US-12622789-B2 - Bladed spinal fusion implants

US12622789B2US 12622789 B2US12622789 B2US 12622789B2US-12622789-B2

Abstract

A fusion implant which already has a cephalad anchor blade and a caudal anchor blade which are both held in a non-deployed position for delivery between a cephalad vertebra and a caudal vertebra. Positioning the fusion implant between the cephalad vertebra and the caudal vertebra while the cephalad anchor blade and the caudal anchor blade are both held in the non-deployed position. Advancing the anchor blades to engage the vertebrae. Using a cephalad locking cam to lock the cephalad anchor blade in the deployed position and using a caudal locking cam to lock the caudal anchor blade in the deployed position.

Inventors

John Abraham Perryman
Connor Michael Purviance

Assignees

CHOICE SPINE, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230706

Claims (20)

1 . A fusion implant with pre-assembled anchor blades for delivery between adjacent vertebrae; the fusion implant comprising: an implant body; a cephalad anchor blade; a caudal anchor blade; and a set of at least one locking cam rotatably engaged with the implant body; the implant body having: a proximal face: a distal face opposite the proximal face; a cephalad face; a caudal face opposite the cephalad face; a right face between the proximal face and the distal face and between the cephalad face and the caudal face; a left face opposite the right face and between the proximal face and the distal face and between the cephalad face and the caudal face; the cephalad anchor blade comprising: a cephalad distal tip for penetration into cortical bone; a cephalad proximal end having: a cephalad lock plane for use in locking the cephalad anchor blade in a deployed position; a cephalad stop plane facing distally which prevents the cephalad proximal end from traveling beyond the proximal face of the implant body into an interior of the implant body; the cephalad distal tip and the cephalad proximal end located along a cephalad curved path such that the cephalad distal tip may be inserted into a cephalad blade sleeve tunnel at the proximal face and travel through the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel in the implant body to emerge from a cephalad sleeve tunnel egress opening on the cephalad face of the fusion implant and continue moving on the cephalad curved path until the cephalad stop plane contacts the proximal face of the fusion implant; the cephalad anchor blade held in a delivery position pending delivery between adjacent vertebrae; wherein application of sufficient pressure on the cephalad proximal end of the cephalad anchor blade is adequate to overcome a first interaction between the cephalad anchor blade and the implant body and cause a portion of the cephalad anchor blade to move through the cephalad sleeve tunnel egress opening; the caudal anchor blade comprising: a caudal distal tip for penetration into cortical bone; a caudal proximal end having: a caudal lock plane for use in locking the caudal anchor blade in a deployed position; and a caudal stop plane facing distally which prevents the caudal proximal end of the caudal anchor blade from traveling beyond the proximal face of the implant body into the interior of the implant body; the caudal distal tip and the caudal proximal end located along a caudal curved path such that the caudal distal tip may be inserted into a caudal blade sleeve tunnel at the proximal face and travel through the caudal blade sleeve tunnel in the implant body to emerge from a caudal sleeve tunnel egress opening on the caudal face of the fusion implant and continue moving on the caudal curved path until the caudal stop plane contacts the proximal face of the fusion implant; the caudal anchor blade held in a delivery position pending delivery between adjacent vertebrae; wherein application of sufficient pressure on the caudal proximal end of the caudal anchor blade is adequate to overcome a second interaction between the caudal anchor blade and the implant body and cause a portion of the caudal anchor blade to move through caudal sleeve tunnel egress opening; the set of at least one locking cam having a delivery position wherein the set of at least one locking cam does not limit: movement of the cephalad anchor blade; or movement of the caudal anchor blade; and the set of at least one locking cam also having a locking position wherein: the cephalad anchor blade that is in the deployed position cannot move the cephalad proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face of the implant body; and the caudal anchor blade that is in the deployed position cannot move the caudal proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face of the implant body.
2 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein while the cephalad anchor blade is being held in the delivery position—the cephalad distal tip is within the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel and not extending beyond a cephalad anchor blade egress opening.
3 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein while the caudal anchor blade is being held in the delivery position—the caudal distal tip is within the caudal blade sleeve tunnel and not extending beyond a caudal anchor blade egress opening.
4 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein the fusion implant further comprises: a cephalad retention clip; and a caudal retention clip; and the cephalad anchor blade further comprising: a cephalad retention groove partway between the cephalad distal tip and the cephalad proximal end; the cephalad retention groove positioned to engage with the cephalad retention clip via a first interaction to hold the cephalad anchor blade in the delivery position wherein the cephalad distal tip is within the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel and not extending beyond a cephalad anchor blade egress opening; the first interaction of the cephalad retention groove and the cephalad retention clip adapted to allow the cephalad anchor blade to respond to pressure on the cephalad proximal end to overcome the first interaction and cause a portion of the cephalad anchor blade to move through the cephalad anchor blade egress opening; the caudal anchor blade further comprising: a caudal retention groove partway between the caudal distal tip and the caudal proximal end; the caudal retention groove positioned to engage with the caudal retention clip via a second interaction to hold the caudal anchor blade in the delivery position wherein the caudal distal tip of the caudal anchor blade is within the caudal blade sleeve tunnel and not extending beyond a caudal anchor blade egress opening; and the second interaction of the caudal retention groove and the caudal retention clip adapted to allow the caudal anchor blade to respond to pressure on the caudal proximal end of the cephalad anchor blade to overcome the second interaction and cause a portion of the caudal anchor blade to move through the caudal anchor blade egress opening.
5 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein the cephalad anchor blade is retained in the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel while the anchor blades are in the delivery position by a cephalad interference fit.
6 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein the caudal anchor blade is retained in the caudal blade sleeve tunnel while the anchor blades are in the delivery position by a caudal interference fit.
7 . The fusion implant of claim 6 wherein the cephalad anchor blade is retained in the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel while the anchor blades are in the delivery position by a cephalad interference fit.
8 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein the set of at least one locking cam is a set of only one locking cam and a partial rotation of the locking cam rotates the locking cam from the delivery position to the locking position; wherein the locking cam in the locking position traps the cephalad lock plane of the cephalad anchor blade so that the cephalad anchor blade is limited in ability for distal movement beyond the proximal face of the fusion implant by the cephalad stop plane and is limited in ability for further proximal movement by the locking cam contacting the cephalad lock plane; and wherein the locking cam in the locking position traps the caudal lock plane of the caudal anchor blade so that the caudal anchor blade is limited for further distal movement beyond the proximal face of the fusion implant by the caudal stop plane and is limited for further proximal movement by the locking cam contacting the caudal lock plane.
9 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein the set of at least one locking cam is a set of a cephalad locking cam and a caudal locking cam; a partial rotation of the cephalad locking cam rotates the cephalad locking cam from the delivery position to the locking position; wherein the cephalad locking cam in the locking position traps the cephalad lock plane of the cephalad anchor blade so that the cephalad anchor blade is limited in ability for distal movement beyond the proximal face of the fusion implant by the cephalad stop plane and is limited in ability for further proximal movement by the cephalad locking cam contacting the cephalad lock plane; and a partial rotation of the caudal locking cam rotates the caudal locking cam from the delivery position to the locking position; and wherein the caudal locking cam in the locking position traps the caudal lock plane of the caudal anchor blade so that the caudal anchor blade is limited for further distal movement beyond the proximal face of the fusion implant by the caudal stop plane and is limited for further proximal movement by the caudal locking cam contacting the caudal lock plane.
10 . The fusion implant of claim 1 further comprising a bone growth conduit with an opening on the cephalad face of the fusion implant and a second opening on the caudal face of the fusion implant.
11 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein the implant body is created using additive manufacturing so that the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel substantially surrounds a portion of the cephalad anchor blade within the implant body.
12 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel has a series of cross sections taken perpendicular to a midline of the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel and a majority of the series of cross sections are solid so that at that cross section of the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel, the cephalad anchor blade is totally surrounded by that cross section of the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel.
13 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein the implant body is created using additive manufacturing so that the caudal blade sleeve tunnel substantially surrounds a portion of the caudal anchor blade within the implant body.
14 . The fusion implant of claim 13 wherein the caudal blade sleeve tunnel has a series of cross sections taken perpendicular to a midline of the caudal blade sleeve tunnel and a majority of the series of cross sections are solid so that at that cross section of the caudal blade sleeve tunnel, the caudal anchor blade is totally surrounded by that cross section of the caudal blade sleeve tunnel.
15 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein the implant body is created using additive manufacturing so that the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel totally encircles the cephalad anchor blade.
16 . The fusion implant of claim 1 wherein the implant body is created using additive manufacturing so that the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel is substantially solid on both a right side and a left side of the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel.
17 . A fusion implant with a cephalad anchor blade and a caudal anchor blade held within the fusion implant in a delivery position before removal from sterilized packaging, the fusion implant comprising: an implant body; the cephalad anchor blade for extending into a cephalad vertebra after the fusion implant is delivered between the cephalad vertebra and a caudal vertebra; the caudal anchor blade for extending into the caudal vertebra after the fusion implant is delivered between the cephalad vertebra and the caudal vertebra; the cephalad anchor blade having a cephalad proximal end comprising: a cephalad lock plane for use in locking the cephalad anchor blade in a deployed position; a cephalad stop plane facing distally which prevents the cephalad proximal end from traveling beyond a proximal face of the implant body into an interior of the implant body; the caudal anchor blade having a caudal proximal end comprising: a caudal lock plane for use in locking the caudal anchor blade in a deployed position; and a caudal stop plane facing distally which prevents the caudal proximal end of the caudal anchor blade from traveling beyond the proximal face of the implant body into the interior of the implant body; a set of at least one locking cam rotatably engaged with the implant body; each of the set of at least one locking cam having a delivery position wherein each the set of at least one locking cam does not limit: movement of the cephalad anchor blade; or movement of the caudal anchor blade; and each of the set of at least one locking cam also having a locking position wherein: the cephalad anchor blade that is in the deployed position cannot move the cephalad proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face of the implant body; and the caudal anchor blade that is in the deployed position cannot move the caudal proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face of the implant body.
18 . The fusion implant of claim 17 wherein: a cephalad locking cam once moved into the locking position traps the cephalad lock plane of the cephalad anchor blade so that the cephalad anchor blade is limited in ability for distal movement beyond the proximal face of the fusion implant by the cephalad stop plane and is limited in ability for further proximal movement by the cephalad locking cam contacting the cephalad lock plane; and wherein a caudal locking cam in the locking position traps the caudal lock plane of the caudal anchor blade so that the caudal anchor blade is limited for further distal movement beyond the proximal face of the fusion implant by the caudal stop plane and is limited for further proximal movement by the caudal locking cam contacting the caudal lock plane.
19 . The fusion implant of claim 18 wherein the set of at least one locking cam has a single locking cam that serves as the cephalad locking cam and the caudal locking cam.
20 . The fusion implant of claim 18 wherein the set of at least one locking cam has the cephalad locking cam and the caudal locking cam and the cephalad locking cam is not part of the caudal locking cam.

Description

BACKGROUND This application claims priority to commonly assigned and co-pending PCT Application No. PCT/US2021/012910 for Bladed Spinal Fusion Implants which was filed Jan. 11, 2021. The '910 application is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Field of the Disclosure This disclosure relates generally to spinal implants used for fusion of two adjacent vertebrae. More particularly this disclosure relates to spinal implants with anchor blades that are inserted into the vertebral endplates adjacent to the inserted spinal implant. Related Art The wonder of the operation of a healthy human spine and the utility of fusion implants to treat problems in a human spine have been covered in countless prior patent applications. One recent example is commonly assigned to the applicant for this application, Choice Spine, LLC; it is U.S. Pat. No. 10,398,565 for Limited Profiled Intervertebral Implant with Incorporated Fastening and Locking Mechanism. The text of the '565 application is incorporated by reference here in its entirety. As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment from the '565 patent is a spinal implant 50 suitable for use in spinal fusion which has an initial position. In the initial position, the distal tips 54 of the cephalad anchor blade 58 and the distal tip 62 of the caudal anchor blade 66 are both in a retracted position. This initial position can be called the delivery position as this is the position of the blades during delivery of the spinal implant 50 into the intervertebral space. FIG. 2 shows the spinal implant 50 after delivery into the intervertebral space and deployment of the cephalad anchor blade 58 and caudal anchor blade 66 through the cortical bone endplates of the adjacent vertebrae. This second position may be called the deployed position. One of skill in the art will appreciate that driving the distal tips 54 and 62 of the anchor blades 58 and 66 will require considerable force. It would be desirable to have the anchor blades 58 and 62 substantially surrounded in a pair of tunnel sleeves in the implant body 70 while significant force is applied to drive the distal tips 54 and 62 through the cortical bone. State of the art machining tools require lateral access to create precise curvatures. Thus, implant body 70 has a pair of guide channels to hold and guide the curved anchor blades 58 and 62 rather than a pair of guide tunnels to hold and guide the curved anchor blades 58 and 66. The difference between a guide channel and a guide tunnel is that a guide tunnel provides 360-degree encirclement of the anchor blade for at least a portion of the guide tunnel. Vocabulary Or. Unless explicit to the contrary, the word “or” should be interpreted as an inclusive or rather than an exclusive or. Thus, the default meaning of or should be the same as the more awkward and/or. Proximal and Distal. Proximal and distal should be considered relative to the surgeon. The distal portion of a device would be the end of the device that is initially inserted into the patient's body and is thus away from the surgeon. The proximal end of the device would be the trailing end of the device away from the distal end of the device and would be closer to the surgeon during the insertion of the device. Set. Unless explicit to the contrary, the word “set” should be interpreted as a group of one or more items. Gne and Gnes. To avoid the awkward he/she and his/her or the potentially confusing singular use of they and their, this application uses the gender-neutral pronoun gne and the possessive gnes. Step. The term step may be used in descriptions within this disclosure. For purposes of clarity, one distinct act or step may be discussed before beginning the discussion of another distinct act or step. The term step should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps disclosed unless the specific order of individual steps is expressly indicated. Substantially. Frequently, when describing an industrial process it is useful to note that a given parameter is substantially met. Examples may be substantially parallel, substantially perpendicular, substantially uniform, and substantially flat. In this context, substantially X means that for purposes of this industrial process it is X. So something that may not be absolutely parallel but is for all practical purposes parallel, is substantially parallel. Likewise, mixed air that has substantially uniform temperature would have temperature deviations that were inconsequential for that industrial process. As recognized in C. E. Equipment Co. v. United States, 13 U.S.P.Q.2d 1363, 1368 (Cl. Ct. 1989), the word “substantially” in patent claims gives rise to some definitional leeway—thus the word “substantially” may prevent avoidance of infringement by minor changes that do not affect the results sought to be accomplished. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Aspects of the teachings contained within this disclosure are addressed in the claims submitted with this a