Spinal implant containing multiple bone growth promoting materials
View Patent ↗An interbody spinal fusion implant for surgical implantation within a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies in a segment of a human spine includes multiple bone growth promoting materials. The implant includes upper and lower portions for contacting each of the adjacent vertebral bodies when positioned therein. Each of the upper and lower portions have at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies. The openings are in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through the implant. The implant includes a hollow interior for holding bone growth promoting material. In one embodiment, the bone growth promoting material includes a liquid fusion promoting material and a solid fusion promoting material other than bone provided in at least a portion of the hollow interior to promote bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through the implant.
1. An apparatus comprising:
an interbody spinal fusion implant for surgical implantation within a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies in a segment of a human spine, said implant comprising upper and lower portions for contacting each of the adjacent vertebral bodies when positioned therein, each of said upper and lower portions having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower portions being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant, said implant including a hollow interior for holding bone growth promoting material, said hollow interior being in communication with at least one opening in each of said upper and lower portions, said implant having an insertion end for entry into the spine and a trailing end, said trailing end having a rear wall between said upper and lower portions;
a liquid fusion promoting material in at least a portion of said hollow interior to promote bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant; and
a solid fusion promoting material other than bone, said solid fusion promoting material being in at least a portion of said hollow interior to promote bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said upper and lower portions are arcuate along at least a portion of their length.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower portions further comprise a protrusion for engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said protrusion is a thread.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said insertion end is open for loading bone growth promoting material into said hollow interior.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising an end cap for closing said open end.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said hollow interior is a chamber and the bone growth promoting material includes a bone graft.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant is configured for implantation across the disc space in the thoracolumbar region of the human spine.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said spinal implant includes an artificial material other than bone.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is stronger than bone.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is harder than bone.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant comprises harvested bone.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said solid fusion promoting material includes at least one of hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said liquid fusion promoting material is bone morphogenetic protein.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant is treated with a bone growth promoting substance.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant is a source of osteogenesis.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant comprises at least one of a metal, a plastic material, and a ceramic material.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower portions of said implant have a non-threaded exterior surface.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant has a length, said upper and lower portions having a non-arcuate portion along at least a portion of the length of said implant.
21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant is formed of a porous material.
22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant is formed of a material that intrinsically participates in the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.
23. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one opening is adapted to retain fusion-promoting materials.
24. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said implant is treated to promote bone ingrowth between said implant and said adjacent vertebral bodies.
25. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant is in combination with harvested bone.
26. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said liquid fusion promoting material is bone morphogenetic protein.
27. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said solid fusion promoting material includes at least one of a bioactive material and a bioresorbable material.
28. An apparatus comprising:
an interbody spinal fusion implant for surgical implantation within a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies in a segment of a human spine, said implant comprising upper and lower portions for contacting each of the adjacent vertebral bodies when positioned therein, each of said upper and lower portions having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower portions being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant, said implant including a hollow interior for holding bone growth promoting material, said hollow interior being in communication with at least one opening in each of said upper and lower portions, said implant having an insertion end for entry into the spine and a trailing end, said trailing end being adapted so as to be connectable to another interbody spinal implant having a trailing end adapted to be connected to said interbody spinal fusion implant;
a bioactive material in at least a portion of said hollow interior to promote bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant; and
a bioresorbable material being in at least a portion of said hollow interior to promote bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of said upper and lower portions are arcuate along at least a portion of their length.
30. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said upper and lower portions further comprise a protrusion for engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein said protrusion is a thread.
32. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said insertion end is open for loading bone growth promoting material into said hollow interior.
33. The apparatus of claim 32 , further comprising an end cap for closing said open end.
34. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said hollow interior is a chamber and the bone growth promoting material includes a bone graft.
35. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant is configured for implantation across the disc space in the thoracolumbar region of the human spine.
36. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said spinal implant includes an artificial material other than bone.
37. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is stronger than bone.
38. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is harder than bone.
39. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant comprises harvested bone.
40. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said bioactive material includes at least one of hydroxyapatite and bone morphogenetic protein.
41. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein, when said bioresorbable material is tricalcium phosphate, said bioactive material is hydroxyapatite.
42. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant is treated with a bone growth promoting substance.
43. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant is a source of osteogenesis.
44. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
45. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant comprises at least one of a metal, a plastic material, and a ceramic material.
46. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said upper and lower portions of said implant have a non-threaded exterior surface.
47. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant has a length, said upper and lower portions having a non-arcuate portion along at least a portion of the length of said implant.
48. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant is formed of a porous material.
49. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant is formed of a material that intrinsically participates in the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.
50. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said at least one opening is adapted to retain fusion-promoting materials
51. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of said implant is treated to promote bone ingrowth between said implant and said adjacent vertebral bodies.
52. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said implant is in combination with harvested bone.
53. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein, when said bioresorbable material is tricalcium phosphate, said bioactive material is hydroxyapatite.