FLEXIBLE CAGE SPINAL IMPLANT

Abstract

A implant is provided for placement in a space between boney structures. The implant may comprise a flexible section. The flexible section may be either the anterior side or the posterior side of the implant or both, among other sides. The flexible section or sections may comprise one or more orifices, cavities, or low modulus of elasticity materials among others. The flexible section or sections may facilitate a wider range of motion than otherwise possible for a spinal column comprising a Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LIF) device. Additionally, the anterior side comprising a flexible section may have a different modulus of elasticity than the posterior side comprising a flexible section. The difference may facilitate a wider range of responses from the implant to movement generated forces in at least two directions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure reference is now made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an oblique view of an embodiment of a flexible spinal implant designed to be inserted into an intervertebral space;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the flexible spinal implant;

FIG. 3 illustrates an anterior view of the flexible spinal implant;

FIG. 4 illustrates a midline cross-sectional view of the flexible spinal implant;

FIG. 5 illustrates an anterior view of the flexible spinal implant, wherein a force is applied to the top portion of the implant;

FIG. 6A illustrates a side view of the flexible spinal implant, wherein a force is applied to the anterior portion of the implant;

FIG. 6B illustrates an alternative side view of the flexible spinal implant, wherein a force is applied to the posterior portion of the implant;

FIG. 7 illustrates an oblique view of the flexible spinal implant, wherein openings of the implant may be pushed out;

FIGS. 8A-D illustrate anterior views of some of the various embodiments of the flexible spinal implant;

FIG. 9 illustrates a sagittal view of the flexible spinal implant, wherein the implant is located between two adjacent vertebrae;

FIG. 10 illustrates an oblique view of a flexible spinal implant, wherein the implant is being injected with a material;

FIG. 11A illustrates a sagittal view of the flexible spinal implant, wherein the implant comprises a port for injecting a material; and

FIG. 11B illustrates a midline section view of the flexible spinal implant, wherein the implant comprises a port for injecting a material.

Claims

1. A flexible implant configured to facilitate at least some relative movement between neighboring boney structures comprising: a first section at least slightly curved inward toward an interior of the implant and comprising at least one flexible member and configured to facilitate at least some amount of expansion and contraction of the flexible implant;a second section spaced from the first section, comprising at least one flexible member and configured to facilitate at least some amount of expansion and contraction of the flexible implant; andwherein the first section comprises an overall modulus of elasticity not equal to the overall modulus of elasticity of the second section, whereby the first and second sections provide different resilient support to neighboring boney structures.

2. The flexible implant of claim 1 wherein the at least one flexible member in the first section comprises a plurality of flexible members.

3. The flexible implant of claim 2 wherein the at least one flexible member in the second section comprises a plurality of flexible members.

4. The flexible implant of claim 1 wherein the at least one flexible member in at least one of the first section and the second section comprises an orifice.

5. The flexible implant of claim 4 wherein the orifice comprises a slot.

6. The flexible implant of claim 4 wherein the orifice comprises a cylindrical hole.

7. The flexible implant of claim 1 wherein the overall modulus of elasticity of the first section and the overall modulus of elasticity of the second section are not equal to an overall modulus of elasticity of a remaining portion of the flexible implant.

8. The flexible implant of claim 1 wherein a configuration of at least one of the flexible members in at least one of the first section and the second section is not the same as a configuration of a remaining portion of flexible members.

9. A flexible implant comprising: a first section;a second section spaced from the first section;wherein each of the first section and the second section comprise a flexible member, whereby the first section comprises a first nominal modulus of elasticity and the second section comprises a second nominal modulus of elasticity;wherein the first nominal modulus of elasticity and the second nominal modulus of elasticity are different than a remaining nominal modulus of elasticity for a remaining portion of the flexible implant; andwherein the first nominal modulus of elasticity is not equal to the second nominal modulus of elasticity, whereby the implant is able to provide different responses to forces due to at least two types or directions of movement.

10. A flexible implant comprising: a first section at least slightly curved inward toward an interior of the implant;a second section at least slightly curved outward away from the interior of the implant;at least one flexible member in each of the first section and the second sections and configured to resiliently respond to at least some movement of the flexible implant in at least two directions of motion; andwherein the first section is more resiliently deformable than the second section.

11. The flexible implant of claim 10, wherein the first section comprises a first nominal modulus of elasticity resulting at least in part from the at least one flexible member in the first section; wherein the second section comprises a second nominal modulus of elasticity resulting at least in part from the at least one flexible member in the second section; andwherein the first nominal modulus of elasticity is not equal to the second nominal modulus of elasticity.

12. The flexible implant of claim 10, wherein the first section comprises a first nominal modulus of elasticity due at least in part to the at least one flexible member in the first section; wherein the second section comprises a second nominal modulus of elasticity due at least in part to the at least one flexible member in the second section; andwherein the second nominal modulus of elasticity is greater than the first nominal modulus of elasticity.

13. The flexible implant of claim 12, wherein the at least one flexible member comprises an orifice.

14. The flexible implant of claim 13, wherein the orifice is an elongated slot.

15. The flexible implant of claim 13, wherein the orifice is cylindrically shaped.

16. The flexible implant of claim 12, wherein the at least one flexible member comprises a resilient material.

17. The flexible implant of claim 12, wherein the at least one flexible member comprises a depression.

18. The flexible implant of claim 10, further comprising: a first abutment surface for contacting a first boney surface;a second abutment surface for contacting a second boney surface; andwherein at least one protrusion is provided on at least one of the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface.

19. The flexible implant of claim 18, wherein at least one protrusion is provided on each of the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface.

20. The flexible implant of claim 18, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions.

21. The flexible implant of claim 19, wherein the at least one protrusion on each of the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface comprises a plurality of protrusions.

22. A method for adjusting a modulus of elasticity for an implant, comprising: determining a modulus of elasticity range for at least a first portion of the implant in at least one direction of motion; andadjusting the modulus of elasticity range of the first portion of the implant, comprising the steps of:removing one or more removable sections of the implant from the first portion of the implant such that the modulus of elasticity is within the determined modulus of elasticity range; orinserting a spacing member into one or more openings in the first portion of the implant.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of adding an insert further comprises distracting the first portion of the implant by inserting a spacing member into at least one of the one or more openings of the first portion.