US20030093154A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vertically expanding intervertebral body fusion device
Assignee: VALVE HOLDINGS LLC
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Filing: 2002-12-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2022-12-12
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to intervertebral spacers for use in orthopedic treatment of spinal defects. The intervertebral space is formed of a shaped memory polymer material. The spacer can be fabricated into a desired configuration and then deformed into an alternative or deformed configuration. Cooling the deformed spacer effectively freezes the spacer into its deformed conformation. The deformed configuration can be selected to facilitate implantation of the spacer into a prepared disc space between adjacent vertebrae. During operation, the surgeon can heat the spacer to allow it to revert to its original configuration. The spacer in its original conformation is sized to restore and/or maintain the adjacent vertebrae in a desired conformation and disc space height.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradley Estes
- 👤 Andrew Dickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61F2/4465; A61F2/442; A61F2/28; A61F2/3094; A61F2/30965; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2002/2817; A61F2002/2835; A61F2002/286; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/30004; A61F2002/30014; A61F2002/30032; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30062; A61F2002/30092; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30131; A61F2002/30133; A61F2002/30182; A61F2002/30192; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30537; A61F2002/3055; A61F2002/30556; A61F2002/30593; A61F2002/30667; A61F2002/30677; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30777; A61F2002/30779; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30785; A61F2002/30789; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30879; A61F2/30942; A61F2002/30957; A61F2002/30971; A61F2002/444; A61F2002/448; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0004; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0023; A61F2210/0042; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0013; A61F2230/0015; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/0041; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0004; A61F2250/0009; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0018; A61F2250/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
1 . An intervertebral spacer for implantation between opposing endplates of adjacent vertebrae, said spacer comprising a body formed from a shape memory polymeric material and having a upper first surface, an opposite second surface and a peripheral sidewall extending therebetween, said body provided in a first configuration and capable of deforming under selected stimuli to an expanded second configuration, wherein the upper surface is provided to bear against a first end plate of a first vertebra while the lower surface is provided to bear against a opposing endplate of an adjacent vertebra.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
1 . An intervertebral spacer for implantation between opposing endplates of adjacent vertebrae, said spacer comprising a body formed from a shape memory polymeric material and having a upper first surface, an opposite second surface and a peripheral sidewall extending therebetween, said body provided in a first configuration and capable of deforming under selected stimuli to an expanded second configuration, wherein the upper surface is provided to bear against a first end plate of a first vertebra while the lower surface is provided to bear against a opposing endplate of an adjacent vertebra.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
2 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the body is cylindrical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
3 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the body is kidney shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
4 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the body is C-shaped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
5 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the body is an elongate body having a longitudinal axis positioned to lie substantially parallel to the first surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
6 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the body includes an interior cavity for receipt of an osteogenic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
7 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein at least one of the sidewall, first surface and the second surface has at least one opening extending therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
8 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the stimuli includes thermal or photoradiation energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
9 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the selected stimuli includes heating to a deformation temperature greater than about 37° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
10 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the stimuli includes heating to a deformation temperature between about 40° C. and about 100° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
11 . The spacer of claim 10 wherein the deformation temperature is between about 40° C. and about 65° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
12 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is biodegradable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
13 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is a thermoplastic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
14 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the shaped memory polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of: polylactide, polyglycolide, poly(lactide-co-glycolide), polyurethane, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene-co-propylene), poly(ethylene-co-propylene-co-diene), poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(β-hydroxybutyrate), poly(β-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) poly(methacrylate), poly(methyl methylacrylate) poly(acrylate), and mixtures, copolymers and blends thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
15 . The spacer of claim 9 wherein the body at a temperature below the deformation temperature exhibits a compression modulus comparable to that of cortical bone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
16 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the body is adapted to withstand 500 Newtons compressive force without significant deformation when maintained below the deformation temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
17 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein the peripheral sidewall comprises a first lateral wall portion, a second lateral wall portion and an end wall portion therebetween.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
18 . The spacer of claim 1 wherein said body deforms to said second configuration upon implantation in an intervertebral disc space.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
19 . The spacer of claim 18 wherein in the second configuration, said first bearing surface conforms to an opposing endplate of a first vertebra and said second bearing surface conforms to an opposing endplate of an second vertebra adjacent to said first vertebra.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
20 . An intervertebral spacer for implantation between adjacent vertebrae, said spacer comprising a body comprising a first bearing surface, an opposite second bearing surface, and a peripheral sidewall therebetween and composed of a shape memory polymeric material, said body capable of withstanding a compressive force of at least 500 Newtons without significant deformation when maintained at a temperature below a deformation temperature, yet capable of deforming above the deformation temperature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
71 words
20 . An intervertebral spacer for implantation between adjacent vertebrae, said spacer comprising a body comprising a first bearing surface, an opposite second bearing surface, and a peripheral sidewall therebetween and composed of a shape memory polymeric material, said body capable of withstanding a compressive force of at least 500 Newtons without significant deformation when maintained at a temperature below a deformation temperature, yet capable of deforming above the deformation temperature.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
21 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein the body is cylindrical.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
22 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein the body is kidney shaped.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
23 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein the body is C-shaped.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
24 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein the body is an elongate body having a longitudinal axis positioned to lie substantially parallel to the first surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
25 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein the body includes an interior cavity for receipt of an osteogenic material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
26 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein at least one of the sidewalls, the first surface and the second surface has at least one opening extending therethrough.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
27 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein the stimuli includes thermal or photoradiation energy.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
28 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein the stimuli includes heating to a deformation temperature between about 40° C. and about 100° C.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
29 . The spacer of claim 28 wherein the deformation temperature is between about 40° C. and about 65° C.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
30 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein the polymeric material is biodegradable.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
31 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein the polymeric material is a thermoplastic.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
32 . The spacer of claim 20 wherein the shaped memory polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of: polylactide, polyglycolide, poly(lactide-co-glycolide), polyurethane, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene-co-propylene), poly(ethylene-co-propylene-co-diene), poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(β-hydroxybutyrate), poly(β-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) poly(methacrylate), poly(methyl methylacrylate) poly(acrylate), and mixtures, copolymers and blends thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
82 words
33 . A method of orthopedic treatment, said method comprising: preparing a disc space between adjacent vertebrae to receive a spacer to receive an intervertebral spacer, implanting an intervertebral spacer in the prepared disc space, said spacer composed of a shape memory polymeric material and provided in a first configuration exhibiting a first external volume, and subjecting said spacer to a selected stimuli wherein said spacer deforms to a second configuration exhibiting a second external volume greater than the first external volume.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
82 words
33 . A method of orthopedic treatment, said method comprising: preparing a disc space between adjacent vertebrae to receive a spacer to receive an intervertebral spacer, implanting an intervertebral spacer in the prepared disc space, said spacer composed of a shape memory polymeric material and provided in a first configuration exhibiting a first external volume, and subjecting said spacer to a selected stimuli wherein said spacer deforms to a second configuration exhibiting a second external volume greater than the first external volume.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
34 . The method of claim 33 wherein said subjecting comprises subjecting the spacer to a selected stimuli after the spacer has been implanted into the prepared disc space.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
35 . The method of claim 33 wherein the selected stimuli comprises heating the spacer to a temperature between about 40° C. and about 60° C.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
36 . The method of claim 33 wherein the body is cylindrical.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
37 . The method of claim 33 wherein the body is kidney shaped.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
38 . The method of claim 33 wherein the body is C-shaped.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
39 . The method of claim 33 wherein the body is an elongate body having a longitudinal axis positioned to lie substantially parallel to the first surface.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
40 . The method of claim 33 wherein the body includes an interior cavity for receipt of an osteogenic material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
41 . The method of claim 33 wherein the spacer is biodegradable.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
42 . The method of claim 33 comprising contacting the endplates with osteogenic material to promote spinal fusion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6264695B1
Cited
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