IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,354,452
Granted Patent B2
US 7,354,452 · App. 10/395,654 · Granted Apr 8, 2008

Spinal bone implant

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,354,452
App. No.
10/395,654
Granted
Apr 8, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

Implantable devices useful for creating bony fusion particularly in intervetebral spinal fusion. The device is formed of bone and has a body portion with an upper flange member and an opposite lower flange member extending from the body portion. The upper and lower flange members are at least partially demineralized to create a flexible ligament extending from the body portion. In one application, the body portion is inserted into a disc space and the flexible ligament is secured to vertebrae on either side of the disc space. Techniques are also disclosed for making the implantable devices and for inserting the implantable device into an intervertebral disc space to promote interbody fusion.

Claims (45)

1. A method of inserting an interbody fusion implant made of bone, comprising:

providing an implant formed of bone and having a body portion with an upper bearing surface and opposite lower bearing surface, said body portion further including a flexible upper flange member and an opposite flexible lower flange member each extending from said body portion, wherein the flexible upper flange member and the flexible lower flange member are each comprised of demineralized bone;

accessing the disc space between adjacent vertebrae;

inserting the body portion of the implant into the disc space;

securing the flexible upper flange member to the body of the upper vertebra;

securing the flexible lower flange member to the body of the lower vertebra; and

tensioning the flexible upper flange member and the flexible lower flange member before securing at least one of the flexible upper flange member to the body of the upper vertebra and the flexible lower flange member to the body of the lower vertebra.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

securing the upper flexible member includes engaging a fastener to the body of the upper vertebra through an opening formed through the upper flexible member; and

securing the lower flexible member includes engaging a fastener to the body of the lower vertebra through an opening formed through the lower flexible member.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein accessing the disc space includes accessing the disc space via an anterior approach.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein accessing the disc space includes accessing the disc space via a posterior approach.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein accessing the disc space includes accessing the disc space between adjacent cervical vertebrae.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rigid body portion includes a cavity and further comprising providing bone growth material for placement in the cavity.

7. A method of stabilizing adjacent vertebrae, comprising:

providing an implant formed of bone and including a flexible upper flange member and an opposite flexible lower flange member;

accessing adjacent vertebrae;

securing the flexible upper flange member to the body of the upper vertebra;

securing the flexible lower flange member to the body of the lower vertebra; and

tensioning the flexible upper flange member and the flexible lower flange member before securing at least one of the flexible upper flange member to the body of the upper vertebra and the flexible lower flange member to the body of the lower vertebra.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said implant includes a body portion formed of rigid bone and further comprising inserting the rigid body portion in the space between the adjacent vertebrae.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the rigid body portion includes a cavity and further comprising providing bone growth material for placement in the cavity.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

securing the flexible upper flange member includes engaging a fastener to the body of the upper vertebra through an opening formed through the flexible upper flange member; and

securing the lower flexible member includes engaging a fastener to the body of the lower vertebra through an opening formed through the flexible lower flange member.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein accessing the adjacent vertebrae includes accessing the adjacent vertebrae via an anterior approach.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein accessing the adjacent vertebrae includes accessing the adjacent vertebrae via a posterior approach.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the adjacent vertebrae are cervical vertebrae.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the flexible upper flange member and the flexible lower flange member are each comprised of demineralized bone.

15. A method of stabilizing adjacent vertebrae, comprising:

providing an implant formed of demineralized bone and including a flexible upper member and an opposite flexible lower member, wherein the implant includes a body portion formed of rigid bone;

accessing the adjacent vertebrae;

inserting the rigid body portion in the space between the adjacent vertebrae;

securing the flexible upper member to the body of the upper vertebra;

securing the flexible lower member to the body of the lower vertebra; and

tensioning the flexible upper member and the flexible lower member before securing at least one of the flexible upper member to the body of the upper vertebra and the flexible lower member to the body of the lower vertebra.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the rigid body portion includes a cavity and further comprising providing bone growth material for placement in the cavity.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

securing the upper and lower members to the rigid body portion.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

securing the flexible upper member includes engaging a fastener to the body of the upper vertebra through an opening formed through the flexible upper member; and

securing the flexible lower member includes engaging a fastener to the body of the lower vertebra through an opening formed through the flexible lower member.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein accessing the adjacent vertebrae includes accessing the adjacent vertebrae via an anterior approach.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein accessing the adjacent vertebrae includes accessing the adjacent vertebrae via a posterior approach.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the adjacent vertebrae are cervical vertebrae.