Claims
- 1. An implant for mechanically attaching to the end surface of and promoting bony fusion of at least two vertebrae adjacent to a space left by surgically removed spinal tissue, comprising
a. a load-sharing body comprising a structure having
i. a combination of structural elements fabricated from at least one material having finite moduli of elasticity, the combination comprising at least a top surface and a bottom surface; ii. said combination of structural elements establishing for structure as a whole a composite non-zero elasticity at least in compression in directions generally normal to said top surface and said bottom surface; iii. said combination of structural elements further comprising at least one cavity communication with both said top surface and said bottom surface in a configuration suitable as a receptacle for bone implant and growth material; and b. on each of said top surface and said bottom surface at least one fastener capable of mechanically anchoring the body to said adjacent vertebrae and transmitting tensile and torsional loads to and from said adjacent vertebrae.
- 2. The implant of claim 1 in which said at least one fastener on each of said top surface and said bottom surface comprises a dovetail protrusion shaped so as to mate slidingly with a groove of substantially the same shape.
- 3. The implant of claim 1 in which said at least one fastener on each of said top surface and said bottom surface comprises a horseshoe shaped dovetail tongue with segments on the outboard portions of the body, said tongue shaped so as to mate slidingly with groove of substantially the same shape.
- 4. The implant of claim 1 in which said at least one fastener on each of said top surface and said bottom surface comprises a plurality of dovetail protrusions, each of which plurality is shaped so as to mate slidingly with a groove of substantially the same shape.
- 5. The implant of claim 1 in which said at least one fastener on each of said top surface and said bottom surface comprises at least one tack and staple devices.
- 6. The implant of claim 1 in which said at least one fastener on each of said top surface and said bottom surface comprises at least one bone anchor.
- 7. The implant of claim 1 in which the combination of elements comprises an assembly of at least three modular components, the first modular component comprising a right partial separator, the second modular component comprising a left partial separator, each having at least a top surface and a bottom surface, and the third modular component comprising a retainer/keeper.
- 8. The implant of claim 7 in which the right partial dovetail separator and the left partial dovetail separator each has on each of said top surface and said bottom surface at least one fastener capable of mechanically anchoring the partial separator to said adjacent vertebrae.
- 9. The implant of claim 7 in which the right partial separator and the left partial separator each has on each of said top surface and said bottom surface at least one fastener such that in concert the fasteners form a structure capable of mechanically anchoring the implant to said adjacent vertebrae.
- 10. The implant of claim 1 in which the top surface and the bottom surface are oriented with respect to one another such that the implant maintains spinal lordosis after insertion.
- 11. The implant of claim 1 in which the at least one material having finite moduli of elasticity from which the combination of structural elements is fabricated is selected from the group PEEK (Polyesther Esther Ketone), Acetyl (delrin), polysulphone, Ultra High Molecular Weight polyethylene (UHMW Poly), and composites involving high strength carbon fibers or glass filaments.
- 12. The implant of claim 1 in which the at least one material having finite moduli of elasticity from which the combination of structural elements is fabricated comprises human bone allograft material.
- 13. The implant of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one retractable barb in each of said top surface and said bottom surface, said at least one barb retractably engaging the surface of said adjacent vertebrae so as to prevent the implant from dislodging.
- 14. The method of mechanically attaching and promoting bony fusion of two vertebrae adjacent to a space left by surgically removed tissue comprising the implantation of a load-sharing implant which shares compressive loads with said adjacent vertebrae so as to promote growth of bony material between said adjacent vertebrae and which is fastened to said adjacent vertebrae with shear and tensile load transmitting fasteners so as to permit relative movement during and after healing.
- 15. The method of attaching both vertebrae adjacent to a space left by excised spinal tissue to a hollow elastic implant filled with bone chips and/or bone growth medium designed to promote and accelerate fusion of the adjacent vertebrae in such a manner as to share compressive loads with the bone chips and/or bone growth medium.
- 16. A device for separating and fastening vertebrae adjacent to a space left by surgically removed spinal tissue, comprising
a. a body elastic to compression loads and comprising spaces for the emplacement of bone growth material; and b. fasteners which attach securely to adjacent vertebrae and transmit tension and torsional loads to and from the adjacent vertebrae.
- 17. A device for separating and fastening vertebrae adjacent to a space left by surgically removed spinal tissue, comprising:
a. means for separating adjacent vertrbrae while yielding elastically to compression loads; b. means for the emplacement of bone growth material; and c. means for attaching the device securely to adjacent vertebrae and transmitting tension and torsional loads to and from the adjacent vertrbrae.
- 18. A dovetail tome apparatus which cuts at least two dovetail grooves in bone simultaneously.
- 19. The dovetail tome apparatus of claim 18 comprising at least a shaft, a guide, and a tome.
- 20. The tome of claim 18 additionally comprising an inclined blade which parts bone removed by the tool so as to prevent jamming of the tool.
- 21. A cutting apparatus comprising a single element interlock which prevents rotation of the shaft outside of the guide and which prevents withdrawal of the tool from the guide while the shaft is rotated.
- 22. A guide means for stabilizing vertebrae adjacent to a space left by surgically removed spinal tissue and for establishing references for a tome apparatus.
- 23. A tome apparatus driver device providing a plurality of small impacts axially to a bone cutting device.
- 26. (original) An implant for mechanically attaching to the ends of and promoting bony fusion of at least two vertebrae adjacent to a space left by surgically removed spinal tissue, comprising:
a. a load-sharing body comprising a structure having,
i. a combination of structural elements fabricated from at least one inanimate or manmade material, the combination comprising at least a top surface and a bottom surface; ii. said combination of structural elements establishing for the structure as a whole a composite substantial elastic compliance at least in compression in directions generally axial to said top surface and said bottom surface; iii. said combination of structural elements further comprising at least one cavity communicating with both said top surface and said bottom surface in a configuration suitable as a receptacle for bone implant and growth material; iv. said combination of structural elements having an anterior surface and further comprising a channel through the anterior surface and communication with the at least one cavity, whereby bone growth material may be added to the cavity after insertion; b. located on each of said top surface and said bottom surface at least one first component of a locking joint, said locking joint comprising at least two components and being capable when all components are mated of mechanically anchoring the body to said adjacent vertebrae so as to transmit tensile and torsional loads to and from said adjacent vertebrae, said first component of the locking joint being configured to mate with at least a second component of the locking joint comprising a geometrically complementary element specially formed in the adjacent vertebra for mating attachment; and c. located on each of said top surface and said bottom surface at least one plurality of ridges, whereby the implant is prevented from being extruded from the intervertebral space after implantation.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/871,908, filed Jun. 4, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/072,777, issued Jun. 5, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,769, and claims priority based on that application.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09871908 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
10338068 |
Jan 2003 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09072777 |
May 1998 |
US |
Child |
09871908 |
Jun 2001 |
US |