The leading cause of neck pain arises from rupture or degeneration of cervical intervertebral discs. Pain in the upper extremities may be caused by compression of spinal nerve roots by a bulging disc, while neck pain may be caused by collapse of the disc and by the adverse effects of bearing weight through a damaged, unstable vertebral joint. One conventional method of managing these problems is to remove the problematic disc and replace it with a prosthetic disc that allows for the natural motion between the adjacent vertebrae (“a motion disc”).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,637 (“Gill”) discloses a motion disc having a ball and socket articulation, wherein the trough of the socket has a flat portion. The ball and socket geometry provides pivotal motion while the flat portion of the trough allows the ball to slide, thereby providing some translation motion. Gill further discloses a method of linering the motion disc whereby an linering device engages the ball and socket components to fix the spatial relationship between the components. The components are then linered into the disc space in this fixed spatial relationship. Therefore, during the entire insertion procedure, the original spatial relationship may be maintained.
The present inventors have developed an invention wherein a temporary protective liner is provided between the ball and socket components of the artificial disc. This liner prevents the bearings surfaces of the respective components from bearing and/or wearing against each other during pre-operative handling of the disc. After a holding device secures the artificial disc during the implantation procedure, the protective liner is removed, thereby creating a gap between the bearing surfaces of the ball and socket components in the space formerly occupied by the liner. This gap advantageously allows for the intra-operative interposition of a lubricant between the bearing surfaces. The lubricant advantageously eliminates or reduces dry contact and friction between the bearing surfaces during the initial use of the motion disc.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an intervertebral motion disc comprising:
a) a first component comprising:
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an intervertebral motion disc comprising:
a) a first component comprising:
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of protecting an articulation interface, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a motion disc comprising,
a first component comprising:
a second component comprising:
a discloses a perspective view of a lower component of a cervical motion disc.
b discloses a perspective view of a protective liner disposed upon the lower component of the cervical motion disc of
c discloses a perspective view of the protective liner of
a discloses a perspective view of a motion disc of the present invention held within a disc clip.
b discloses a perspective view of the motion disc of
c discloses the squeezing of the disc clip handles of
d discloses the withdrawal of the disc of
a-b disclose the removal of a secured liner from the disc.
a-4b disclose a cross-section view of there creation of a gap caused by removal of the liner.
c discloses a cross-section view of the reduction and/or elimination of the gap caused by insertion of the disc into a disc space.
Now referring to
In
In
During the pre-operative transportation and handling of the disc, it is desirable to interpose the protective liner between the disc components. Now referring to
When the patient is ready to receive the motion disc, a holding instrument 16 engages the proximal engagement portion 4 of the disc (as shown in
In some embodiments, the liner is not secured to the disc clip and so may be manually removed from the articulation interface after the disc has been removed from the disc clip.
In other embodiments, and now referring to
Now referring to
This gap provides a space into which a flowable lubricant can be introduced to lubricate the sensitive articulation surfaces. This lubricant will prevent the articulation interface from experiencing high friction during the initial bearing period after implantation. As the disc articulates during normal use, it is contemplated that physiologic lubricating fluid will eventually replace the lubricant.
In some embodiments, the lubricant may be introduced into the gap by either a syringe injection or by dipping the disc into a lubricant bath.
In some embodiments, the lubricant may be saline. In other embodiments, the lubricant may be a physiologic fluid obtained from the patient.
Now referring to
Preferably, the liner is made of a flexible material that can conform to curved articulation surfaces. The liner material also preferably is made of a soft material that will not scratch the bearing surfaces. Accordingly, the liner preferably has a hardness no more than 1/100th the hardness of an articulation surface. Preferably, the liner is made of a soft, flexible polymer, such as Tyvek™.
In some embodiments, the liner has a thickness of between 0.1 and 0.5 mm. In this thickness range, the liner has both the flexibility to conform to curved articulation surfaces and the strength to bear minor pre-insertion loading without tearing.
Preferably, the length of one face of the liner is greater than the corresponding length of the articulation surface upon which it bears. This requirement allows the liner to have a non-contact portion that can be pulled when the liner needs to be removed.
Also preferably, it is preferred that the opposed faces of the liner each define an area that is at least ¼ the area of the articulation surface upon which it rests. The requirement helps reduce the likelihood of pre-operative scratching between the articulation surfaces.
The motion disc component of the present invention can be any prosthetic capable of restoring the natural motions of the intervertebral disc. In preferred embodiments, the motion disc is selected from the group consisting of an articulating disc, a cushion disc and a spring-based disc.
In some embodiments, the general structure of the articulating motion disc is a two piece design and comprises:
a) a first prosthetic vertebral endplate comprising:
b) a second prosthetic vertebral endplate comprising:
wherein the first and second articulation surfaces are oriented produce an articulation interface.
Preferably, the articulation surfaces form partial spheres.
In these two-piece embodiments, the liner is inserted between the articulation surfaces at the articulation interface.
In some embodiments, the general structure of the articulating motion disc is three-piece and comprises:
a) a first prosthetic vertebral endplate comprising:
b) a second prosthetic vertebral endplate comprising:
c) a core member comprising:
wherein the core member is oriented to produce a first articulation interface between the first articulation surface of the first endplate and the first articulation surface of the core member, and a second articulation interface between the first articulation surface of the second endplate and the second articulation surface of the core member.
Preferred articulating motion devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,556,431 and 5,674,296, the specifications of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.
The motion discs of the present invention can be adapted for use any of the lumbar, thoracic or cervical spine regions. In some embodiments wherein the motion disc is adapted for use in the lumbar region, the three-piece design having a core is selected. In some embodiments wherein the motion disc is adapted for use in the cervical region, the two-piece design is selected.