Claims
- 1. A spinal implant assembly for insertion between adjacent first and second vertebrae, said implant comprising:
a first plate including a first surface configured to engage the first vertebra and an opposite second surface, and a second plate including a third surface configured to engage the second vertebra and a opposite fourth surface having a bearing portion configured engage the second surface of the first plate, wherein said first and second plates comprise a metal matrix composite including a metallic matrix and a reinforcing component dispersed within the metallic matrix.
- 2. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the metallic matrix comprises a titanium, titanium aluminum alloy, zirconium or niobium or a mixture thereof.
- 3. The spinal implant assembly of claim 2 wherein the reinforcing component is selected from the group consisting of: TiC, TiB2, TiN, TiAl, WC, BC4, BN, diamond, ZrO2, Al2O3, and mixtures thereof.
- 4. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing component is a ceramic.
- 5. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing component is an intermetallic material.
- 6. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 1 wt % and about 90 wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 7. The spinal implant assembly of claim 6 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 20 wt % and about 80-wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 8. The spinal implant assembly of claim 7 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 10 wt % and about 30-wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 9. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the first surface of the first plate has a porosity of greater than about 5%.
- 10. The spinal implant assembly of claim 9 wherein the first surface of the first plate has a porosity of greater than about 10%.
- 11. The spinal implant assembly of claim 9 wherein the metallic matrix material is impregnated with one or more therapeutic agents.
- 12. The spinal implant assembly of claim 9 wherein the metallic matrix material is impregnated with a bone growth-inducing agent.
- 13. The spinal implant assembly of claim 11 wherein the metallic matrix material is impregnated with a bone growth-inducing agent.
- 14. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the metal matrix composite is selected to exhibit a surface hardness of at least 20 Rc.
- 15. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the metal matrix composite is selected to exhibit a surface hardness of at least about 45 Rc.
- 16. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the metal matrix material has a density of greater than about 80%.
- 17. The spinal implant assembly of claim 16 wherein the metal matrix material has a density of greater than about 90%.
- 18. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing component is homogeneously dispersed throughout the metallic matrix material.
- 19. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing component is inhomogeneously dispersed throughout the metallic matrix material.
- 20. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the first plate exhibits a concentrate gradient of the reinforcing component decreasing from the first surface to the second surface.
- 21. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the second surface of the first plate comprises a convex protuberance and the fourth surface of the second plate comprises a concave receptacle to receive the convex protuberance.
- 22. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the first plate and the second plate are configured to allow translational and rotational movement of the first plate relative to the second plate.
- 23. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the first surface comprises bone-engaging structures.
- 24. The spinal implant assembly of claim 23 wherein the bone engaging structures include one or more of: ridges, teeth, grooves, rails, and wire mesh.
- 25. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 comprising a flange extending at an angle oblique to the first surface and positioned to overlay bone tissue when the first surface engages the first vertebra.
- 26. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the first plate or the second plate comprises a metal matrix composite that exhibits a bimodal porosity.
- 27. The spinal implant assembly of claim 26 wherein the first surface of the first plate or the third surface of the second plate exhibits a bimodal porosity.
- 28. The spinal implant assembly of claim 26 wherein the metal matrix composite comprises two or more layers including a sintered layer over an integrated porous layer.
- 29. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the first plate comprises a first metal matrix composite and the second plate comprises a second metal matrix composite different from the first metal matrix composite.
- 30. The spinal implant assembly of claim 29 wherein the first metal matrix composite includes a first reinforcing material and the second metal matrix composite includes a second reinforcing material different from the first reinforcing material.
- 31. The spinal implant assembly of claim 29 wherein the first metal matrix composite has a first porosity and the second metal matrix composite has a second porosity different from the first porosity.
- 32. The spinal implant assembly of claim 29 wherein the first metal matrix composite has a first porosity and the second metal matrix composite is about 100% dense.
- 33. The spinal implant assembly of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the first plate has a bimodal porous structure.
- 34. A spinal implant assembly for insertion between adjacent first and second vertebrae, said implant comprising:
a first plate including a first surface configured to engage the first vertebra and an opposite second surface having a first recess, and a second plate including a third surface configured to engage the second vertebra and a opposite fourth surface having a second recess opposing the first recess on the first plate; and an articulating element disposed between the first recess and the second recess, wherein the articulating element and the first and second plates each comprise a metal matrix composite comprising a metallic matrix and a reinforcing component dispersed with in the metallic matrix.
- 35. The spinal implant assembly of claim 34 wherein the articulating element is spherical, cylindrical, elliptical, disk shaped, or wafer shaped.
- 36. The spinal implant assembly of claim 34 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 1 wt % and about 90 wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 37. The spinal implant assembly of claim 36 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 20 wt % and about 80-wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 38. The spinal implant assembly of claim 34 wherein the first plate and the articulating element are a one-piece structure.
- 39. The spinal implant assembly of claim 34 wherein the first plate and the articulating element are non integral.
- 40. The spinal implant assembly of claim 34 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 10 wt % and about 30-wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 41. The spinal implant assembly of claim 34 wherein the first surface of the first plate has a porosity of greater than about 5%.
- 42. The spinal implant assembly of claim 34 wherein the first surface of the first plate has a porosity of greater than about 10%.
- 43. The spinal implant assembly of claim 41 wherein the metallic matrix material is impregnated with one or more therapeutic agents.
- 44. A medical device comprising:
an implantable portion for the treatment or diagnosis of a patient, said portion comprising a first layer including a metal matrix composite comprising a metal matrix and a reinforcing component dispersed with in the matrix.
- 45. The device of claim 44 comprising a disc prosthesis.
- 46. The device of claim 44 comprising a catheter.
- 47. The device of claim 44 comprising a bone plate.
- 48. The device of claim 44 comprising an electrode lead for a pacemaker or a stimulation electrode.
- 49. The device of claim 44 wherein the metal matrix composite comprises a component of the group consisting of: titanium, titanium aluminum alloy, zirconium, niobium, cobalt, chromium alloy, tantalum, tantalum alloy, nitinol, stainless steel, and/or a mixture thereof.
- 50. The device of claim 44 wherein the reinforcing component is selected from the group consisting of: TiC, TiB2, TiN, TiAl, WC, BC4, BN, diamond, ZrO2, AlO3, and mixtures thereof.
- 51. The device of claim 44 wherein the metal matrix composite comprises between 1 wt % and 90-wt % of the reinforcing component.
- 52. The device of claim 44 wherein the implantable portion is impregnated with a therapeutic composition.
- 53. A medical device comprising:
a disc prosthesis comprising a first layer including a first metal matrix composite comprising a metal matrix and a first reinforcing component dispersed within the matrix.
- 54. The spinal implant of claim 53 wherein the first metallic matrix comprises a titanium, titanium aluminum alloy, zirconium, niobium, or a mixture thereof.
- 55. The device of claim 53 wherein the first reinforcing component is selected from the group consisting of: TiC, TiB2, TiN, TiAl, WC, BC4, BN, diamond, ZrO2, Al2O3, and mixtures thereof.
- 56. The device of claim 53 wherein the first metallic matrix composite includes between about 1 wt % and about 90 wt % of the first reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 57. The device of claim 56 wherein the first metallic matrix composite includes between about 20 wt % and about 80 wt % of the first reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 58. The device of claim 57 wherein the first metallic matrix composite includes between about 10 wt % and about 30-wt % of the first reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 59. The device of claim 53 comprising a second layer including a second metal matrix composite.
- 60. The device of claim 59 wherein the second metal matrix composite is different from the first metal matrix composite.
- 61. The device of claim 59 wherein the second metal matrix composite includes a second reinforcing component different from the first reinforcing component.
- 62. The device of claim 59 wherein the first layer is configured to have a first porosity and the second layer is configured to have a second porosity different from the first porosity.
- 63. The device of claim 59 comprising one or more therapeutic agents.
- 64. The device of claim 53 comprising a sintered layer overlaying the first layer.
- 65. A medical device comprising:
a catheter including an implantable portion for the treatment or diagnosis of a patient, said implantable portion comprising a metal matrix composite including a metal matrix and a reinforcing component dispersed with in the matrix.
- 66. The device of claim 65 wherein the metallic matrix composite include a metal or metal alloy selected from the group consisting of: titanium, titanium-aluminum alloy, zirconium and niobium or a mixture thereof.
- 67. The device of claim 65 wherein the reinforcing component is selected from the group consisting of: TiC, TiB2, TiN, TiAl, WC, BC4, BN, diamond, ZrO2, Al2O3, and mixtures thereof.
- 68. The device of claim 65 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 1 wt % and about 90 wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 69. The device of claim 68 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 20 wt % and about 80 wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 70. The device of claim 65 wherein metal matrix composite has a porosity of greater than about 5%.
- 71. The device of claim 65 wherein the metallic matrix composite is impregnated with one or more therapeutic agents.
- 72. The device of claim 65 wherein metal matrix composite exhibits a plurality of pores having differing volumes.
- 73. The device of claim 65 wherein the metal matrix composite comprises a sintered layer.
- 74. A medical device comprising:
an electrode lead for a pacemaker or a stimulation electrode including an implantable portion for the treatment or diagnosis of a patient, said portion comprising a first layer including a metal matrix composite comprising a metal matrix and a reinforcing component dispersed with in the matrix.
- 75. The device of claim 74 wherein the metallic matrix composite include a metal or metal alloy selected from the group consisting of: titanium, titanium-aluminum alloy, zirconium and niobium or a mixture thereof.
- 76. The device of claim 74 wherein the reinforcing component is selected from the group consisting of: TiC, TiB2, TiN, TiAl, WC, BC4, BN, diamond, ZrO2, Al2O3, and mixtures thereof.
- 77. The device of claim 74 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 1 wt % and about 90 wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 78. The device of claim 67 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 20 wt % and about 80 wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 79. The device of claim 68 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 10 wt % and about 30 wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 80. The device of claim 74 wherein metal matrix composite has a porosity of greater than about 5%.
- 81. The device of claim 80 wherein metal matrix composite has a porosity of greater than about 10%.
- 82. The device of claim 74 wherein the metallic matrix composite is impregnated with one or more therapeutic agents.
- 83. The device of claim 74 wherein metal matrix composite exhibits a plurality of pores having differing volumes.
- 84. The device of claim 74 wherein the metal matrix composite comprises a sintered layer.
- 85. A medical device comprising:
a bone plate for the treatment or diagnosis of a patient, said portion comprising a first layer including a metal matrix composite comprising a metal matrix and a reinforcing component dispersed with in the matrix.
- 86. The device of claim 85 wherein the metallic matrix composite include a metal or metal alloy selected from the group consisting of: titanium, titanium-aluminum alloy, zirconium and niobium or a mixture thereof.
- 87. The device of claim 85 wherein the reinforcing component is selected from the group consisting of: TiC, TiB2, TiN, TiAl, WC, BC4, BN, diamond, ZrO2, Al2O3, and mixtures thereof.
- 88. The device of claim 85 wherein the metallic matrix composite includes between about 1 wt % and about 90 wt % of the reinforcing component, based upon the total weight of the metallic matrix composite.
- 89. The device of claim 85 wherein metal matrix composite has a porosity of greater than about 5%.
- 90. The device of claim 85 wherein the metallic matrix composite is impregnated with one or more therapeutic agents.
- 91. The device of claim 85 wherein metal matrix composite exhibits a plurality of pores having differing volumes.
- 92. The device of claim 85 wherein the metal matrix composite comprises a sintered layer.
- 93. A method of treating a spinal defect, said method comprising:
preparing a disc space between two adjacent vertebrae to receive a spinal implant inserting a spinal implant assembly, said assembly comprising: a first plate including a first surface to engage to a first vertebra and an opposite second surface and a second plate including a third surface to engage to a second vertebra and an opposite third surface to bear against the second surface of the first plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate are composed of a metal matrix composite comprising a metallic matrix including a biocompatible metal or metal alloy and a reinforcing component dispersed within the metallic matrix.
- 94. The method of claim 93 wherein said preparing comprises performing a discectomy.
- 95. The method of claim 93 comprising impregnating at least a portion of the spinal implant with a therapeutic composition.
- 96. The method of claim 93 comprising securing the spinal implant at least one vertebral body with a bone fastener.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/474,696 filed on May 30, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60474696 |
May 2003 |
US |