertebral frame. In another embodiment, the method may further include the step of installing a retention member onto the vertebral frame after inserting the interbody implant. In still other embodiments, the step of preparing a vertebral interspace to receive an interbody implant may be performed through the operating aperture of the vertebral frame.
In some embodiments of the method for treating a portion of the spinal column, the vertebral frame may have particular features or aspects. Thus, in some embodiments, the vertebral frame may be attached to at least one of the vertebral bodies before the distraction step, the distraction step being performed through the operating aperture in the vertebral frame. In other embodiments, the vertebral frame may be secured to more than two adjacent vertebral bodies. In still other embodiments, the vertebral frame may be maintained in place permanently, generally from the time it is first secured to the vertebral bodies.
According to some aspects of the present invention, a means and method to precisely control and permanently maintain the preferred spatial relationship of adjacent vertebral members prior to the surgical removal of damaged tissue may be provided.
According to some aspects of the invention, a means may be provided whereby preferred spatial relationship of adjacent vertebra can be achieved and permanently maintained using conventional vertebral distraction methods or in conjunction with a novel intervertebral distractor apparatus disclosed separately in the co-pending patent application Ser. No. 60/954,507 titled “Device and Method for Variably Adjusting Intervertebral Distraction and Lordosis” filed on Aug. 7, 2007.
According to some aspects of the invention, the surgical removal of damaged tissue may be constrained in order to minimize the risk of damage to the adjacent tissue.
According to some aspects of the invention, the preferred spatial relationship of adjacent vertebral members may be precisely controlled and permanently maintained with a device having a low profile, allowing the surgeon to work in an unrestricted manner, within, around, above and below the device.
According to some aspects of the invention, the preferred spatial relationship of adjacent vertebral members may be precisely controlled and permanently maintained for the insertion of a spinal repair device.
According to some aspects of the invention, the insertion of a spinal repair device may be spatially controlled.
According to some aspects of the invention, a locking member may be accommodated to prevent undesirable migration of the spinal repair device and bone screws.
According to some aspects of the invention, the method and device may be utilized across one or multiple vertebral segments.
According to some aspects of the invention, a permanent rigid internal fixation may be provided across one or multiple vertebral segments.
In one particular embodiment, a permanent semi-rigid fixation is provided across one or multiple vertebral segments.
In one particular embodiment, a retractor apparatus is accommodated by providing integrally manufactured receiving and engaging means for the tissue control blades of said retractor.
In one particular embodiment, removable templates which locate and constrain the surgical removal of tissue to the desired vertebral area are accommodated.
In one particular embodiment the vertebral fixation element in the system is manufactured using two biocompatible materials, the structural component being manufactured from a high modulus rigid material such as Titanium, Stainless steel or other metal and having therein contact elements for engaging on the vertebral tissue, said contact pads being manufactured from a bio-compatible compliant material such as polyethylene or a silicone. These contact pads are intended to be plastically deformed under compressive loads and to be compressed and deformed by the insertion of the bone screws in order to act as damping elements to absorb vibration during bone tissue removal and consequently to minimize the risk of associated screw dislocation. These pads further increase the initial friction between the vertebral fixing element and the vertebrae thereby reducing premature dynamic compression of the distracted vertebrae. Finally, the compliant elements act as shock absorbers during patient healing and promote osteogenesis within the implanted repair device.
In one particular embodiment, the inventive device may be coupled with a stereotactic navigational system for preferred device positioning and to constrain the surgical removal of tissue.
According to aspects of the invention, a system and surgical method for use in surgical spinal repair or reconstruction procedures are described herein, whereby preferred and final vertebral axial and angular positioning and fixation occurs prior to the cutting and removal of the tissue.
In one embodiment, the system can generally be described as a combination of:
-
- 1) An intervertebral distraction device placed temporarily between adjacent vertebrae for purposes of achieving a desired spatial relationship between adjacent vertebrae.
- 2) A vertebral plate.
- 3) A locking and retention member engaging with said vertebral plate.
- 4) An implantable interbody repair device.
- 5) Bone screws.
- 6) The vertebral plate having through holes for the purposes of accommodating attachment to the vertebrae using the bone screws.
- 7) Said vertebral plate having a generally open interior volume through which the removal of damaged tissue is performed.
- 8) Said vertebral plate having a generally open interior volume which constrains the insertion and prevents migration of an intervertebral repair device.
- 9) Said vertebral plate having accommodation means for attaching the locking and retention member for retention of the implanted repair device and the bone screws.
- 10) One embodiment of the surgical method may be generally described as the sequence of spatially orienting adjacent vertebrae, locking said vertebrae in their prescribed relative positions using the vertebral plate and bone screws, preparing and repairing the intervertebral space through the operating window in the installed vertebral plate and securing the implant in place by securing a locking member to the vertebral plate.
- 11) An alternate surgical method may be generally described as the sequence of attaching the vertebral plate to one of the adjacent vertebrae, spatially orienting the adjacent vertebrae through the operating window in the vertebral plate, locking said vertebrae in their prescribed relative positions using the vertebral plate and bone screws, preparing and repairing the intervertebral space through the operating window in the installed vertebral plate and securing the implant in place by securing a locking member to the vertebral plate.
- 12) In an alternate surgical method, the vertebrae are partially distracted and held in this position by the insertion of bone screws through slots in the vertebral plate. In this instance the final distraction is achieved by the forcible insertion of an interbody repair device which has a cranio-caudal dimension that is larger than the dimension of the receiving intervertebral space. The differences in the two dimensions results in a further, final distraction of the adjacent vertebrae. This final movement of the vertebrae is accommodated by the movement of the screws within the slots in the vertebral plate.
In an anticipated procedure a conventional intervertebral distractor apparatus is manually inserted into or between the vertebrae resulting in axial distraction of the vertebrae. In the case of a standard wedge style distractor the degree of distraction results from a combination of the included angle and the depth to which it is inserted between the vertebrae. In the case of a distractor pin system the distraction results from the manipulation of a secondarily applied axial adjustment device.
In a further embodiment the included angle of the distractor device is variably adjustable by the surgeon after insertion between the vertebrae, this adjustment being achieved mechanically by means of a screw adjustment or the use of another adjusting tool Such a distractor device is disclosed in application Ser. No. 60/954,507 titled “Device and Method for Variably Adjusting Intervertebral Distraction and Lordosis” filed Aug. 7, 2007.
In a further embodiment the distractor apparatus can be mated with a stereotactic navigational device to establish, monitor and control the positioning of the device relative to the adjacent vertebra.
After distraction and lordotic adjustment has been achieved the spinal bridge is located on the vertebrae relative to the distractor device and attached to the adjacent vertebra by at least two bone screws, securing the vertebrae in their prescribed positions.
If intervertebral distractor devices have been employed they are removed, exposing a predefined accessible and constrained operating field allowing the controlled cutting and removal of tissue to occur.
In a further embodiment the vertebral plate can accommodate insertable control templates which can be placed within it by the surgeon to further assist precise tissue removal.
In a further embodiment the vertebral plate can serve as a mounting base for the attachment of soft tissue retractors, further aiding the surgeon by assuring an un-impeded surgical field.
In a further embodiment the vertebral plate can be removed after the placement of a disc arthroplasty device.
The intervertebral repair device may be generally wedge shaped, it may have an initial radius or taper for engagement with the adjacent vertebrae or it may be conically or cylindrically shaped.
Further, this device may have surface contours thereon which are intended to increase the surface area of contact between said surfaces and the exposed cancellous bone tissue and to increase the intimate compressive engagement with said cancellous tissue so as to induce and encourage osteogenesis therein.
Referencing
Instead of screws, or in combination therewith, one or more snap lock devices may be used to attach retention member 300 to vertebral frame 200. Such devices may employ a compressible feature, such as a split barb, that locks into place when inserted sufficiently into hole 105 or other mating feature. By using snap lock device(s), member 300 can be simply aligned with frame 200 and pressed into place without requiring the surgeon to align screws and install them with a driver. One or more cam lock devices may also be used, alone or with screws and/or snap lock devices. In some cam lock embodiments a torsional force is applied to a component, inducing rotation and causing it to become engaged in a corresponding feature within a receiving element. This twisting action causes the component to turn and lock under another component, again with less effort than required when installing a screw.
The system offers substantial benefits over those previously disclosed and those currently employed. These benefits include, but are not limited to:
-
- 1) A novel method which allows for precise control and fixation of optimal vertebral position.
- 2) Constrained and controlled tissue removal
- 3) Elimination of patient to patient variation
- 4) Integration of soft tissue retraction devices
- 5) Reduction in surgical time and maneuvers throughout the case.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
Cover plate 750 may be curved in mediolateral direction, as best seen in
Referring to
Locking arm 764 may include a raised dimple 768, as shown in
Through hole 774 may be provided in locking arm 764, as shown in
Cover plate 750 may be made of PEEK so as to be radiolucent. This allows bone growth into an implant beneath cover plate 750 (as will be subsequently described) to be viewed with various imaging techniques. Locking arm 764 may be made of titanium so its locked status can be confirmed by imaging.
Referring to
As best seen in
The distal end 804 of guide 800 is configured to mate with the anterior side 704 of vertebral frame 700. As best seen in
Referring to
Insert 808 has rounded sides corresponding with central bore 812, as best seen in
Referring to
Referring to
In some embodiments, the tri-lobe configuration of implant 850 helps resist undesirable axial rotation between axial vertebrae. In some embodiments this configuration minimizes the tissue that is removed from the adjacent vertebrae as compared with a rectangular or other shape implant. In some embodiments surgeons are provided with implants that are either 11 mm or 15 mm long, and 15 mm or 18 mm wide.
In some embodiments implant 850 is made of PEEK. Since PEEK is radiolucent, bony ingrowth into the implant may be monitored with imaging during the healing process. In other embodiments, the implant comprises titanium and/or stainless steel.
Referring to
Head portion 874 of distraction device 870 may have a height H in a craniocaudal direction larger than the height h of wedge portion 872 in the same craniocaudal direction, as shown in
Head portion 874 of distraction device 870 may be provided with a central hole 858 and two lateral holes 860, or other suitable features, for engaging implant insertion instrumentation as previously described in relation to interbody repair implant 850.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the intervertebral space 906 is configured to be nominally smaller than the associated interbody implant, requiring the implant to compressively engage the vertebrae endplates when implanted. This arrangement can provide immediate structural stability of the repaired spine segment and can promote boney ingrowth into the implant.
In some embodiments, not every step shown in
In summary, an exemplary trans-plate cervical decompression and fusion procedure may include at least the following steps:
-
- Anterior incision
- Retraction
- Distraction and pre-lordosing
- Vertebral frame installation over the distraction device
- Removal of distraction device
- Discectomy and end plate preparation through the frame
- Decompression
- Implant insertion
- Cover implant and lock
- Close incision
All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
Claims
1. A system for securing adjacent vertebrae, the system comprising:
- a frame configured to span between the adjacent vertebrae, the frame having an anterior face, a posterior face, and at least one internal operating aperture extending from the anterior face to the posterior face, the aperture configured to fit over a head portion of a distraction device; and
- at least one retention member attachable to the frame to cover a majority of the area of the aperture, the at least one retention member having first and second tongues receivable in the pair of opposing undercuts, respectively, thereby locking the at least one retention member to the frame.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said frame is configured to span between and remain postoperatively attached to at least three adjacent vertebrae.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said frame includes external walls having integrally manufactured retractor blade engaging features.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said frame has a plurality of through holes to facilitate attachment of said frame to the adjacent vertebrae by means of bone screws.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said frame has a plurality of protrusions thereon to facilitate attachment of said frame to the adjacent vertebrae by means of impingement into the bone tissue of the adjacent vertebrae.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said retention member is configured to retain an interbody implant in its surgically established position.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to receive bone screws there-through to attach the frame to the vertebrae, the retention member adapted to at least partially cover the bone screws when the member is attached to the frame to prevent back-out of the screws.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame has first and second coplanar reference surfaces located on opposite sides of the operating aperture along a longitudinal centerline of the frame.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the frame includes first and second slotted through holes located on opposite sides of the operating aperture along the longitudinal centerline of the frame.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two non-parallel faces of the wedge portion of the distraction device include upper and lower non-parallel surfaces and first and second non-parallel side surfaces.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the head portion of the distraction device includes a central hole and two lateral holes configured to engage an implant insertion instrument.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the posterior face has a second pair of opposing undercuts on mediolaterally opposite sides of the aperture, respectively.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the head portion of the distraction device does not extend beyond the anterior face of the frame.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one retention member includes a rotatable locking arm, and distal ends of the rotatable locking arm are receivable in a second pair of opposing undercuts, respectively, thereby permanently locking the at least one retention member to the frame.
15. A system for securing adjacent vertebrae, the system comprising:
- A distraction device, having a head portion, configured for temporary placement between adjacent vertebrae;
- a frame configured to span between the adjacent vertebrae, the frame having an anterior face, a posterior face, and at least one internal operating aperture extending from the anterior face to the posterior face, the aperture being configured to fit over the head portion of the distraction device; and
- at least one retention member attachable to the frame to cover a majority of the area of the aperture, the at least one retention member having first and second tongues receivable in the pair of opposing undercuts, respectively, thereby locking the at least one retention member to the frame.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein said frame is configured to span between and remain postoperatively attached to at least three adjacent vertebrae.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein said frame includes external walls having integrally manufactured retractor blade engaging features.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein said frame has a plurality of through holes to facilitate attachment of said frame to the adjacent vertebrae by means of bone screws.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein said frame has a plurality of protrusions thereon to facilitate attachment of said frame to the adjacent vertebrae by means of impingement into the bone tissue of the adjacent vertebrae.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the retention member is configured to retain an interbody implant in its surgically established position.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 28, 2023
Publication Date: Nov 9, 2023
Inventors: David Lowry (Holland, MI), Desmond O'Farrell (Grand Rapids, MI), Scott Tuinstra (Holland, MI), Roger Veldman (Hudsonville, MI)
Application Number: 18/215,325