US-12616588-B2 - Spinal implant

Abstract

An embodiment includes an orthopedic fusion system comprising: a cage; a curved first channel coupling a lateral wall of the cage to a superior surface of the cage; a curved second channel coupling the lateral wall of the cage to an inferior surface of the cage; a third channel coupling the superior surface of the cage to the inferior surface of the cage; a curved first anchor configured to slide within the first channel; a curved second anchor configured to slide within the second channel; and a threaded projection extending outwardly from the lateral wall; a washer non-threadingly attached to the threaded projection; a cam non-threadingly attached to the threaded projection and directly contacting the washer; a nut threadingly attached to the threaded projection and directly contacting the cam.

Inventors

• Josh Kaufmann
• Greg Calbert
• Scott Bryant
• Derek Southard
• Landon Gilkey
• Matthew Philips

Assignees

• GENESYS SPINE

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240913

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An spinal implant system comprising: a cage; a curved first channel coupling a lateral wall of the cage to a superior surface of the cage; a curved second channel coupling the lateral wall of the cage to an inferior surface of the cage; a third channel coupling the superior surface of the cage to the inferior surface of the cage; a curved first anchor configured to slide within the first channel; a curved second anchor configured to slide within the second channel; and a threaded projection extending outwardly from the lateral wall; a washer non-threadingly attached to the threaded projection; a cam non-threadingly attached to the threaded projection and directly contacting the washer; a nut threadingly attached to the threaded projection and directly contacting the cam.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the cam includes: a first arm that projects across a portion of the first channel in a first orientation of the cam with respect to the cage; and a second arm that projects across a portion of the second channel in the first orientation.
3. 3 . The system of claim 2 wherein: in a second orientation of the cam with respect to the cage: (a) the first arm does not project across the portion of the first channel; and (b) the second arm does not project across the portion of the second channel in the second orientation; the cam is rotationally linked to the threaded projection and is configured to rotate between the first and second orientations.
4. 4 . The system of claim 3 wherein in the first orientation a portion of the first arm is lateral to a proximal end of the first anchor and prevents the first anchor from backing out of the first channel.
5. 5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein in a vertical plane in the first orientation the first anchor is completely surrounded by an interior wall of the first channel.
6. 6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the first anchor includes a projection configured to abut a wall of the first channel to prevent a proximal portion of the first anchor from passing through the first channel.
7. 7 . The system of claim 6 comprising a fourth channel coupling the lateral wall of the cage to the third channel.
8. 8 . The system of claim 6 comprising a fourth channel between the first and second channels.
9. 9 . The system of claim 6 wherein a linear axis intersects the lateral wall and the first and second channels.
10. 10 . The system of claim 6 wherein the first anchor includes an arcuate outer wall defining an arc that extends along a majority of an overall length of the first anchor.
11. 11 . The system of claim 10 wherein the arc has a single consistent radius of curvature.
12. 12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second anchors have identical forms to each other.
13. 13 . The system of claim 12 wherein the cam is unthreaded.
14. 14 . The system of claim 13 wherein: the cam is non-fixedly coupled to the washer; the cam is rotationally coupled to the washer.
15. 15 . The system of claim 14 wherein: a first plane intersects the threaded projection, the cam, and the nut; the first plane does not intersect the third channel; a second plane, orthogonal to the first plane, intersects the threaded projection, the washer, the cam, the nut, and the third channel.
16. 16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the washer is compressed.
17. 17 . The system of claim 16 wherein the nut is tightened against the cam with a predetermined level of force to force the cam against the washer.
18. 18 . The system of claim 16 wherein the washer includes polyetheretherketone (PEEK).
19. 19 . The system of claim 1 comprising an insertion tool, the insertion tool comprising: a first insertion tool arm configured to travel along a first arcuate path to drive the first anchor along the first channel; a second insertion tool arm configured to travel along a second arcuate path to drive the second anchor along the second channel.
20. 20 . The system of claim 19 wherein the first and second insertion tool arms are configured to respectively travel along the first and second arcuate paths simultaneously with one another.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/538,291, filed on Sep. 14, 2023, and entitled “Spinal Implant”, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of the invention are in the field of orthopedic implants. BACKGROUND As addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,098,755, fixation devices can be used to provide, for example, immobilization and stabilization of spinal segments in patients (e.g., humans, dogs, cats, and other animals). Fixation devices may be used to help fuse bone segments (e.g., vertebrae) in the treatment of instabilities or deformities of, for example, the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and/or sacral spine. Such instabilities or deformities may include, for example, degenerative disc disease (DDD); spondylolisthesis; trauma (i.e., fracture or dislocation); spinal stenosis; curvatures (i.e., scoliosis, kyphosis, and/or lordosis); tumor; pseudoarthrosis; and failed previous fusions. One such fixation device may include an interbody spacer implanted using techniques such as Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF), Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF), or Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) surgical techniques. The spacers used in these techniques are placed in the interdiscal space between adjacent vertebrae of the spine. Many times an exterior plate is used in conjunction with the spacer to hold the adjacent vertebrae while the fusion occurs. Ideally, the spacer should stabilize the intervertebral space and allow fusion of the adjacent vertebrae. Moreover, during the time it takes for fusion to occur, the interbody spacer should have sufficient structural integrity to withstand the stress of maintaining the space without substantially degrading or deforming and have sufficient stability to remain securely in place prior to actual bone ingrowth fusion. The degree or success of union, loads produced by weight bearing, and activity levels will, among other conditions, dictate the longevity of the implant. Robust fixation systems are needed to lessen risks associated with fixation and to promote better outcomes for patients. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the appended claims, the following detailed description of one or more example embodiments, and the corresponding figures, in which: FIG. 1A includes a perspective view of an embodiment of a standalone interbody cage with a cam in an open position or configuration. FIG. 1B includes an assembly drawing of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C includes an perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A including anchors with the cam in a closed position or configuration. FIG. 1D includes an perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A including anchors with the cam in a closed position or configuration. FIG. 1E includes a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A including anchors with the cam in a closed position or configuration. FIG. 1F includes an perspective view of the cage of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1G includes a top view of the cage of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1H includes a side view of the cage of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1I includes a perspective view of the cage of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1J includes a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1K includes an assembly of a portion of the cam assembly of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2A includes a perspective view of an embodiment of a standalone interbody cage, anchors, and insertion tool. FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D include cross-sectional views of an embodiment of a standalone interbody cage, anchors, and insertion tool at various points of anchor deployment within a channel of the cage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. Well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail to avoid obscuring an understanding of this description. References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “example embodiment”, “various embodiments” and the like indicate the embodiment(s) so described may include particular features, structures, or characteristics, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular features, structures, or characteristics. Further, some embodiments may have some, all, or none of the features described for other embodiments. Also, as used herein “first”, “second”, “third” and the like describe a common object and indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to. Such adjectives are not intended to imply the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner. Also, the terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. In particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate