Interbody fusion device
View Patent ↗Devices for fixing interbody fusion devices to bone by helically or corkscrew-shaped elements are provided. Methods for surgically implanting an interbody fusion device using helically-shaped fixation wire are provided.
1. An implantable device comprising:
a spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a groove comprising a generally helical shape, the passage having a substantially straight longitudinal axis through its entire length; and
a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire,
wherein the groove comprising the generally helical shape is configured to guide and house the single wire when the single wire extends through the passage and into a bony structure to secure the spacer to a bone.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the helically-shaped body includes a sharp tip capable of piercing the bone on one end and a feature that engages a driving instrument on the opposite end.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the generally helical shape of the groove corresponds to a diameter and a pitch of the helically-shaped body.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the generally helical shape of both the helically-shaped body and the groove are correspondingly timed such that as the helically-shaped body passes through the spacer, the sharp tip is the first portion of the helically-shaped body to come in contact with the bone.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the helically-shaped body and the groove are timed with respect to having a common rotational position about the longitudinal axis.
6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the sharp tip comes into contact with the bone from a generally perpendicular direction.
7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a design feature that prevents the helically-shaped body from turning once the helically-shaped body has reached a final desired implanted position.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the passage in the spacer is configured such that the helically-shaped body extends through the passage to secure the spacer to a superior vertebral body.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the spacer has at least a second passage configured such that a second helically-shaped body extends through the second passage to secure the spacer to an inferior vertebral body.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the second passage is slanted toward the inferior surface.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the passage comprises a hole through which the helically-shaped body passes that is smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the helically-shaped body.
12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an opening in the spacer having a hole insert.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the passage and the groove are disposed on the hole insert, and wherein the generally helical shape of the groove corresponds to a diameter and a pitch of the helically-shaped body.
14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the hole insert provides an intermediate layer of material between the helically-shaped body and an inner surface of the opening.
15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the passage is slanted toward the superior surface.
16. A method for treating a spine, comprising:
Inserting a spacer between two vertebral bodies, the spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a groove comprising a generally helical shape, the passage having a substantially straight longitudinal axis through its entire length; and
Inserting a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire through the passage to secure the spacer to a vertebral body, wherein the groove comprising the generally helical shape guides and houses the single wire.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising engaging a proximal end of the helically-shaped body to a proximal feature of the passage in the spacer.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising inserting a second helically-shaped body through a second passage in the spacer to secure the spacer to a second, adjacent vertebral body.
19. An implantable device comprising:
a spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a generally helical-shaped groove; and
a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire having an outer surface,
wherein the generally helical-shaped groove is configured to engage the outer surface of the single wire when the single wire extends through the passage, the fixation device having a substantially straight longitudinal axis when extending through the passage.
20. An implantable device comprising:
a spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a generally helical-shaped groove; and
a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire having an outer surface,
wherein the generally helical-shaped groove is configured to engage the outer surface of the single wire when the single wire extends through the passage,
an opening in the spacer having a hole insert, wherein the passage and the generally helical-shaped groove are disposed on the hole insert.