US6010502A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for conjoining bone bodies
Assignee: Zimmer Spine Inc
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Filing: 1997-09-29
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Granted: 2000-01-04
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Expires: 2017-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A bone joining implant has a rigid, implantable base body having an outer surface with at least one bone bed engaging portion configured for engaging between a pair of bone bodies to be joined. At least one spline is provided by the bone bed engaging portion, the spline being constructed and arranged to extend outwardly of the body and having an undercut portion. Upon implantation, the undercut portion of the implant is configured to engage with a bone bed provided in the bone bodies to be joined so as to provide instantaneous fixation there between. In one embodiment, the implant is a vertebral interbody fusing device. The base body is cylindrical and the spline is an undercut thread helically configured about the body. In another embodiment, the base body forms a bridging portion for encircling a vertebra to be removed, and splines in the form of strips of material extend outwardly of top-most and bottom-most portions of the body. Each spline has a undercut portion such that each spline mates in interlocking engagement with top-most and bottom-most neighboring vertebra having bone beds for receiving the splines there along. The mid-most vertebra is then removed (corpectomy), after which an enforcing brace is received therein.
Inventors
- 👤 George Bagby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61F2/446; A61F2/447; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/88; A61B17/8875; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30744; A61F2/442; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2/28; A61F2002/2835; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30153; A61F2002/30159; A61F2002/30179; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30261; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30317; A61F2002/30327; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30593; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30777; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30785; A61F2002/30787; A61F2002/30789; A61F2002/3085; A61F2002/30851; A61F2002/30861; A61F2002/30866; A61F2002/30868; A61F2002/30869; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30879; A61F2002/30883; A61F2002/30884; A61F2002/30891; A61F2002/30892; A61F2002/30894; A61F2002/30899; A61F2002/30902; A61F2002/448; A61F2002/4619; A61F2002/4631; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0019; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/0058; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61F2230/0082; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0039
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of joining together bone bodies, comprising: preparing bone beds of adjacent bone bodies to receive an implant, the implant having a body with at least one thread segment extending from a surface of the body, the thread segment having an undercut configuration intermediate a crest and the surface of the body, wherein at least a portion of the thread segment decreases in width along a direction extending from the crest toward the surface of the body, the thread segment operative to engage with the bone bodies and an aperture operative to receive living bone from the bone bodies; inserting the implant in engagement with each of the bone bodies by threading the thread segment in interlocking engagement with the bone beds so as to lock together the bone bodies; and presenting the implant and the aperture for staged fusion comprising bone ingrowth, bone through growth, bone fusion, and bone reorganization.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of joining together bone bodies, comprising: preparing bone beds of adjacent bone bodies to receive an implant, the implant having a body with at least one thread segment extending from a surface of the body, the thread segment having an undercut configuration intermediate a crest and the surface of the body, wherein at least a portion of the thread segment decreases in width along a direction extending from the crest toward the surface of the body, the thread segment operative to engage with the bone bodies and an aperture operative to receive living bone from the bone bodies; inserting the implant in engagement with each of the bone bodies by threading the thread segment in interlocking engagement with the bone beds so as to lock together the bone bodies; and presenting the implant and the aperture for staged fusion comprising bone ingrowth, bone through growth, bone fusion, and bone reorganization.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises an implantable body having an outer portion configured to engage with each bone bed and a hollow portion communicating with the aperture and operative to receive living bone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises a fenestration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises a hole extending through the threaded segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of preparing the bone beds comprises tapping a female thread within the bone beds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises a base body having an outer surface comprising the thread segment and a hollow portion provided within the body, the aperture communicating with the hollow portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the implant comprises a hollow cylindrical body, a helical thread extending radially outward of the body, and a plurality of fenestrations provided in the body extending between a hollow central portion and an outer surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises a fenestration and wherein the step of presenting the implant and the aperture for staged fusion in the form of bone ingrowth comprises growing osteogenic bone within the fenestration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises a fenestration and wherein the step of presenting the implant and the aperture for staged fusion in the form of bone through growth comprises growing osteogenic bone through the fenestration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises a fenestration and wherein the step of presenting the implant and the aperture for staged fusion in the form of bone fusion comprises growing osteogenic bone through the implant and the aperture, and between the bone bodies.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises a fenestration and wherein the step of presenting the implant and the aperture for stage fusion in the form of bone reorganization comprises reorganizing osteogenic bone formed through the implant and the aperture via Wolff's Law.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises a hole extending through the thread segment and wherein the step of presenting the implant and the aperture for staged fusion in the form of bone ingrowth comprises growing osteogenic bone within the hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises a hole extending through the thread segment and wherein the step of presenting the implant and the aperture for staged fusion in the form of bone through growth comprises growing osteogenic bone through the hole.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of joining together bone bodies, comprising: preparing bone bodies to receive an implant, the implant having a body with a thread segment extending from a surface of the body, the thread segment having an undercut configuration intermediate a crest and the surface of the body, wherein at least a portion of the thread segment decreases in width along a direction extending from the crest toward the surface of the body, the thread segment configured to unite the bone bodies and an aperture operative to receive living bone from the bone bodies; inserting the implant in engagement with each bone body by threading the thread segment in interlocking engagement with living bone from each bone body, locking the bone bodies together; and positioning the implant for staged bone fusion.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of joining together bone bodies, comprising: preparing bone bodies to receive an implant, the implant having a body with a thread segment extending from a surface of the body, the thread segment having an undercut configuration intermediate a crest and the surface of the body, wherein at least a portion of the thread segment decreases in width along a direction extending from the crest toward the surface of the body, the thread segment configured to unite the bone bodies and an aperture operative to receive living bone from the bone bodies; inserting the implant in engagement with each bone body by threading the thread segment in interlocking engagement with living bone from each bone body, locking the bone bodies together; and positioning the implant for staged bone fusion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of positioning the inserted implant for staged bone fusion comprises positioning the aperture for bone ingrowth, bone through growth, bone fusion, and bone reorganization.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the thread segment comprises a plurality of individual thread segments defining a thread pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of preparing the bone bodies comprises forming a threaded bore into a disk space and at least partially into adjoining portions of the bone bodies to be joined, the bore being sized to receive the implant upon insertion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the implant comprises a cylindrical body having a hollow interior portion and a threaded outer portion, and the aperture comprises a plurality of fenestrations extending between the interior portion and the outer portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the threaded outer portion comprises axially extending through holes, the step of positioning the implant for staged fusion comprising locating the through holes adjacent the bone beds such that living bones grow successively into the holes, through the holes, fuses completely through the holes, and remodels within and around the holes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of positioning the implant for staged bone fusion comprises presenting the aperture for bone ingrowth and bone through growth.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of presenting the aperture for bone fusion and bone remodelling.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for fusing together an adjacent pair of vertebrae, comprising: preparing adjacent portions of each vertebra to cooperatively form at least part of a threaded bore for receiving an implant, the implant having a body with a complementary thread segment configured to mate in engagement with the threaded bore so as to immediately retain together the vertebrae, and an aperture in the implant presented to receive living bone; inserting the implant between the vertebrae in threaded engagement; and positioning the implant aperture to receive living bone during staged bone fusion; wherein the thread segment comprises an undercut helical thread extending from a surface of the body, the thread segment having an undercut configuration intermediate a crest and the surface of the body, wherein at least a portion of the thread segment decreases in width along a direction extending from the crest toward the surface of the body, the step of inserting the implant between the vertebrae comprising engaging the undercut helical thread in interlocking engagement with a bone bed of each vertebra so as to instantly fix together the vertebrae.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for fusing together an adjacent pair of vertebrae, comprising: preparing adjacent portions of each vertebra to cooperatively form at least part of a threaded bore for receiving an implant, the implant having a body with a complementary thread segment configured to mate in engagement with the threaded bore so as to immediately retain together the vertebrae, and an aperture in the implant presented to receive living bone; inserting the implant between the vertebrae in threaded engagement; and positioning the implant aperture to receive living bone during staged bone fusion; wherein the thread segment comprises an undercut helical thread extending from a surface of the body, the thread segment having an undercut configuration intermediate a crest and the surface of the body, wherein at least a portion of the thread segment decreases in width along a direction extending from the crest toward the surface of the body, the step of inserting the implant between the vertebrae comprising engaging the undercut helical thread in interlocking engagement with a bone bed of each vertebra so as to instantly fix together the vertebrae.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of preparing adjacent portions of each vertebra comprises forming a threaded bore between the pair of adjacent vertebrae.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the aperture comprises a plurality of spaced apart fenestrations configured and inserted between the vertebrae to facilitate bone ingrowth, bone through growth, bone fusion and bone reorganization.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the aperture comprises a plurality of fenestrations and the step of inserting the implant and the step of positioning the implant comprise threading the implant so as to present the fenestrations immediately adjacent the threaded bore portion of each vertebra.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the thread segment comprises a helical thread and the implant comprises holes extending axially of the implant and through the thread.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the implant is positioned with the aperture communicating with one of the vertebrae to facilitate staged bone fusion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of inserting the implant comprises threading the implant in interlocking engagement between the vertebrae.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 22 wherein bone reorganization comprises stress-induced bone remodelling.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22 wherein staged bone fusion comprises in sequence the steps of bone ingrowth, bone through growth, bone fusion and bone reorganization.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
158 words
A spinal implant for joining together vertebral bodies, comprising: a unitary implantable body having: (a) an outer portion comprising at least one thread segment having a tapering undercut portion provided on the thread segment extending from a surface of the body, the thread segment having an undercut configuration intermediate a crest and the surface of the body, wherein at least a portion of the thread segment decreases in width along a direction extending from the crest toward the surface of the body, the outer portion configured to engage in interlocking relation with each vertebral body; (b) a hollow interior portion; (c) a plurality of first apertures formed in the body and extending from the outer portion to the inner portion; (d) a plurality of second apertures formed in and extending through the thread segment; and (e) the thread segment, first apertures, second apertures, and hollow interior portion cooperating to conjoin and stabilize the vertebral bodies via staged fusion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
158 words
A spinal implant for joining together vertebral bodies, comprising: a unitary implantable body having: (a) an outer portion comprising at least one thread segment having a tapering undercut portion provided on the thread segment extending from a surface of the body, the thread segment having an undercut configuration intermediate a crest and the surface of the body, wherein at least a portion of the thread segment decreases in width along a direction extending from the crest toward the surface of the body, the outer portion configured to engage in interlocking relation with each vertebral body; (b) a hollow interior portion; (c) a plurality of first apertures formed in the body and extending from the outer portion to the inner portion; (d) a plurality of second apertures formed in and extending through the thread segment; and (e) the thread segment, first apertures, second apertures, and hollow interior portion cooperating to conjoin and stabilize the vertebral bodies via staged fusion.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The spinal implant of claim 31 wherein the first apertures comprise fenestrations.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
46 words
The spinal implant of claim 31 wherein the second apertures each comprise a transverse throughhole provided between opposed spaces of the thread, the throughhole configured to promote early physiological ingrowth of morphological bone so as to interlock the implant within each vertebral body to be joined.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-03 | 2003-07-05 | 2004-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-03 | 2007-07-05 | 2008-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-03 | 2011-07-05 | 2012-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |