US20030195514A1 — Annulus repair systems and techniques

Claim 1

Independent Claim 92 words

1 . A system for repairing a defect in an annulus of a spinal disc, comprising: at least one blocking member positionable at least adjacent to the defect in the annulus; and an attachment portion extending from said at least one blocking member, wherein said attachment portion is actuatable from a first position wherein said at least one blocking member and said attachment portion are at least adjacent to the defect to a second position wherein said blocking member extends across the defect and said attachment portion is engaged to adjacent tissue.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 92 words

1 . A system for repairing a defect in an annulus of a spinal disc, comprising: at least one blocking member positionable at least adjacent to the defect in the annulus; and an attachment portion extending from said at least one blocking member, wherein said attachment portion is actuatable from a first position wherein said at least one blocking member and said attachment portion are at least adjacent to the defect to a second position wherein said blocking member extends across the defect and said attachment portion is engaged to adjacent tissue.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member is flexible to assume a reduced size configuration for positioning at least adjacent to the defect.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member has a width along the annulus that is less than a width of the defect along the annulus.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said attachment portion includes a first anchor engageable to a first vertebral body on one side of the spinal disc and a second anchor engageable to a second vertebral body on the other side of the spinal disc.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein said first anchor and said second anchor each include a body having a first end coupled to an adjacent end of said blocking member and a tip opposite said first end, wherein said body has a concave-convex curvature such that said tip is offset from said first end.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein said tip has a sharp edge.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein said first anchor and said second anchor each include a body having a first end defining a receptacle for receiving an adjacent end of said blocking member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 50 words

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein each of said ends of said blocking member has a passage receiving a coupling pin therethrough, said coupling pins and said ends of said blocking member positionable in respective ones of said receptacles of said first anchor and said second anchor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

9 . The system of claim 4 , wherein said first anchor and said second anchor each include means for resisting pullout from the first and second vertebral bodies.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 34 words

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein said means for resisting pullout is selected from the group consisting of: a thread form, serrations, barbs, a body with concave-convex curvature, and pivotable gulls.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member includes lateral extensions attachable to annulus tissue adjacent the defect.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member comprises nonporous material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 52 words

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member is made from a resorbable material selected from the group consisting of: autograft, allograft, xenograft, hard tissue, connective tissue, demineralized bone matrix, polylactide, polyglycolide, tyrosine-derived polycarbonate, polyanhydride, polyorthoester, polyphosphazene, calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, bioactive glass, collagen, albumin, fibrinogen and combinations thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member is made from a non-resorbable material selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, polyester, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylonitrile, polyamide, polytetrafluorethylene, polyparaphenylene terephthalamide, cellulose, and combinations thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member and said attachment portion each comprise resorbable material.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member and said attachment portion each comprise non-resorbable material.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

17 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an implant in the spinal disc space.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein in said first position said attachment portion extends generally along vertebral endplates on each side of the defect and in said second position said attachment portion extends into the vertebral endplates.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the defect has a width along the annulus and said blocking member extends across about 90% or less of a width of the defect along the annulus.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member has a body structure including one or more components selected from the group consisting of: woven tubing, sutures, tethers, cords, planar members, bands, wires, cables, mesh sheets, and braids.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 83 words

21 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a second blocking member positionable at least adjacent the defect in the annulus; and a second attachment portion coupled to said second blocking member, wherein said second attachment portion has a first position wherein said second blocking member and said second attachment portion are at least adjacent to the defect and second position wherein said second blocking member is positioned across the defect and said second attachment portion is engaged to adjacent tissue.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

22 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said attachment portion includes means for engaging said blocking member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

23 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an insertion instrument upon which said blocking member and said attachment portion are mounted.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 57 words

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein said insertion instrument includes a mounting member movably coupled to an actuating member, said actuating member including at least one actuating surface engageable with said attachment portion with said attachment portion on said mounting member to move said attachment portion from said first position toward said second position.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 32 words

25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein said insertion instrument includes a retainer removably engageable with said attachment portion to prevent said attachment portion from moving from said first position.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 37 words

26 . The system of claim 24 , wherein said mounting member includes a driving member configured to move said attachment portion along said actuator surface as said mounting member is moved relative to said actuating member.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 66 words

27 . The system of claim 24 , wherein in said first position: said mounting member includes an upper portion and a lower portion; said attachment portion includes a first anchor mounted on said upper portion and a second anchor mounted on said lower portion; and said blocking member extends around a distal end of said mounting member between said first anchor and said second anchor.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 100 words

28 . A system for repairing a defect in an annulus of a spinal disc, comprising: at least one blocking member positionable at least adjacent the defect in the annulus; and an attachment portion extending from said at least one blocking member, wherein said attachment portion is engageable to bony tissue adjacent the defect, wherein said blocking member includes a width along the annulus that is less than a width of the defect along the annulus when said at least one blocking member is positioned across the defect and the attachment portion is engaged to bony tissue adjacent the defect.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 100 words

28 . A system for repairing a defect in an annulus of a spinal disc, comprising: at least one blocking member positionable at least adjacent the defect in the annulus; and an attachment portion extending from said at least one blocking member, wherein said attachment portion is engageable to bony tissue adjacent the defect, wherein said blocking member includes a width along the annulus that is less than a width of the defect along the annulus when said at least one blocking member is positioned across the defect and the attachment portion is engaged to bony tissue adjacent the defect.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 26 words

29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said width of said blocking member is less than about 90% of the width of the defect.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 26 words

30 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said width of said blocking member is less than about 50% of the width of the defect.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 26 words

31 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said width of said blocking member is less than about 10% of the width of the defect.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 43 words

32 . The system of claim 28 , further comprising: a second blocking member positionable across the defect in the annulus; and a second attachment portion coupled to said second blocking member, wherein said second attachment portion is engageable to adjacent bony tissue.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 59 words

33 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said attachment portion is actuatable from a first position wherein said at least one blocking member and said attachment portion are positioned at least adjacent to the defect to a second position wherein said blocking member is positioned across the defect and said attachment portion is engaged to adjacent tissue.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 28 words

34 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said blocking member is flexible to assume a reduced size configuration for positioning at least adjacent to the defect.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 47 words

35 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said attachment portion includes a first anchor engageable to a first vertebral body on one side of the spinal disc and a second anchor engageable to a second vertebral body on the other side of the spinal disc.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 33 words

36 . The system of claim 35 , wherein said first anchor and said second anchor each include a body having a first end coupled to an adjacent end of said blocking member.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 29 words

37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein said ends of said blocking member are embedded in a respective one of the first vertebra and the second vertebra.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 23 words

38 . The system of claim 36 , wherein each of said bodies of said first and second anchors has a concave-convex curvature.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 25 words

39 . The system of claim 35 , wherein said first anchor and said second anchor each includes means for resisting pullout from bony tissue.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 22 words

40 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said blocking member includes lateral extensions attachable to annulus tissue adjacent the defect.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 22 words

41 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said attachment portion comprises a portion of said at least one blocking member.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 32 words

42 . The system of claim 41 , wherein said blocking member includes an attachment portion at each end thereof embeddable into respective ones of the endplates of the vertebrae the defect.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 24 words

43 . The system of claim 42 , wherein said attachment portions each include an anchor engaging said embedded portion of said blocking member.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 41 words

44 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said blocking member has a body structure including one or more components selected from the group consisting of: woven tubing, sutures, tethers, cords, planar members, bands, wires, cables, mesh sheets, and braids.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 94 words

45 . A system for repairing a defect in an annulus of a spinal disc, the defect having a width along the annulus of the spinal disc, comprising: a first anchor engageable to one of the vertebrae adjacent the spinal disc; a second anchor engageable to the other of the vertebrae adjacent the spinal disc,; and a blocking member extending between the vertebrae and coupled to said first anchor and said second anchor, said blocking member having a width along the annulus that is less than a width of the defect along the annulus.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 94 words

45 . A system for repairing a defect in an annulus of a spinal disc, the defect having a width along the annulus of the spinal disc, comprising: a first anchor engageable to one of the vertebrae adjacent the spinal disc; a second anchor engageable to the other of the vertebrae adjacent the spinal disc,; and a blocking member extending between the vertebrae and coupled to said first anchor and said second anchor, said blocking member having a width along the annulus that is less than a width of the defect along the annulus.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 26 words

46 . The system of claim 45 , wherein said width of said blocking member is less than about 90% of the width of the defect.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 26 words

47 . The system of claim 45 , wherein said width of said blocking member is less than about 50% of the width of the defect.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 14 words

48 . The system of claim 45 , wherein said blocking member is flexible.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 45 words

49 . The system of claim 45 , wherein the defect has a depth between an exterior surface of the annulus and a nucleus of the spinal disc, said blocking member having a depth that is less than half of the depth of the defect.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 37 words

50 . The system of claim 45 , wherein each of said first anchor and said second anchor are selected from the group consisting of: bodies with concave-convex curvature, screws, interference screws, pin fasteners, staples, and buttons.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 59 words

51 . A method for repairing an annulus defect of a spinal disc, comprising: positioning a blocking member having an attachment portion at least adjacent to the annulus defect; and actuating the attachment portion to engage the attachment portion to at least one of the vertebrae adjacent the spinal disc with the blocking member extending across the annulus defect.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 59 words

51 . A method for repairing an annulus defect of a spinal disc, comprising: positioning a blocking member having an attachment portion at least adjacent to the annulus defect; and actuating the attachment portion to engage the attachment portion to at least one of the vertebrae adjacent the spinal disc with the blocking member extending across the annulus defect.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 36 words

52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the attachment portion includes a first anchor engageable to the at least one vertebra and a second anchor engageable to the other vertebra adjacent the spinal disc.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 29 words

53 . The method of claim 51 , wherein actuating the attachment portion simultaneously engages the first anchor and the second anchor with the vertebrae adjacent the spinal disc.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 14 words

54 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the blocking member is flexible.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 18 words

55 . The method of claim 51 , further comprising coupling the blocking member to the attachment portion.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 30 words

56 . The method of claim 51 , wherein actuating the attachment portion includes actuating the attachment portion to a first actuated position with linear movement of an actuating instrument.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 31 words

57 . The method of claim 56 , wherein actuating the attachment mechanism further includes actuating the attachment portion to a second actuated position with rotational movement of an actuating instrument.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 104 words

58 . A method for repairing an annulus defect of a spinal disc between adjacent vertebrae, comprising: providing a blocking member having a length between a first end and a second end; collapsing the blocking member; positioning the collapsed blocking member at least adjacent to the annulus defect; extending the first end of the blocking member toward one vertebra adjacent the spinal disc; extending the second end of the blocking member toward the other vertebra adjacent the spinal disc; engaging the first end of the blocking member to the one vertebra; and engaging the second end of the blocking member to the other vertebra.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 104 words

58 . A method for repairing an annulus defect of a spinal disc between adjacent vertebrae, comprising: providing a blocking member having a length between a first end and a second end; collapsing the blocking member; positioning the collapsed blocking member at least adjacent to the annulus defect; extending the first end of the blocking member toward one vertebra adjacent the spinal disc; extending the second end of the blocking member toward the other vertebra adjacent the spinal disc; engaging the first end of the blocking member to the one vertebra; and engaging the second end of the blocking member to the other vertebra.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 30 words

59 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the blocking member has a width along the annulus that is less than a width of the defect along the annulus.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 28 words

60 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the first end is coupled to a first anchor and the second end is coupled to a second anchor.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 59 words

61 . The method of claim 60 , wherein: the first anchor and the second anchor each extend along respective ones of the endplates of the vertebrae when the blocking member is positioned at least adjacent to the annulus defect; and the first anchor and the second anchor each extend into respective ones of the vertebrae when engaged thereto.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 35 words

62 . The method of claim 61 , wherein engaging the first end and engaging the second end includes positioning fasteners through respective ones of the first anchor and the second anchor in the vertebrae.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 61 words

63 . An instrument for inserting an annulus repair system at a defect in an annulus of a spinal disc, comprising: an actuating member; and a mounting member upon which the annulus repair system is mounted, said actuating member engageable with the annulus repair system to move the annulus repair system into engagement with at least one vertebra adjacent the defect.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 61 words

63 . An instrument for inserting an annulus repair system at a defect in an annulus of a spinal disc, comprising: an actuating member; and a mounting member upon which the annulus repair system is mounted, said actuating member engageable with the annulus repair system to move the annulus repair system into engagement with at least one vertebra adjacent the defect.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 19 words

64 . The instrument of claim 63 , wherein said mounting member is movable relative to said actuating member.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 34 words

65 . The instrument of claim 63 , wherein said mounting member includes a driving portion engageable with the annulus repair system to move the annulus repair system into contact with said actuating member.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 39 words

66 . The instrument of claim 63 , wherein said mounting member is movable linearly relative to said actuating member to move the annulus repair system to a first actuated position in engagement with the at least one vertebra.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 44 words

67 . The instrument of claim 66 , wherein said mounting member is rotatable relative to the annulus repair system to move the annulus repair system from said first actuated position to a second actuated position in engagement with the at least one vertebra.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 26 words

68 . The instrument of claim 63 , wherein said actuating member includes a retaining member engageable with the annulus repair system on the mounting member.

Annulus repair systems and techniques

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag