Claims
- 1. A milling block for use in a vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, the milling block comprising:
a) a front face for placement against the adjacent vertebral bodies, b) a first slot formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front face and having a vertical length, and c) a first anchoring pin received in the first slot, and having a proximal portion having a diameter, wherein the vertical length of the first slot is greater than the diameter of the proximal portion of the first anchoring pin.
- 2. The milling block of claim 1 further comprising:
d) a second slot formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front face and having a vertical length, and e) a second anchoring pin received in the first slot, and having a proximal portion having a diameter, wherein the vertical length of the second slot is greater than the diameter of the proximal portion of the second anchoring pin.
- 3. The milling block of claim 1 wherein the front face of the milling block comprises an upper face, and the first slot is formed in a tab extending vertically from the upper face.
- 4. The milling block of claim 1 wherein the milling block further comprises:
d) a side face, and the first slot is formed in a tab extending laterally from the side face.
- 5. The milling block of claim 1 wherein the milling block further comprises:
d) a back face, and the first slot extends from the front face to the backface.
- 6. The milling block of claim 1 wherein the first slot is open.
- 7. The milling block of claim 1 wherein the first slot is closed.
- 8. The milling block of claim 1 wherein the first slot has a diameter, and the diameter of the proximal portion of the first anchoring pin is less than the diameter of the first slot.
- 9. The milling block of claim 8 wherein the first slot has a diameter, and first anchoring pin has a head portion having a diameter, the diameter of the head portion of the first anchoring pin is greater than the diameter of the first slot.
- 10. The milling block of claim 1 formed from an upper shell having an upper front half-face, and a lower shell having a lower front half-face, wherein alignment of the half-facs forms the front face.
- 11. A vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space, comprising:
i) a milling block comprising:
a) a front face for placement against the vertebral bodies, b) an opposite back face having a back opening having a width, and c) a housing formed between the front and back faces, and ii) a bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates, comprising:
a) a distal cutting element having a width and disposed distal the front face of the milling block, b) an intermediate element housed within the housing, and c) a proximal longitudinal element having a distal portion disposed in the back opening, wherein the width of the distal cutting element is greater than the width of the back opening.
- 12. The device of claim 11 wherein the intermediate element is a vibratory element.
- 13. The device of claim 12 wherein the cutting element is a vibratory cutting element.
- 14. The device of claim 13 wherein the vibratory cutting element comprises teeth formed by chemical etching.
- 15. The device of claim 12 wherein the vibratory cutting element has a shape corresponding substantially to the shape of an interbody implant.
- 16. The device of claim 12 wherein the vibratory element produces a stroke of between 1 mm and 3 mm.
- 17. The device of claim 16 wherein the vibratory cutting element has a width, wherein the ratio of the width to the stroke is at least 1:1.
- 18. The device of claim 17 wherein the ratio is at least 2:1.
- 19. The device of claim 17 wherein the ratio is at least 5:1.
- 20. The device of claim 17 wherein the ratio is between 10:1 and 30:1.
- 21. A vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space, comprising:
i) a milling block comprising:
a) a front face for placement against the vertebral bodies, b) an opposite back face having a back opening, and c) a housing formed between the front and back faces, and ii) a bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates and comprising:
a) a distal cutting element disposed distal the front face of the milling block, b) an intermediate element housed within the housing, and c) a proximal longitudinal element having a distal portion disposed in the back opening, wherein the back opening of the milling block substantially conforms to the distal portion of the longitudinal element of the bone removal device.
- 22. The device of claim 21 wherein the intermediate element is a vibratory element.
- 23. The device of claim 22 wherein the cutting element is a vibratory cutting element.
- 24. The device of claim 23 wherein the vibratory cutting element comprises teeth formed by chemical etching.
- 25. The device of claim 22 wherein the vibratory cutting element has a shape corresponding substantially to the shape of an interbody implant.
- 26. The device of claim 22 wherein the vibratory element produces a stroke of between 1 mm and 3 mm.
- 27. The device of claim 26 wherein the vibratory cutting element has a width, wherein the ratio of the width to the stroke is at least 1:1.
- 28. The device of claim 27 wherein the ratio is at least 2:1.
- 29. The device of claim 27 wherein the ratio is at least 5:1.
- 30. The device of claim 27 wherein the ratio is between 10:1 and 30:1.
- 31. A milling block for use in a vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space, the milling block comprising:
a) a front face for placement against the adjacent vertebral bodies, b) a first slot formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front face and having a diameter, and c) a first anchoring pin received in the first slot, and having a proximal portion having a diameter, wherein the diameter of the first slot is greater than the diameter of the proximal portion of the first anchoring pin.
- 32. The block of claim 31 wherein the first anchoring pin further comprises a head portion having a diameter, and the diameter of the head portion is greater than the diameter of the slot.
- 33. A cutting element for contouring a vertebral endplates adjacent a disc space, comprising:
i) upper and lower surfaces, and ii) a peripheral sidewall formed between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein at least one of the upper and lower surface comprises a cutting surface, and wherein the sidewall comprises a non-cutting peripheral ledge.
- 34. The cutting element of claim 33 wherein the cutting element is a vibratory cutting element.
- 35. The cutting element of claim 33 wherein the upper surface comprises an upper cutting surface, and the lower surface comprises a lower cutting surface.
- 36. The cutting element of claim 35 wherein the sidewall comprises an upper non-cutting peripheral ledge facing the upper cutting surface and a lower non-cutting peripheral ledge facing the lower cutting surface.
- 37. The cutting element of claim 33 wherein the cutting surface comprises teeth formed by chemical etching.
- 38. The device of claim 33 wherein the cutting element has a shape corresponding substantially to the shape of an interbody implant.
- 39. The cutting element of claim 33 wherein the upper surface comprises an upper cutting surface, and the lower surface comprises a lower non-cutting surface.
- 40. The cutting element of claim 33 wherein the peripheral sidewall has a proximal portion comprising means for attaching a vibration element.
- 41. A vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, comprising:
i) a milling block comprising:
a) a front face for placement against the vertebral bodies and having a front opening, b) an opposite back face, and c) a housing formed between the front and back faces, and ii) a bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates and comprising:
a) a distal cutting element disposed substantially distal the front face of the milling block, and b) a proximal vibration element substantially housed within the housing of the milling block and in connection with the distal cutting element through the front opening of the milling block.
- 42. The device of claim 41 wherein the milling block is formed from an upper shell having an inside attachment surface and an upper front half-face, and a lower shell having an inside attachment surface and a lower front half-face, and wherein the inside attachment surface of the upper shell is substantially aligned with the inside attachment surface of the lower shell, and wherein alignment of the inside attachment surfaces aligns the half faces to produce the front face.
- 43. The device of claim 42 wherein the upper shell further comprises a front half-opening, the lower shell further comprises a front half-opening, and wherein alignment of the inside attachment surfaces aligns the front half-openings to produces the front opening.
- 44. The device of claim 43 wherein the upper shell further comprises a back half-opening, the lower shell further comprises a back half-opening, and wherein alignment of the inside attachment surfaces aligns the back half-openings to produces a back opening.
- 45. The device of claim 44 wherein the upper shell further comprises an intermediate recess, the lower shell further comprises an intermediate recess, and wherein alignment of the inside attachment surfaces produces aligns the recesses to produce the housing.
- 46. The device of claim 42 wherein the inside attachment surfaces of the shells comprise attachment means.
- 47. The device of claim 42 wherein the inside attachment surfaces of the shells comprise alignment means.
- 48. The device of claim 42 wherein the alignment of the inside surfaces produces a gap therebetween.
- 49. The device of claim 41 wherein the back face of the milling block comprises a back opening.
- 50. The device of claim 41 wherein the bone removal device further comprises:
c) a longitudinal element having a distal portion disposed within the back opening of the back face of the milling block.
- 51. A vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space, comprising:
i) a bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates, comprising:
a) a distal cutting element, b) an intermediate vibration element comprising a proximal face having a recess having a vertical dimension and a lateral dimension, and c) a proximal longitudinal element defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the distal cutting element vibrates in a direction essentially lateral to the longitudinal axis.
- 52. The device of claim 51 wherein the proximal longitudinal element comprises a distal eccentric projection.
- 53. The device of claim 52 wherein the eccentric projection is received within the recess of the intermediate vibration element.
- 54. The device of claim 51 wherein the recess forms upper and lower walls having a distance therebetween, and lateral inner sidewalls having a distance therebetween, and the distance between the lateral inner sidewalls is less than the distance between the upper and lower walls.
- 55. The device of claim 51 wherein the cutting element has a width and the vibration element produces a stroke, and wherein the ratio of the width of the cutting element to the stroke is at least 1:1.
- 56. A vibration element for use in a bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates, comprising:
a) a proximal face having a recess having a vertical dimension and a lateral dimension, b) a distal face having an attachment means for connecting to a cutting element, wherein the lateral dimension of the recess is less than the vertical dimension of the recess.
- 57. The vibration element of claim 56 further comprising:
c) an upper wall having grooves thereon, and d) bearing balls disposed in the grooves.
- 58. The vibration element of claim 57 wherein the proximal and distal faces define an axis, and wherein the grooves are disposed transverse to the axis.
- 59. The vibration element of claim 56 further comprising:
c) c) a side wall having a blind hole therein.
- 60. The vibration element of claim 59 further comprising:
d) a compression spring disposed in the blind hole.
- 61. A bone removal device for contouring vertebral endplates, comprising:
i) a vibration element comprising:
a) a proximal face having a recess forming lateral inner side walls, and upper and lower walls, b) a distal face having an attachment means for connecting to a cutting element, ii) a longitudinal element having a distal end having an eccentric projection, wherein the eccentric projection is received in the recess of the vibration element, and wherein rotation of the longitudinal element causes the eccentric projection to contact substantially only the lateral inner sidewalls of the recess.
- 62. The device of claim 61 wherein the eccentric projection has a bearing element fitted thereon.
- 63. The device of claim 61 wherein the vibration element produces a stroke, and the vibratory cutting element has a width, wherein the ratio of the width to the stroke is at least 1:1.
- 64. The device of claim 63 wherein the ratio is at least 2:1.
- 65. The device of claim 63 wherein the ratio is at least 5:1.
- 66. The device of claim 63 wherein the ratio is between 10:1 and 30:1.
- 67. A vertebral body milling device for creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space, comprising:
i) a milling block comprising:
a) an upper shell having a front half-face, a back half-face, and an inside attachment surface connecting the half-faces, b) a lower shell having a front half-face, a back half-face, and an inside attachment surface connecting the half-faces, wherein the inside attachment surface of the upper shell is substantially aligned with the inside attachment surface of the lower shell.
- 68. The device of claim 67 wherein the alignment of the inside attachment surfaces aligns the front half-faces to form a front face in the milling block.
- 69. The device of claim 68 wherein the alignment of the inside attachment surfaces aligns the back half-faces to form a back face in the milling block.
- 70. The device of claim 69 wherein the upper shell further comprises a front half-opening formed in the front half-face, the lower shell further comprises a front half-opening formed in the front half-face, and wherein the substantial alignment of the inside attachment surfaces aligns the front half-openings to form a front opening in the milling block.
- 71. The device of claim 70 wherein the upper shell further comprises a back half-opening formed in the back half-face, the lower shell further comprises a back half-opening formed in the back half-face, and wherein the substantial alignment of the inside attachment surfaces aligns the back half-openings to form a back opening in the milling block.
- 72. The device of claim 71 wherein the upper shell further comprises an intermediate recess, the lower shell further comprises an intermediate recess, and wherein the substantial alignment of the inside attachment surfaces aligns the intermediate recess to form a housing in the milling block.
- 73. The device of claim 67 wherein the inside attachment surfaces comprise attachment means.
- 74. The device of claim 73 wherein the attachment means comprise a threaded hole extending from a first inside attachment surface and a mating screw.
- 75. The device of claim 67 wherein the inside attachment surfaces comprise alignment means.
- 76. The device of claim 75 wherein the attachment means comprise a hole extending from a first inside attachment surface and a dowel extending from a second inside attachment surface.
- 77. A method of creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space and an anterior lip, comprising the steps of:
a) inserting a first anchoring pin having a proximal diameter into a first of the adjacent vertebral bodies, b) providing a vertebral body milling device having a first vertical slot disposed thereon and a distally disposed cutting element, the vertical slot having a length being greater than the proximal diameter of the first anchoring pin, c) receiving the first slot over the first anchoring pin, and d) inserting the cutting element into the disc space so that the first pin vertically moves within the first slot and the disc space opens to accept the cutting element and preserve the lips.
- 78. The method of claim 78 wherein the vertebral body milling device further has a second vertical slot disposed thereon, comprising the further steps of:
e) inserting a second anchoring pin having a proximal diameter into a second of the adjacent vertebral bodies, wherein the second vertical slot has a length greater than the proximal diameter of the second anchoring pin, and f) receiving the second slot over the second anchoring pin, and wherein the second pin vertically moves within the second slot upon insertion of the cutting element into the disc space so that the disc space opens to accept the cutting element and preserve the lips.
- 79. A method of creating a contoured disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, each of the adjacent vertebral bodies having a vertebral endplate adjacent to the disc space and an anterior lip, comprising the steps of:
a) placing upon the adjacent bodies a vertebral body milling device having a first vertical slot disposed thereon and a distally disposed cutting element, b) inserting a first anchoring pin having a diameter into a first of the adjacent vertebral bodies through the first vertical slot, the first vertical slot length being greater than the pin diameter, c) inserting the cutting element into the disc space so that pin vertically moves within the slot and the disc space opens to accept the cutting element and preserve the lips.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims priority from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/391,628, filed Jun. 26, 2002, entitled “Endplate Shaping Device”.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60391628 |
Jun 2002 |
US |