SURGICAL IMPLANT

Abstract

An implant to be inserted in the disk space between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra. The implant comprises a body having a lower surface and an upper surface, and an aperture extending through the body in the direction of the height of the body from a lower side of the body to an upper side of the body. The body is arranged to reduce its height permanently under the load the body is exposed to between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a spinal cage according to the invention,

FIG. 2 a is a schematic side view of the spinal cage shown in FIG. 1 prior to its deformation between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra,

FIG. 2 b is a schematic side view of the spinal cage shown in FIG. 1 after its deformation between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra,

FIG. 3 a is a schematic side view of a second spinal cage according to the invention and prior to its deformation between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra,

FIG. 3 b is a schematic side view of the spinal cage shown in FIG. 3a after its deformation between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra,

FIG. 4 a is a schematic side view of a third spinal cage according to the invention and prior to its deformation between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra,

FIG. 4 b is a schematic side view of the spinal cage shown in FIG. 4a after its deformation between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra,

FIGS. 5 a to 5c are schematic views of a fourth spinal cage according to the invention,

FIGS. 6 a to 6c are schematic views of a fifth spinal cage according to the invention,

FIGS. 7 a to 7b are schematic views of a sixth spinal cage according to the invention,

FIGS. 8 a to 8b are schematic views of a seventh spinal cage according to the invention,

FIGS. 9 a to 9b are schematic views of an eighth spinal cage according to the invention, and

FIGS. 10 a to 10b are schematic views of a ninth spinal cage according to the invention.

Claims

1. An implant to be inserted in the disk space between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra, the implant comprising a body, having a lower surface and an upper surface, andan aperture extending through the body in the direction of the height of the body from a lower side of the body to an upper side of the body,the body reducing its height permanently under the load the body is exposed to between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra.

2. An implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is made of resorbable material.

3. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resorbable material comprises a polymer or copolymer or polymer mixture.

4. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is made of bio-stabile material.

5. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bio-stabile material comprises a polymer or a copolymer or a mixtures thereof.

6. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bio-stabile material comprises a metal or a metal alloy.

7. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reduction of height takes place by plastic deformation of the material of the body.

8. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reduction of height takes place by the creep of the material of the body.

9. A surgical implant claimed claim 1, wherein the body has holes that are arranged to reduce the cross-sectional area of the body in a section of plate perpendicular to the height of the body.

10. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the holes extends from outside the body to the aperture.

11. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 9, wherein the holes have a round cross-section.

12. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 9, wherein the holes have a cross-section that is shaped like the letter S.

13. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the lower surface or the upper surface of the body comprises one or more projections that are arranged to reduce their height permanently under said load.

14. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 13, wherein the projection has a sharp edge that is arranged to anchor the implant to bone.

15. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is designed to deform permanently under a load that is in the range of 10 to 1000 N.

16. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height of the body is designed to decrease permanently 0.2 to 2 mm.

17. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reduction of height takes place after a continuous load over a duration of one hour to several days.

18. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture is filled with bone graft.

19. A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cage is made of at least two different materials.