Patent Grant
10702391
This application is a National Stage entry of International Application No. PCT/EP2015/060001 filed May 6, 2015, which claims priority in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §§ 365 and 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/638,746 filed Mar. 4, 2015, and priority is claimed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §§ 365 and 119 to French Patent Application No. FR1454102 filed in FRANCE on May 6, 2014, through International Application No. PCT/EP2015/060001 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/638,746. International Application No. PCT/EP2015/060001 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/638,746 are incorporated herein by reference.
The present application relates to the field of vertebral implants, including corpectomy cages and intersomatic cages, intended to replace a vertebral segment, i.e. all or part of at least one vertebral body and/or at least one intervertebral disc. The present application also relates to devices for vertebral attachment of such implants and to instrumentation for implantation thereof.
A problem in the field of vertebral implants and notably of corpectomy cages sometimes relates to the deployment of an implant capable of replacing a vertebral segment, sometimes with a large size, at least in height, for a corpectomy cage since the vertebral segment may correspond to all or part of at least one vertebral body and/or at least one intervertebral disc. Indeed, certain pathologies, notably cancer diseases, may result in a degradation of the vertebral bodies (either partly or completely) and/or of the intervertebral discs. It is then sometimes desirable to replace the lesioned vertebral segments(s) with an implant of significant height. Further, it is often desirable to be able to modulate the height of the implant during surgery since the ablation of the lesioned structures generally require distraction of the vertebrae for restoring a physiological (or less pathological) height to the treated vertebral segment and this height varies according to the extent of the lesions (for inserting the implant between healthy tissues).
A problem related to the height of the implants sometimes involves the stabilization of the implant against the vertebral structures between which it is inserted. The required distraction is sometimes not very compatible with numerous stabilization solutions, such as notches on the contact surfaces of the implants, since these notches often make it necessary to make an additional distraction for inserting the implant. Further, the anchoring of the implant is generally preferable to simple notches which generally only limit the risk of movement but do not enhance reliable immobilization.
In the prior art, solutions are known, notably for corpectomy, such as expandable cages in situ, generally comprising a body including moveable elements providing the vertebral contact surfaces and giving the possibility of increasing the height of the implant once the latter is inserted between the vertebrae. These solutions have the drawbacks of relying on generally complex and costly mechanisms, which often make the implant and/or the vertebrae fragile since the distraction obtained by the implant during its expansion often does not give the possibility of estimating the exerted force because the surgeon often does not feel enough the force he/she generates during the distraction (such that the implants sometimes collapse in the vertebrae). Further, they often provide a reduced grafting space, not allowing the addition of a bone graft or substitute, sufficient for quality arthrodesis. Similarly, such implants are often made of metallic material, which does not allow viewing of the bone growth into the cage during inspections by post-operative imaging. On the other hand, these solutions often have a small expansion ratio (1/3) and therefore generally require that the compressed implant already have a significant size so that its size is satisfactory when it is expanded and the design of these cages makes it often necessary to release the distraction in order to allow insertion into the vertebral segment. Moreover, as the vertebrae can be deformed or crushed or even packed, the implant must be able to be inserted with the smallest possible height and then to be enlarged to the maximum. These types of expandable cages are often incompatible with notches or teeth for stabilization (since the latter reduce the actual distraction capability, interfere with the positioning and risk making the adjacent vertebral structures fragile) and/or with anchoring (since the cages generally do not provide a sufficiently wide structure for retaining an anchoring means). Moreover, anchoring with screws may prove to be tedious to set into place and requires an overly invasive approach.
Other problems, often related to expandable cages in situ and to the drawbacks of certain of the solutions of the prior art, sometimes relate to the insertion of the implant into the rachis, which is generally difficult on the one hand and the assembling and locking of the various elements of the implant, which have to be sufficiently easy and reliable for providing a solution limiting the dislocation risks of the implant on the other hand.
Another problem in the field relates to invasivity and in particular to accessing the intervertebral spaces (discal spaces) which is often particularly delicate because of the congestion, notably because of the presence of blood vessels and nerves in the neighborhood of the intervertebral space, as well as the proximity of the spinal cord. The bone anchoring devices which have to penetrate sufficiently deeply into the vertebrae for ensuring proper attachment, therefore also have to have a small enough size and allow attachment of the implant without jeopardizing the surrounding blood vessels and nerve tissues (for example not requiring more space in the surroundings of the intervertebral space than necessary for implanting the actual rachidian implant). Such anchoring means therefore preferably also have to address the problem of limiting invasivity, in addition to reliability and stability.
Another problem for bone anchoring means often related to the drawbacks of certain of the solutions of the prior art, sometimes relates to the removal of the bone anchoring means and/or of the implant, since removal is generally impossible or difficult. Indeed, it is generally desired to be able to remove the bone anchoring means (and generally the implant). Therefore the bone anchoring means preferably can be retained in the implant in a stable way but they may also be removed as easily as possible. Further, easy removal should also be preferably achieved with an invasivity as limited as possible.
In this context, it is worth proposing various embodiments of implants that address one or more of the known problems, for example by being easily implantable, robust and reliable, and adaptable in different sizes and preferably expandable within the patient, perhaps notably by limiting the dislocation risks and/or which may limit the risks of making the adjacent vertebral structures fragile and/or which allow anchoring in the vertebral bodies without compromising the final positioning, for example while allowing removal and/or avoiding greater distraction than required for inserting the implant.
Various embodiments of the present application are configured for removing or reducing at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, including those from among the drawbacks discussed above, for example by proposing a vertebral implant, such as for corpectomy, that has an adaptable size, that is easy to implant and that reliably attaches to the vertebral structures adjacent to the replaced vertebral segment.
Various of such goals, for example, may be achieved with various embodiments of this disclosure, such as implants for corpectomy or fusion, intended to be inserted into the rachis according to at least one approach route, for replacing a vertebral segment, the implant extending along a vertical axis, between upper and lower surfaces of the implant each intended to be placed in contact with a respectively upper and lower structure, of said vertebral segment. In various embodiments, the implant includes at least one first body and at least one second body each having at least mutual fitting means in order to allow assembling of said bodies by sliding along a sliding axis, and at least one locking means retained in or on at least one of the bodies, and at least one abutment portion of which is laid out for passing from a so-called open position, allowing sliding for the assembling of said bodies, to a so-called closed position locking said bodies assembled together by the contact between at least said abutment portion and at least one abutment of at least one of said bodies, said abutment being oriented not parallel to the sliding axis and said abutment portion passing from the open position to the closed position elastically by flexure or torsion, by means of at least one flexible portion of the locking means allowing withdrawal of said abutment portion of the locking means in an open position during the sliding of the bodies on the one hand and elastic return of said abutment portion into the closed position when it is found facing said abutment of said body on the other hand.
According to some other features, in some embodiments, the locking means are retained on the implant by being disposed in at least one groove around at least part of at least one of the bodies and by the abutment portion of the same or other body.
According to some other features, in some embodiments, the locking means are retained on the implant by being disposed in at least one groove around at least part of at least one of the bodies and by the abutment portion of the same or other body.
According to some other features, in some embodiments, the implant may include two first bodies each comprising one of said upper and lower surfaces of the implant and at least one second body inserted between the two first bodies by means of said mating faces allowing assembling of the bodies by sliding.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the sliding axis of the bodies is substantially parallel to the approach route provided for inserting the implant into the rachis.
According to some other features, in some embodiments said mating faces of the bodies are tilted relatively to the plane(s) of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant, so that the assembling of the bodies is accomplished by starting from their respective side with a lower height and the sliding occurs according to a tilted plane allowing restoration of a determined height to the implant and compression of the implant.
According to some other features, in some embodiments said mating faces of the bodies are substantially parallel to the plane(s) of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant and/or perpendicular to the vertical axis, so that the sliding of the bodies occurs in this plane with which it is possible to retain a determined height of the implant.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the mutual fitting means of said mating faces of the bodies prevent the movements of the two bodies along at least one direction not parallel to the sliding axis.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the mutual fitting means of said mating faces of the bodies include at least one abutment limiting the sliding travel of the bodies relatively to each other.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the mutual fitting means of said mating faces of the bodies include at least one abutment preventing both bodies from moving away from each other in at least one direction substantially parallel to the vertical axis.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the implant includes bone anchoring means, the deployment of which allows anchoring of the implant in said lower and upper vertebral structures, each of said bone anchoring means being deployed by sliding inside the implant, along a curvilinear path, through a passage between the outside of the peripheral wall and one of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant, and comprising at least one curved plate, at least one posterior portion of which remains inside the passage at the end of the deployment on the one hand and, at least one anterior end jutting out from one of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant in order to penetrate into one of said vertebral structures at the end of the deployment on the other hand.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the bone anchoring means are locked in the implant with at least one locking means retained in at least one of the bodies and at least one abutment portion of which is laid out for passing from a so-called open position allowing the sliding of the bone anchoring means in their passage to a so-called closed position locking, preventing sliding of the bone anchoring means by the contact between at least said abutment portion and at least one abutment of the bone anchoring means, said abutment being oriented not parallel to the path of said passage and said abutment portion passing from the open position to the closed position, elastically by flexure or by torsion, by means of at least one flexible portion of the locking means allowing withdrawal of said abutment portion of the locking means in an open position during the sliding of the bone anchoring means on the one hand and, elastic return of said abutment portion into a closed position when it is found facing said abutment of the bone anchoring means on the other hand.
According to some other features, in some embodiments at least one posterior portion of the curve plate includes at least one notch engaging into the wall of the passage of the implant for immobilizing the bone anchoring means at the end of the deployment.
According to some other features, in some embodiments at least one posterior portion of the curved plate includes at least one abutment mating an abutment in the passage of the implant for immobilizing the bone anchoring means at the end of the deployment, said curved plate including, on at least one posterior portion, a slot crossing the whole of its thickness giving the possibility of providing elasticity to this posterior portion and the possibility of mutual engagement of these abutments and their clearing upon withdrawal of the bone anchoring means.
According to some other features, in some embodiments a same locking means locks at least two bodies and at least one bone anchoring means at a time.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the bodies and the bone anchoring means are locked by different locking means.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the implant includes at least one means for accessing at least one locking means for placing the latter in an open position in order to obtain unlocking.
According to some other features, in some embodiments said at least one locking means is substantially oriented parallel to the vertical axis and its abutment portion moves elastically, between the open position and the closed position, along a direction perpendicular to the vertical axis and not parallel to the sliding axis.
According to some other features, in some embodiments at least one locking means is positioned in a closed position, in a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis and its abutment portion is positioned outside this plane when the locking means is in the open position.
According to some other features, in some embodiments said at least one locking means is positioned, in an open position, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis, preferably along a direction parallel to the sliding axis and its abutment portion is positioned outside this plane when it is in a closed position.
According to some other features, in some embodiments said at least one locking means is positioned in a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis and its abutment portion moves elastically, between the open position and the closed position, substantially in this transverse plane.
According to some other features, in some embodiments said curved plate is positioned in a vertical plane inside the passage of the implant and the curvature of the plate is oriented in this vertical plane.
According to some other features, in some embodiments said curve plate includes, in proximity to its posterior end, at least one abutment surface, not parallel to the surface of the plate for limiting the penetration of the bone anchoring means into the implant.
According to some other features, in some embodiments said anterior end includes at least one spike and/or at least one sharpened portion facilitating penetration into the vertebral structures.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the peripheral wall includes hooking-up means for implantation instrumentation.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the implant is hollow, by means of at least one opening extending from said upper surface as far as said lower surface.
According to some other features, in some embodiments the peripheral wall includes at least one conduit for allowing insertion of a bone graft and/or substitute.
Various other embodiments of implants also give the possibility of serving at least one of the purposes of the present application.
Various of such goals, for example, may be achieved with various embodiments of this disclosure, such as a vertebral, in particular corpectomy, implant intended to be inserted into the rachis according to at least one approach route, for replacing a vertebral segment, the implant extending along a vertical axis, between upper and lower surfaces of the implant each intended to be placed in contact with a respectively upper and lower structure, of said vertebral segment, the implant being characterized in that it includes at least one first body and at least one second body each having at least mutual fitting means in order to allow assembling of said bodies by sliding along a sliding axis and on the other hand, at least one locking means retained in or on at least one of the bodies and comprising actuating means causing translation of the locking means parallel to the sliding axis and enabling at least one abutment portion of the locking means to come into contact with at least one portion of another body, along a surface of each of these portions which are oriented substantially parallel to said sliding axis, preferably with a light tilted orientation.
According to some other features, in some of these embodiments, the actuation means comprise locking means for locking the actuation and therefore locking the locking means.
Some of these embodiments include a vertebral implant, for example corpectomy or fusion, intended to be inserted into the rachis according to at least one approach route, for replacing a vertebral segment, the implant extending along a vertical axis, between upper and lower surfaces of the implant each intended to be placed in contact with a respectively upper and lower structure, of said vertebral segment, in which the implant includes at least one first body and at least one second body each having at least one face having shapes and dimensions mating those of at least one face of another body and forming mutual fitting means in order to allow assembling of said bodies by sliding along a sliding axis not parallel to the vertical axis and on the other hand, at least one locking means retained in at least one of the bodies and at least one abutment portion of which is laid out for passing from a so-called open position, allowing sliding for the assembling of said bodies, to a so-called closed position locking said bodies assembled together by the contact between at least said abutment portion and at least one abutment of at least one of said bodies, said abutment being oriented not parallel to the sliding axis and said abutment portion passing from the open position to the closed position, by actuating said locking means in translation along a direction not parallel to the sliding axis.
Some other embodiments may include a vertebral implant, for example corpectomy or fusion, intended to be inserted into the rachis according to at least one approach route, for replacing a vertebral segment, the implant extending along a vertical axis, between upper and lower surfaces of the implant each intended to be placed in contact with a respectively upper and lower structure, of said vertebral segment, in which the implant includes at least one first body and at least one second body each having at least one face having shapes and dimensions mating those of at least one face of another body and forming mutual fitting means in order to allow assembling of said bodies by sliding along a sliding axis not parallel to the vertical axis and on the other hand, at least one locking means retained in at least one of the bodies and at least one abutment portion of which is laid out for passing from a so-called open position, allowing sliding for the assembling of said bodies, to a so-called closed position locking said bodies assembled together by the contact between at least said abutment portion and at least one abutment of at least one of said bodies, said abutment being oriented not parallel to the sliding axis and said abutment portion passing from the open position to the closed position, by actuating means actuated in rotation around an axis parallel to the sliding axis and leading to either:
Some others of these embodiments include a vertebral implant, for example corpectomy or fusion, intended to be inserted into the rachis according to at least one approach route, for replacing a vertebral segment, the implant extending along a vertical axis, between upper and lower surfaces of the implant each intended to be placed in contact with a respectively upper and lower structure, of said vertebral segment, in which the implant includes at least one first body and at least one second body each having at least one face having shapes and dimensions mating those of at least one face of another body and forming mutual fitting means in order to allow assembling of said bodies by sliding along a sliding axis not parallel to the vertical axis and on the other hand, at least one locking means retained in at least one of the bodies and at least one abutment portion of which is laid out for passing from a so-called open position, allowing sliding for the assembling of said bodies, to a so-called closed position locking said bodies assembled together by the contact between at least said abutment portion and at least one abutment of at least one of said bodies, said abutment being oriented not parallel to the sliding axis and said abutment portion passing from the open position to the closed position, by actuating means actuated in translation along a direction parallel to the sliding axis and leading to either:
Other particularities and advantages of various embodiments of the present application are detailed in the description which follows.
Other particularities and advantages of the present disclosure will become more clearly apparent upon reading the description hereafter, made with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
The present application relates to vertebral implants, for example for corpectomy involving ablation of a vertebral segment and insertion of an implant replacing the removed tissues. The present application also describes various bone anchoring means (or attachment devices) for implants in general, for example of the type of those of the present application. These attachment devices are also designated in the present disclosure with the terms of “anchor” or “anchoring” or further “attachment means”. The present disclosure also relates to implantation instrumentation for inserting an implant and to instrumentation for attaching implants. The term of “vertebral segment” is used in the present description in its generally accepted meaning of “a portion of the rachis” since it may correspond to all or part of at least one vertebral body and/or at least one intervertebral disc. Indeed, corpectomy may concern at least one entire vertebral body, or even an entire vertebra and its adjacent intervertebral discs and may only concern a portion of a vertebral body or of several vertebral bodies, either completely or partly, or at least one portion of at least one of the adjacent intervertebral discs. For example, notably in the case of cancer diseases, a vertebral body may only be partly affected and it is possible to take advantage of the fact of preserving the healthy portion for receiving an implant. Thus, the present description teaches the attachment of the implant in a “vertebral structure” and this term is used in the present description in its generally accepted meaning of “at least one portion of at least one constitutive element of the rachis” since it may correspond to all or part of at least one vertebral body and/or of at least one intervertebral disc. The terms specified above, as well as the whole of the terms used in the present description, should therefore not be interpreted in a limiting way and it will be understood from the present application that this is generally a functional definition which is given to the described elements and characteristics. For example, the term of “vertebral implant” may be used for designating the fact that the implant may concern a vertebral segment, i.e. at least one vertebral body and at least one intervertebral disc. The implant may therefore correspond to a corpectomy cage but also to an intersomatic cage, for example. Further, the vertebral attachment devices, allowing attachment in a “vertebral structure”, may be used for attaching various types of vertebral implants, notably corpectomy cages, intersomatic cages, discs prostheses or osteosynthesis plates, etc.
Various embodiments of the disclosure will now be described with reference to the figures of the present application and the discussion mainly relates to 3 groups of objects:
Each of these groups of objects may include various possible embodiments, relating to a given object. Each of the objects includes various elements (generally constituents of the object) characterized by at least one technical feature. Each object (of a given group) concerned by at least one technical feature may be associated with at least one other object (of the same or of another group), for example with regard to at least one complementary technical feature, so that the object groups share a common concept. The present disclosure may therefore also relate to an assembly comprising at least 2 of these objects, as well as to each object individually. These various elements (for example a plate, abutment, slot, chamfer, or bevel, etc.) as well as their technical features (for example curvature, orientation, length, width, height etc.), are described in more detail hereafter in the present application. At least one technical feature (or combination of features) for example corresponding to an element of a given object generally solves at least one technical problem, for example from among those mentioned in the preamble of the present application. The present application therefore describes various embodiments or configurations for each object or group of objects (by specifying at least one technical feature of at least one element). It will be understood upon reading the present application that each of the technical features of each element, described in at least one embodiment or configuration, may be isolated from the other features of the relevant object (or of the relevant and/or associated objects) by said embodiment or said configuration (and therefore relating to the same element or to a different element) and/or may be combined with any other technical feature described here, in various embodiments or configurations, unless the opposite is explicitly mentioned, or that these features are incompatible with each other and/or that their combination does not work. Indeed, the structural adaptations which may be required by such isolations or combinations of features may be directly derived from the appreciation of the functional and structural considerations provided in the present application. Also, although certain technical features are discussed here with reference to the anchoring device, they may be incorporated into various embodiments or configurations of the anchoring systems. Generally, the specific technical feature(s) relating to a given element should not be considered as exclusive of those relating to another element, except when it is clearly apparent that the combination is impossible or non-functional, although the present application details various embodiments or configurations (including preferred embodiments), its spirit and its scope should not be limited to the given examples.
Various embodiments relate to a vertebral implant, for example for corpectomy, intended to be inserted into the rachis along at least one approach route for replacing a vertebral segment. This implant extends, along a vertical axis between upper and lower surfaces of the implant each intended to be placed in contact with an upper and lower vertebral structure, respectively, of said vertebral segment. In a particularly useful way, the implant includes at least one first body (2) and at least one second body (3) each having at least one face with shapes and dimensions mating those of at least one face of another body (3, 2) and forming mutual fitting means of said bodies (2, 3) for their assembling. Such assembling will generally be performed by sliding the elements (bodies) along a sliding axis which is generally not parallel to the vertical axis. However, bodies slidably assembled so that the implant can be expanded by sliding the body parallel to the vertical axis are know from the prior art and the locking means of the present application can also apply to such arrangement, so as to easily and reliably lock the vertically sliding bodies when the desired size (height) of the implant is reached. Is such cases, the locking means may have dimensions larger than locking means locking the sliding not parallel to the vertical axis, because the forces applied around the vertical axis are generally stronger. The implant may therefore include at least two bodies (2, 3), but it is generally preferred to use at least three bodies, so that the first two bodies (2) are each placed in contact with a vertebral structure and that a third body (3) is inserted between the first two bodies by means of their respective mating faces. Thus, the first bodies (2) may be designated in the present application by the term of “plate” or “end member”, while the second bodies (3) may be designated in the present application by the term of “shim” or “spacer”. It is understood that provision may be made for more than three bodies and that the shims will in this case also mate each other for allowing assembling by stacking the various elements. Thus, a distinction is made between the end bodies or (members) (2) or (plates), intended to be in contact with part of the vertebral segment, which should have a vertebral contact face and a face for assembly with another body (whether this is also an end body or an intermediate body), on the one hand, and the intermediate bodies (3) (shims or spacers) which should have two faces for assembly with other bodies. This type of layout facilitates implantation and allows the various bodies of the implant to be assembled together during the implantation, which is notably useful because of the distraction of the vertebral structures required by any rachidian implantation. The mating faces of the bodies (2, 3), typically have complementarity, form fitting means (23, 223, 323, 232, 332) allowing assembling (and detailed later on in the present application). This sliding axis will preferably be substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis, so that it is easier to assemble the bodies during implantation, but diverse orientations are possible. Further, the mating faces of the bodies generally correspond to their upper and/or lower faces, as illustrated on most figures of the present application, but it is possible to provide assembly by mutual sliding along side faces of the bodies. However, it is preferred to have at least one portion of the bodies slide relatively to each other on their upper and/or lower faces for facilitating implantation because of the distraction of the adjacent vertebral structures. Thus, the plates (2) or the shim(s) in contact with these plates will preferably slide on these upper and/or lower faces, but if the implant includes other additional intermediate shims (3), preference will not necessarily be given to having them slide on the upper and/or lower faces since the advantage regarding distraction will have already been obtained with sliding of the plates (2). The vertebral implant preferably includes at least one locking means (4) retained in at least one housing/recess of the bodies (2, 3) and at least one abutment portion of which is laid out in order to pass from a so-called open position, allowing sliding of the assembly of said bodies (2, 3), to a so-called closed position, locking said bodies (2, 3) assembled together by the contact between at least said abutment portion and at least one abutment (42, 43) of at least one of said bodies (2, 3). The term “housing” used here may also refer to a grove or a recess or any cavity enclosing the locking means, although channel or ducts are preferred for their small size. The term “laid our” used in the present description generally means “arranged for” and usually designates a specific function. Said abutment (42, 43) of said at least one of said bodies (2, 3) is oriented not parallel to the sliding axis, as well as the abutment portion of the locking means (4) which comes into contact with it. It should be noted that the term “not parallel” may in fact mean “not along” (parallel, tangential, etc.) the travel of the anchor and/or bodies or not along the forces applied (for example when the patient moves). Furthermore, several features are described herein as being “not parallel” or “not perpendicular” to the vertical axis or to the direction of sliding of the bodies (2, 3) or of the insertion or withdrawal of the anchor and it will be understood that this should be interpreted widely (as “substantially” or “generally” not parallel or not perpendicular) because this axis may in fact refer to the forces applied and thus to the travel of the anchor within the implant. Furthermore, because this travel may be curvilinear, this designation of not parallel or not perpendicular may in fact mean not tangential or not radial, and in fact more generally mean that the feature is not oriented along the direction of insertion or withdrawal of the anchor or the bolt from the implant. Thus, at least one surface of these mating abutments is oriented so as to provide good resistance and prevent the bodies from being able to move relatively to each other, for example by a substantially perpendicular orientation to the sliding axis. In various embodiments facilitating implantation, said locking means (4) is laid out for automatically locking the bodies (2, 3) when they are placed in the final position relatively to each other, i.e. generally at the end of travel of their mutual sliding. In some of these embodiments, said abutment portion passes from the open position to the closed position elastically, by flexure and/or by torsion, by means of at least one flexible portion of the locking means (4) allowing said abutment portion to be withdrawn from the locking means (4) in the open position during the sliding of the bodies (2, 3) on the one hand and said abutment portion to elastically return to the closed position when it is found facing said abutment (42, 43) of said body (2, 3). Thus, for example, the abutment portion may jut out from one of the bodies on one of the sliding faces and be pushed back into a housing of this body when both bodies slide relatively to each other, but this portion may return to the closed position as soon as the abutment of the other body is facing it, ready to receive it. Automatic locking of the bodies (2, 3) may thereby be obtained which facilitates their assembling, notably when this assembling is carried out during implantation, for example by first inserting the first two bodies (or “plates”) for providing vertebral contact surfaces, and then by subsequently inserting another body (or “shim”) for providing the definitive height of the assembly, with automatic locking of the assembly facilitating the task of the surgeon.
It will be thus understood that, in many embodiments, the locking means have reduced dimensions compared to the implant. In several preferred embodiments, said abutment portion may be small compared to the size of the implant, thus improving the reliability of the implant which is less fragile than if a large abutment portion was used, by avoiding as much as possible, thanks to these reduced dimensions, any weakening of the implant by the presence of said abutment portion and said abutment in which the abutment portion is intended to be housed. Furthermore, such arrangement of small locking means may improve the reliability of the locking functions, in particular when these small locking means are housed in a recess (or housing or duct, etc) within the implant (generally housed within at least two bodies of the implant). Indeed, this provides the advantage of improving the reliability of the implant, by limiting the risk that it breaks apart because of a too large abutment portion against the abutment in which the abutment portion is intended to be housed. Moreover, only the shearing of the locking means (at or close to the abutment portion or at the abutment surface on which the abutment portion abuts) can break the locking means. Indeed, a reliable fixation is obtained by the fact that such small locking means in fact locks the bodies (and/or anchor) by a contact over portions which are larger that the abutment portions alone. For example, the locking means may rest against a portion of the body implant having dimensions larger than the dimensions of the locking means (e.g., there is more matter, for example PEEK, of the body around the locking means than the matter constituting these locking means), so that the locking means are retained by a portion of the implant which is unlikely to suffer from the forces applied by the locking means on the implant under constraints applied to the system (the anchor in particular). In particular, in many embodiments, the locking means generally only have an abutment portion, a flexible portion and an abutment, and the abutment portion is generally very small and may just comprise an abutment surface, while the flexible portion and the abutment may be larger than the abutment portion but are still small compared to the bodies (and may generally have approximately the same size). More precisely, the locking means for locking the anchor may have a length comprised between 1% and 50% of the length of the anchor, preferably between 5% and 30%, generally about 10%. In width or height/thickness, the locking means may have a size comprised between 5% and 90% of the width or height/thickness of the anchor, preferably between 10% and 50%, generally about 30%. Furthermore, these percentages may generally be divided by a factor between 1.5 and 4 when comparing the size of the locking means to the size of the implant. The same dimensions ratio may generally apply to locking means intended to lock the anchors and for locking means intended to lock the bodies of the implant. It is thus understood that these embodiments avoid the implant to be weakened by the locking means (and its associated housing, recess or conduit) within its own body and/or by the anchor (and its associated passage) through its body.
It will also be understood from various embodiments disclosed herein that the locking means (lock/bolt) is retained directly within the body of the implant, without requiring any further element for mounting the lock and/or the anchor into the implant and/or for mounting the bodies on each other (except sliding reciprocal surfaces in most cases). This provides the advantage of limiting the need for metallic or alloy elements which may induce MRI flashes and of limiting the cost of manufacture of the implant. This also provides the advantage of improving the reliability of the implant by limiting the number of assembled elements which may move in relation to each other, or even risk to disassemble, break or spread apart, under the constraints applied to them within the patient.
In certain embodiments, the mutual fitting means of said mating faces of the bodies (2, 3) prevent the movements of both bodies (2, 3) along at least one direction not parallel to the sliding axis. Thus, by guiding the sliding of both bodies, these fitting means prevent the bodies from being shifted relatively to each other, even under the effect of stresses to which the implant is subject and promotes stable stacking. Further, in certain embodiments, these mutual fitting means of said mating faces of the bodies (2, 3) include at least one abutment (232, 332) limiting the travel of the sliding of the bodies (2, 3) relatively to each other, for example as visible on most of the figures illustrating the implant. Thus, the assembling is assisted by the sliding which ends by an abutment facilitating proper positioning, which corresponds to the position in which the locking means (4) is in a closed position and locks the bodies (2, 3) together. Further, in various embodiments, the mutual fitting means of said mating faces of the bodies (2, 3) include at least one abutment (232, 332) inhibiting both bodies from moving away from each other in at least one direction substantially parallel to the vertical axis. This type of abutment may be obtained, for example, with substantially dovetail-shaped profiles on at least certain portions of the mating faces of the bodies (2, 3).
Generally, the implant preferably has suitable dimensions for replacing the treated vertebral segment and the assembling of the various bodies with each other allows adjustment of the height of the implant according to the height of the vertebral segment to be replaced. The general shape of the implant may vary according to various configurations (cylindrical, parallelepipedal configurations, etc.) and it is not necessary to detail it per se, except for the fact that it defines a vertical axis (designated here as an axis parallel to the axis of the rachis for the sake of simplicity). In certain embodiments, this is particularly useful when the vertebral structures have great irregularities (for example because the entirety of a vertebral body is not removed during the surgical operation), the implant may include additional adaptation elements to be added onto the plates or include plates of various shapes. In particular, the plates (2) may have various heights but also various widths and/or depths so as to be adaptable onto vertebral segments of various sizes. The use of such plates (2) can limit the number of shims (3) necessary for the adaptation of the implant into various vertebral segments. For example, when a vertebral segment extending over several vertebrae has to be replaced by the implant, such configuration allows shims (3) of various height to be used in combination with plates (2) of various widths and/or depths (and possibly heights), so that the implant fits the sizes of the vertebrae between which it's intended to be inserted: the upper vertebrae being smaller than the lower vertebrae in the spine. However, shims of various widths and/or depths may also be used. Further, the body may have a shape with which it is possible to impose or correct lordosis, kyphosis or scoliosis by means of upper and lower surfaces not parallel with each other, as for example represented as an illustration and not as a limitation in
As regards implantation, diverse approach routes for placing the implant are possible, even if a given route is generally preferred for each of the various rachidian stages. For example preference may be given (in a non-limiting way) to a mini-invasive approach (MIS “Mini-Invasive Spine Surgery), a median anterior approach for cervical vertebrae and a lateral or antero-lateral mini-invasive approach for thoracic or lumbar vertebrae.
In certain embodiments, the implant includes two first bodies (2) each comprising one of said upper and lower surfaces of the implant and at least one second body (3) inserted between the first two bodies (2) by means of said mating faces allowing assembling of the bodies (2, 3) by sliding. Various figures represent illustrative examples of these embodiments. Generally, the sliding axis of the bodies (2, 3) is provided substantially parallel to the intended approach route for inserting the implants into the rachis, so that the assembly of the implant may be achieved during implantation, for example by first inserting both plates (2) into the implantation space (in the place of the vertebral segment to be replaced) and then by sliding the shim (3) between the latter. In some of these embodiments, said mating faces of the bodies (2, 3) are substantially parallel to the plane(s) of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant and/or perpendicular to the vertical axis, so that the sliding of the bodies (2, 3) occurs in this plane giving the possibility of retaining a determined height of the implant. Illustrative and non-limiting examples of such embodiments are for example visible in
The present application also describes various embodiments of anchoring devices (1) which may be used with intervertebral implants, such as for example intersomatic cages (cages for replacing an intervertebral disc for achieving arthrodesis) or corpectomy cages (cages for replacing a vertebral segment for achieving arthrodesis), which are the subject of the present application, but also with intervertebral disc prosthesis (a prosthesis for replacing an intervertebral disc for preserving a certain degree of freedom of movement) or even osteosynthesis plates (plates attached onto the vertebrae for achieving arthrodesis). Other uses of the anchors (1) may of course be contemplated if the characteristics of the anchor comply with the functional parameters provided in the present application. The intervertebral implants are generally intended to be implanted between two adjacent vertebrae of the spinal column (rachis) or for making a junction between two vertebrae, at their periphery in the case of osteosynthesis plates (which may be used alone or associated with an intersomatic cage for example). The anchoring device (1) is intended to be anchored in one of the vertebrae so as to attach the implant on/against this vertebra. Various embodiments of anchoring devices (1) may include at least one rigid plate, preferably a curved plate (but not mandatorily), laid out for penetrating into a vertebra through an implant in order to retain this implant against this vertebra. The technical characteristics of “curvature” and of “rigidity” relating to the “plate” element of the “anchor” object are described in more detail hereafter. The device (1) for anchoring an intervertebral implant (2) in the vertebrae is sometimes designated in the present application under the term of “anchor” (1) with reference to its anchoring function, without inducing any limitation.
In various embodiments, the anchor (1) includes a body comprising at least one plate (10), preferably a rigid plate, elongated along a longitudinal axis. This longitudinal axis of the anchor (1) extends between a first end, designated here as an “anterior end”, intended to penetrate into a vertebra and a second end, designated here as a “posterior end”. It will be noted that the “posterior” and “anterior” designation of the ends of the anchor (1), of the implant and of the instrumentation are used in the present application with reference to the direction along which the implant is inserted into the rachis (the “approach route” as detailed in the present application), which is generally the same direction as the one used for inserting the anchor (1). Thus, for the anchor (1), the first so-called anterior end is the one intended to be inserted first and intended to penetrate into a vertebra for attaching an implant. As regards the implant, its wall or its end designated as posterior is the one including an opening of a passage for inserting the anchor, whether this wall is actually posterior to the implant or not during its deployment. In the case of corpectomy cages, but also for intersomatic cages or disc prostheses or plates described in the present application, this posterior end may actually be positioned towards the rear of the patient or not, notably for the cages which are essentially intended for an implantation via a posterior or transforaminal route. As regards the instrumentation, the so-called anterior end is the one intended to abut upon the implant (or is at least the closest thereto) during implantation.
Certain embodiments of implants, including certain embodiment details of the present application and relating to an intersomatic cage, are laid out for insertion into the discal space via a transforaminal route and the posterior end will therefore be positioned on a lateral and rear side of the vertebrae while the anterior end will be positioned in proximity to the opposite front and lateral side. Nevertheless, the terms of “anterior” and “posterior” are used here anyway since they are more easy to understand from a point of view of the implantation and may be used in a practical and common way with the anchor (1), with the implant, with the instrumentation, regardless of the selected implantation route (approach route). Therefore the terms of “anterior” and “posterior” are not intended to simply refer to the patient or to one of his/her anatomic characteristics, but to the direction of insertion of the anchor into the implant (regardless of whether this implant is itself implanted along an antero-posterior axis or not. On the other hand, by the terms of “height” and “thickness” are generally designated here the dimensions of the elements along an orientation parallel to the axis of the rachis (once implanted therein) and the terms of “upper” and “lower” (or above and below) are generally also defined according to this orientation (vertical when the patient is standing), without any limitative implication for this disclosure. Also, the terms of “vertical” and “horizontal” are used in a non-limiting way with reference to the axis of the rachis by considering the standing patient. On the other hand, by the terms of “width” and “length” are designated dimensions along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the rachis (a transverse plane), with the width generally being in the medio-lateral direction while the length will be in the antero-posterior direction, without this standard definition having any limiting implication for this disclosure. It will also be noted that reference is made here to a longitudinal axis between two ends and that this longitudinal axis possibly corresponds to an antero-posterior axis of the anchor (1), but that this axis is in fact oblique generally since the anchor is often inserted from the periphery of the rachis into a vertebral structure (a vertebral body most often and generally in a vertebral plate). Further, this axis of the anchor even follows a curved path in many embodiments and may therefore designated as antero-posterior relatively to the ends of the anchor rather than with reference to the rachis. Also, the axis of the passage may be designated by using the same references when it is oblique and when it may be curvilinear or rectilinear. It will also be noted that this definition may also be extended to the implant and to the instrumentation, generally with reference to the direction of insertion of the anchor (1) and/or of the implant. It will also be noted that the term of “approximately” or “substantially” is regularly used in the present description, notably relating to a characteristic such as an orientation or a direction, so as to indicate that the relevant characteristic may in fact be slightly different and not be exactly as designated (for example, the expression “substantially perpendicular” should be construed as “at least approximately perpendicular” since it may be possible to select an orientation which is not exactly perpendicular in order to be nevertheless able to substantially fulfill the same function). Further, terms such as “approximately” may also be used for or apply to the technical characteristics that may be “in general” (“generally”), and often “preferably”, as indicated, but other embodiments or configurations may be within the scope of the present disclosure.
At least one portion of the bodies (2, 3) of the implant according to various embodiments includes at least one abutment (42, 43) (sometimes limited to a single surface) mating an abutment portion (or also a surface) of a locking means (or device, for example a catch, latch, clip, clamp, lock, retainer or similar structure) (4) laid out for locking the bodies (2, 3) relatively to each other. Also, in various embodiments, the anchoring device (1) includes at least one abutment (14) (sometimes limited to a single surface) mating an abutment portion (or also a surface) of a locking means (or device, for example a catch, latch, clip, clamp, lock, retainer or similar structure) (4) laid out for locking the anchor (1) relatively to the implant (or vice versa). The abutments (14, 42, 43) of the bodies (2, 3) and/or of the anchor (1) preferably comprise at least one abutment surface not oriented parallel to the sliding axis (of the bodies) and to the longitudinal axis (of the anchor), respectively, in order to efficiently oppose the movements along these axes. This (or these) surface(s) is(are) typically complementary to at least one surface (or portion) of an abutment of the locking means (4). This locking means (4) may be located on or in the implant itself. Indeed, in order to address one or more problems of the prior art, this disclosure provides various representative embodiments of novel layouts of the anchors, implants and instrumentations, by providing a locking means (or device) (4) which equips the implant itself (“equips” also meaning here that the locking means may be distinct from the implants or integrated into the latter, or even in one piece, or provided integral with the latter, although it is generally preferred that it be distinct and housed inside the implant). This locking means (4) thus provides many advantages (some of which are detailed hereafter), for example in addressing at least one portion of the problems mentioned in the present application. This locking means (4) preferably comprises a body retained in the implant and provided with at least one flexible portion and with at least one abutment (31), cooperating with said abutment (14, 42, 43), generally by means of the contact of their mating abutment surfaces. In various embodiments, advantage is taken of this flexibility for automatic locking but the present application describes other embodiments. The (spinal) vertebral implant according to various embodiments include at least one vertebral contact surface through which the implant is intended to be placed in contact with at least one vertebral surface and at least one outer surface (for example a peripheral, lateral surface or even inside the discal space, the term of “outer” being used with reference to the fact that the anchor penetrates into the vertebra from the outside of the implant while entering through this surface and passing through the inside of the implant).
It will be noted that the term of “flexible” is used for designating the fact that in some embodiments the locking means passes from a rest configuration to a bent or flexed configuration and returns to the rest position or to a position close to the rest position. The present application describes how this flexibility (or elasticity as discussed hereafter) may be obtained in various embodiments and it will be understood that this relative term finds its definition in the fact that a lock (locking means or device (4)) capable of undergoing flexure or torsion and of returning to its initial position (e.g. rest position) or at the very least approximately to its initial position is generally used (if it plasticizes, provision may be made for this being negligible for the locking function). Further, it is generally selected in a rigid and solid material capable of supporting strong stresses which may be exerted thereon when the bodies (2, 3) and/or the anchor (1) are locked. Thus, preferably a locking means in a biocompatible material such as in titanium for example, is preferred and an alloy is generally used. In order to provide the intended flexibility, one therefore acts upon the elasticity of a portion of the lock, i.e. it is provided so that it does not (or only very little) exceed its elasticity limit in order to avoid irreversible deformation (being accompanied by a failure for a fragile material or by plastic deformation for a ductile material). Therefore it is understood that the term of flexibility may be used here in the sense of elasticity by preferably providing that it remains in values below the elastic limit of the lock or similar structure, for example by resorting beforehand to buckling, creep, compression, torsion, flexure, and/or shearing measurement steps etc. Conversely, an anchor (1) of various embodiments also may be designated as being preferably “rigid” or “stiff” since it is generally preferred that a bone anchoring device (1) should not deform when it is inserted into the implant and/or planted into the vertebrae, in order to improve the reliability of the system by limiting risks of play of the anchor (1) in the vertebra and of non-desired withdrawal. These terms of “rigid” and “stiff” which are relative terms will therefore be understood by one skilled in the art in their functional definition covering all materials and/or layouts while avoiding as much as possible too large flexibility or elasticity, as well as the risks of buckling, creep, compression, torsion, flexure, shearing, etc. Further, this relative flexibility of the locking means (4) is generally allowed in many embodiments by the sufficiently thin dimensions of the flexible portion and by the fact that the lock may be retained or secured (or held fixed or in one piece) onto the implant on a portion and that the portion(s) forming the abutment(s) have a possibility of displacement in the implant, by the fact that beyond the retained or secured portion of the implant, the other so-called free portions, of the locking means (comprising the flexible portion and the abutment) have at least one degree of freedom (not parallel to the axis of the anchor and of its passage in the implant), by the fact that the implant includes a housing (42, 43), the size of which at these free portions is greater than the size of these free portions providing a clearance allowing the passage from the open position to the closed position, and vice versa, for example such as visible by comparing the housing (42) of
This type of layout of at least one locking means provides many advantages in some embodiments. Indeed, the implant comprising a locking means may allow enhancement of the invasivity and/or reliability of the system, since the locking system (4) may be of reduced dimensions relatively to the size of the implant while providing a reliable lock and the anchor may be of a more reduced size than in the absence of a locking means provided in (or on) the implant. Conversely, the abutments used and especially the mutual engagement elastic (flexibility) mechanism, may be of larger dimensions, without this inducing a problem of congestion and/or invasivity of the implant and/or of the anchor. Thus, the system may be more reliable since the bodies (2, 3) and/or the anchor (1) may be effectively locked with abutments of satisfactory dimensions, for example greater than those known from the prior art. Indeed, in many embodiments and/or deployments it may be important to provide an effective locking means since the bodies and/or the anchors may be retained only by this mechanism, unlike other known anchoring devices of the prior art (which addresses the problem of reliability and has many additional advantages, such as cost and simplicity for application for example). Thus, in may embodiments of the present application, a locking means with suitable dimensions and layout is generally provided for undergoing significant stresses, as detailed in the present application.
This type of layout of the locking means may also provide the additional advantage of allowing the abutments to be provided in a solid material, even if the implant is in a more flexible material. Indeed, for example, in the case of intersomatic cages or corpectomy cages, it is frequent that the material be relatively tender such as for example PEEK (acronym of polyetheretherketone). On the other hand, the bone anchoring devices generally are provided in a solid material in many embodiments, notably when they are intended to be directly planted into the bone without making any housing beforehand for receiving them therein. Thus, the use of a device in a rigid material is preferred which will support the impaction in the bone and which will provide good stability, such as for example in titanium. Thus, an anchor in a solid and often rigid material may have the risk of damaging the more flexible material of the implant if the abutments of the anchor have to bear (i.e., in abutment) against structures or surfaces of the implant. In various embodiments of the present application, this risk is limited by allowing the anchor to abut upon the locking means. Preferably, it is then provided that this locking means be also itself in a solid material, i.e. a material which has a low risk of being damaged by the anchor bearing upon it. For example a locking means may be selected in the same material as the one of the anchor (for example titanium). In addition to avoiding any damage to the implant (which, depending on the extent, may jeopardize the whole system), this advantage is accompanied by increased reliability of maintaining the anchor in the implant. In certain embodiments, said abutment (14) of the device (1) is a female abutment cooperating with a male abutment of the locking means (4). For example, said abutment (14) of the device may be a recess, a notch, an opening, an irregularity or any other recessed form in a surface of the anchoring device (1), intended to cooperate with a protrusion forming the abutment (31) of the locking means (3). For example,
This type of layout may also allow a single and same locking means to provide two different types of abutments. Indeed, it is possible to provide a single abutment surface in order to oppose the movement of the bodies (2, 3) and/or of the anchor (1) in a single direction (the direction of the sliding for assembling or disassembling, or the direction of penetration into the implant and the vertebra or the direction for taking the anchor out of the implant or the vertebra) or to provide two opposite surfaces for opposing movements in both directions. Thus, in certain embodiments, said abutment surface present on the abutment (14) of the device is oriented facing the posterior end of the anchoring device (1) so that the abutment portion of the locking means (4) gives the possibility of opposing the taking of the device out of said passage. Alternatively, said abutment surface present on the abutment (14) of the device may be oriented facing the anterior end of the anchoring device (1) so that the abutment portion of the locking means (4) gives the possibility of opposing excessive advance of the device (1) in said passage. Advantageously, both of these non-exclusive alternatives may be combined so that the abutment includes both an abutment surface oriented facing the posterior end of the anchoring device (1) and an abutment surface present on the abutment (14) of the device is oriented facing the anterior end of the anchoring device (1). Thus, the locking means (4) gives the possibility of opposing both involuntary removal and excessive advance of the anchor. It is then possible to provide that the respective abutments of the anchor (1) and of the locking means (4) oppose the advance and/or removal of the anchor. Of course the same applies to the bodies (2, 3) and the travel of their mutual sliding may thus be limited. Thus, it is possible to do without means limiting the travel of the anchor in the implant and/or the sliding of the bodies relatively to each other, even if it is generally preferred in some embodiments to provide such means.
Another advantage is that a single and same locking means (4) may, in various embodiments, be used for locking two bodies relatively to each other but also the anchor relatively to one of these bodies, which for example is advantageous in terms of congestion and cost. Further, the layout of a single and same locking means with a flexible portion may sometimes allow simultaneous locking of a shim (3) with two plates (2) and both of these plates (2) with an anchor (1).
In various embodiments, a (at least one) locking means (4) is formed by a stick or a rod (4) (cylindrical or with various possible shapes) retained in a housing (42, 43), of one of the bodies (2, 3) (whether this is a plate or a shim, although most of the figures generally illustrate the lock retained in the plate). This housing is flared at the flexible portion in order to provide a displacement of the abutment portion along a direction not parallel to the sliding axis. The other body then includes a housing (43, 42) positioned facing the one in which the lock has its displacement, but over a more restricted portion corresponding to the closed position. This type of embodiment further has the advantage of great ease for application while providing reliable locking. Of course, the locking means may have other shapes, orientations or layouts and the illustrative examples provided in the present application are non-limiting. For example, in certain embodiments, said (at least one) locking means (4) is oriented substantially parallel to the vertical axis and its abutment portion moves elastically, between the open position and the closed position, along a direction perpendicular to the vertical axis and not parallel to the sliding axis, for example along a direction also perpendicular to the sliding axis (for example in a plane transverse to the vertical axis). Illustrative and non-limiting examples of such embodiments are illustrated in the figures of plates 1A, 1B, 1D, 2A, 2B, 2D, 7A, 7B, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E and 11A, 11B, 11D. In other embodiments, said (at least one) locking means (4) (of the bodies (2, 3) for example) positioned in the closed position in a plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis and its abutment portion is positioned outside this plane where it is in the open position, generally by moving along a direction not parallel to the sliding axis. Illustrative and non-limiting examples of such embodiments are illustrated in
In some embodiments, the locking means (4) of the implant are colored, for example anodized, so as to help their visualization before, during or after the surgery. The colored locking means will be preferably, but not exclusively, used in external layouts as detailed above. In some of these embodiments, a color code can be used so as to associate a color of the locking means with another feature of the implant, such as a size and/or a shape of the implant. For example, implants able to impose lordosis of different angles may comprise locking means of different colors to help their recognition.
Preferably, in the case of intersomatic or corpectomy cages, the implant is hollow, by means of at least one opening extending from said upper surface down to said lower surface, as particularly visible in most of the figures illustrating corpectomy cages in a non-limiting way. Such an opening of the implant between its surfaces in contact with the vertebral structures adjacent to the replaced vertebral segment allows insertion of cement and/or bone growth inside the implant and provides a wide continuous grafting space, giving the possibility of adding a bone graft or substitute for consolidating the operated vertebral segment. The insertion of cement or a graft may moreover allow the locking of the various bodies making up the implant. Thus, in certain embodiments, as illustrated in most of the figures, the peripheral wall includes at least one conduit (25, 35) for allowing insertion of cement and/or a graft and/or bone substitute into the implant, in order to facilitate bone growth through the opening of the implant. Further, it is generally provided that the various bodies of the implant provide such an opening ensuring continuity of the grafting space. Thus, the plates (2) preferably include a central opening (25) providing communication between the upper and lower surfaces and with a central opening (35) of the shim (3), for example as visible in most of the figures and notably in
In some embodiments, the peripheral wall of the implant preferably includes hooking-up means (26, 36) for implantation instrumentation. Various layouts known to one skilled in the art are possible for these hooking-up means (26, 36) and it is not necessary to detail the characteristics thereof. These means (26, 36) are preferably provided both on the plates and on the shims, notably when the possibility of inserting the latter after each other is desired.
In various embodiments, the implant includes, or is associated with, one or more attachment means (1), the deployment of which allows anchoring of the implant to adjacent lower and/or upper vertebral structures. In order to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, in some embodiments each of said attachment means (1) is deployed by sliding along at least one portion of the implant. In various embodiments, these attachment means (1) are deployed by sliding inside the implant through a passage (21) following an oblique path (generally through the plates (2) of the implant) between the periphery of one of the upper or lower vertebral contact surfaces. In various embodiments, these attachment means (1) preferably include at least one plate (10), at least one portion of which remains in contact with the implant at the end of the deployment in order to ensure good stability of the attachment. This plate (10) preferably is curved and crosses the implant via a curved or rectilinear passage or consisting of at least two rectilinear portions with different orientations. In various embodiments, the curved plate (10) is positioned in a vertical plane inside the passage (21) of the implant and the curvature of the plate (10) is oriented in this vertical plane, as illustrated on many of the figures of the present application. In certain embodiments, the portions of the fixing means which penetrate into the vertebral structures preferably include portions of plates, the width of which provides resistance to movements (from patient movements which are possibly passed onto the implant) allowing good stability in the rachis (better than portions of less significant extent, such as spikes or staples, might allow). In various embodiments, the front end of the anchor is refined and/or pointed, to better penetrate into the vertebrae, for example such as shown in
Generally at least one attachment means (1) is provided for each of the upper and lower vertebral structures to the treated vertebral segment, as illustrated in most of the figures, but it is possible to only attach the implant on only one of these vertebral structures. On the other hand, it is understood that attachment means according to the embodiments of the present application may be provided, which will be different for both of these vertebral structures or even at least one attachment means different from those of the present application. It will be noted that the attachment means are generally rigid or stiff, for example in metal or in an alloy for providing good stability, even if a possibility of flexure of a portion of the anchor is provided in certain embodiments (in some cases, it is the particular layout which allows the restricted flexure and not the material). Thus, in various embodiments, each of said bone anchoring means (1) being deployed by sliding inside the implant, along a curvilinear path, through a passage (21) and between the outside of the peripheral wall and one of the upper or lower surfaces of the implant, and comprising at least one curved plate (10) on the one hand, for which at least one posterior portion remains inside the passage (21) at the end of the deployment and at least one anterior end juts out from one of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant on the other hand for penetrating into one of said vertebral structures at the end of the deployment. Preferably, the posterior end of the anchor (1) does not jut out from the periphery of the implant or only juts out by an insignificant proportion i.e. limiting the risks of damaging the surrounding tissues.
In certain of these embodiments, the bone anchoring means (1) are locked in the implant with at least one locking means (4) retained in at least one of the bodies (2, 3) and at least one abutment portion of which is laid out for passing from a so-called open position allowing sliding of the bone anchoring means (1) in their passage (21) to a so-called closed locking position, preventing sliding of the bone anchoring means (1) by the contact between at least said abutment portion and at least one abutment (14) of the bone anchoring means (1), said abutment (14) being oriented not parallel to the path covered by said passage (21) and said abutment portion passing from the open position to the closed position, for example with mechanisms of the type of those described in the present application. For example, the abutment portion passes from the open position to the closed position, elastically by flexure or torsion, by means of at least one flexible portion of the locking means (4) allowing withdrawal of said abutment portion from the locking means (4) in the open position during the sliding of the bone anchoring means (1) on the one hand and elastic return of said abutment portion into the closed position when it is found facing said abutment (14) of the bone anchoring means (1) on the other hand. In a similar way to the locking means (4) of the bodies, the locking means (4) of the anchor (1) preferably is retained in the implant, for example in a housing (41) that opens into a portion of the passage (21) of the anchor (1) for cooperating with an abutment of the latter in order to lock it in the implant. The various figures of the present application show illustrative and non-limiting examples of the orientation and configuration of this lock (4) of the anchors in the implant. In certain of these embodiments, a same locking means (4) locks at least two bodies (2, 3) and at least one bone anchoring means (1) at the same time. In other embodiments from among these embodiments, the bodies (2, 3) and the bone anchoring means (1) are locked by different locking means (4).
In certain embodiments, the anterior end of an anchor (1) includes at least one spike and/or at least one sharpened portion (18) facilitating penetration into the vertebral structures.
In certain embodiments, said curved plate (10) includes, in proximity to its posterior end, at least one abutment surface (211) preferably not parallel to the surface of the plate for limiting the penetration of the bone anchoring means (1) in the implant. An example of such an abutment is illustrated in
It will also be noted that various embodiments give the possibility of having the attachment means pre-mounted on the implants in order to facilitate the preparation of the implantation during the surgical operation. On the other hand, in certain embodiments, said curved plate (10) includes, on an anterior portion intended to penetrate the vertebral structures, at least one tooth, one notch or indentation for improving the retention of the anchor in the penetrated tissues, such as for example an indentation (16) in proximity to the sharpened anterior end (18) of the anchor in
Various embodiments of the present application relate to other types of vertebral implants, other than those discussed above and comprising a locking means (4) locking the bodies by elastic return after flexure or torsion. These other types of vertebral implants, for example corpectomy or fusion, are also intended to be inserted into the rachis along at least one approach route, for replacing a vertebral segment. These implants extend, along a vertical axis, between upper and lower surfaces of the implant each intended to be placed in contact with respectively a vertebral upper and lower structure, of said vertebral segment. These implants also include at least one first body (2) and at least one second body (3) each having, at least one face having shapes and dimensions mating those of at least one face of the other body (3, 2). These mating faces form fitting means for allowing mutual engagement of said bodies (2, 3) along a sliding axis not parallel to the vertical axis. On the other hand, these implants include at least one locking means (4) retained in at least one of the bodies (2, 3) and at least one abutment portion of which is capable of passing from a so-called open position allowing sliding for mutual engagement of said bodies (2, 3) to a so-called closed position, locking said bodies (2, 3) engaged together through the contact between at least said abutment portion and at least one abutment (42, 43) of at least one of said bodies (2, 3). Generally, this abutment (42, 43) is also oriented not parallel to the sliding axis. In certain of these embodiments, said abutment portion passes from the open position to the closed position, by translationally actuating the locking means (4) along a direction not parallel to the sliding axis. Locking is therefore obtained by translation of the locking means (4), generally by means of actuation of the locking means (4) itself, for example with the end of a tool.
Various embodiments of the present application relate to instrumentation for inserting an implant into a rachis and preferably for attaching the implant in the adjacent vertebral structures. Such instrumentation in some embodiments may include an implant holder (5) comprising means for its grasping by hand, such as a handle (50) for example, and retaining means which mate hooking-up means (26, 36) present on the implant. Various types of retaining means and of hooking-up means are known from the prior art, such as for example rods of the implant holder, either threaded or not, penetrating into the housings, either tapped or not, of the implant, or arms of the implant holder cooperating with lateral edges and/or upper and/or lower faces of the implant, for example by inserting said arms into grooves of the implant. The present application does not describe these known means and the examples of housings (26, 36) illustrated in the figures are not limiting, since various configurations are possible. Moreover it will be noted that
In certain embodiments, the implant holder (5) includes means (511) for adjusting the insertion depth of the implant. These adjustment means (511) may for example include position pads adjustable along the axis of the arms (51) of the implant holder limiting the distance with which the implant holder may penetrate into the vertebral implantation space. The instrumentation moreover may in some embodiments provide an adjustment instrument (5110) of these means (511) for adjusting travel, as for example illustrated in
In various embodiments, the instrumentation includes a loader (8) comprising a body provided with at least one housing for receiving a bone anchoring device (1), for example of the type of the various embodiments described in the present application. Such a loader (8) may in some embodiments include a means (84, 845, 85) for retention by the implant holder so that it is mounted on the implant holder and exhibits the bone anchoring device (1) in an adequate position for attaching the implant. For example, the implant holder may cooperate with a hole (85) of the loader and/or with guiding faces (84) of the loader, for example comprising grooves and/or ribs. A notch (845) may be provided on these guiding faces (84) in order to immobilize the loader on the implant holder (5). It will be noted that in the example of
In various embodiments, the instrumentation is intended for use with implants having at least three bodies (2, 3) and includes an arm (61) for bearing the intermediate body (shim), for example by means of retaining means which mate hooking-up means (36) of the shim (3). In some of these embodiments, this arm (61) is preferably on a shim holder (6) distinct from the implant holder (5), so as to be able to be used once sufficient distraction has been achieved, for example as illustrated in
In certain embodiments, the instrumentation includes at least one impacting device giving the possibility of planting the bone anchoring means into the vertebral structures through the implant. Such a device is designated under the term of impactor (7), illustrative and non-limiting examples of which are illustrated in
It will be noted that the force exerted on the vertebral structures generally will be as significant the force which therefore has to be exerted on the arms (51) of the implant holder, which usually is significant. It is therefore preferable that the arms be of a sufficiently reduced length and/or with a sufficiently large stiffness so that the moving apart achieved at the distraction means is actually passed on to the implant itself. In various embodiments, the bodies of the implant include mating tilted faces relatively to the plane transverse to the vertical axis and even if the moving apart is not perfectly imposed by the instrumentation, the insertion of the shim gives the possibility of making up for it. Nevertheless, various embodiments of the instrumentation aim at limiting this separation gap problem (for example in order to avoid embrittlement or damaging of the bodies of the implant during the implantation). For example, in certain embodiments such as in the cases of an implant holder of the type of those described above or of those described below and notably those illustrated in the illustrative and non-limiting examples of
In certain embodiments, the instrumentation aims at facilitating the implantation of an implant and notably the insertion of shims (3) between the plates (2). Illustrative and non-limiting examples of such embodiments are illustrated in
Various embodiments of the present application relate to a vertebral attachment device (1) for a vertebral implant, intended to be inserted, from the periphery of the rachis, through a passage (21) between the outside of a peripheral wall of the implant and one of the upper or lower surfaces of the implant in contact with a vertebral structure. In some embodiments, the device (1) includes a body comprising at least one curved, rigid and elongated plate (10) along a longitudinal axis extending between an anterior end and a posterior end, the plate (10) being configured so that its anterior end penetrates into a vertebral structure while its posterior end remains in the passage (21) of the implant. In some embodiments, a plate (10) is provided with at least one abutment (14) capable of receiving a locking means (4) with which the implant is equipped and an abutment portion of which juts out in said passage (21) when the locking means (4) is in a so-called closed position, locking the anchoring device in the implant, said abutment portion being set back out of the passage (21) when the locking means (4) is in an open position. In some embodiments, the passing of the locking means (4) from the open position to the closed position or vice versa may be achieved according to the various mechanisms described in the present application, whether they are automatic or by actuation. For example, an elastic portion of this locking means (4) allows its removal during the passage of the attachment device (1) and its elastic return when its abutment portion is found facing the abutment (14) of the attachment device (1) at the end of the deployment of the latter through the implant.
After comprehending the present disclosure, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the claimed inventions. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered as illustrations, but may be modified within the field defined by the scope of the appended claims, and the claims should not be limited to the details given above.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 54102 | May 2014 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2015/060001 | 5/6/2015 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2015/169878 | 11/12/2015 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14638746 | Mar 2015 | US |
| Child | 15309197 | US |
