FUSION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FUSING SPINAL BONES
This invention relates to a spinal fusion system and method for use as a prosthetic implant. The system and method includes a housing dimensioned to be situated between adjacent spinal bones, such as adjacent vertebrae. The housing cooperates with the spinal bones to define a graft area for receiving graft material, which may be inserted anteriorly into the housing during a surgical operation such as a vertebrectomy or discectomy. A housing may have various features such as migration preventers to prevent the housing from migrating posteriorly towards a spinal column and can be used with a cover that permits the housing to “float” relative thereto. Screws are provided in one embodiment and are dimensioned or configured to lock against each other to retain the screws and, consequently, the cover in place.
1 . A method for fusing spinal bones together, comprising the steps of:
providing a housing for situating between spinal bones, said housing cooperating with said spinal bones to define an opening for introducing graft material into a graft area after said housing; and
enabling said graft material to be introduced through said opening and into said graft area after said housing is situated between said spinal bones.
2 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
providing a plate for securing to said spinal bones to fix said spinal bones into a predetermined position relative to each other and to facilitate covering said opening after said graft material is introduced into said graft area.
3 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
providing a housing comprising at least one migration preventor that enables said housing to be inserted between said spinal bones until at least one migration preventor stops said housing from migrating toward a spinal cord or other neurological structure.
4 . The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
inserting said housing between said spinal bones until said at least one migration preventor engages at least one of said spinal bones.
5 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of securing a cover to said spinal bones in order to cover said opening.
6 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a shape generally corresponding to a size of a single spinal bones.
7 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a shape generally corresponding to a size of multiple spinal bones.
8 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
situating a plurality of housings into a plurality of graft areas, each of said plurality of housings cooperating with a plurality of spinal bones to define a plurality of graft openings.
9 . The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
providing a plate that can be detachably secured to said spinal bones to permit a second housing to be inserted into a patient, said second housing cooperating with spinal bones to provide a second opening, said plate covering both said opening and said second opening after it is secured to said spinal bones.
10 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
providing a housing that is generally U-shaped.
11 . A method for fusing spinal bones together, comprising the steps of:
situating a cage in a graft area between spinal bones, said cage cooperating with said spinal bones to define an anterior opening for introducing graft material into said graft area;
situating graft material through said anterior opening and into said graft area.
12 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
covering said anterior opening with a cover.
13 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
inserting said cage between said spinal bones until at least one migration preventor stops said cage from migrating toward a spinal cord or other neurological structure.
14 . The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
inserting said cage between said spinal bones until said at least one migration preventor engages at least one of said spinal bones.
15 . The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said covering step further comprises the step of securing a cover to said spinal bones in order to cover said opening.
16 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said cage comprises a shape generally corresponding to a size of a single spinal bones.
17 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said cage comprises a shape generally corresponding to a size of multiple spinal bones.
18 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
situating a plurality of cages into a plurality of graft areas, each of said plurality of cages cooperating with a plurality of spinal bones to define a plurality of graft openings.
19 . The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
securing a cover to said spinal bones, said cover covering each of said plurality of graft openings.
20 . The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
removing said cover; and
inserting a second cage into a second graft area between two spinal bones, said second cage cooperating with said spinal bones to define a second anterior opening for introducing graft material into said second graft area;
securing said cover to said spinal bones to cover said anterior opening and said second anterior opening.
21 . A method for fusing spinal bones together, comprising the steps of:
removal of diseased or injured spinal bones and/or vertebral disks;
situating either a single cage or a plurality of cages between remaining spinal bones, said cage or cages cooperating with said spinal bones to define an anterior opening for introducing graft or graft-like material with the purpose of generating a fusion between adjacent spinal bones into a graft area;
situating graft material through said anterior opening and into said graft area; and
covering said anterior opening with a cover.
22 . The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
inserting said single cage or plurality of cages between said spinal bones until at least one migration preventor stops said cage from migrating toward a spinal cord or other neurological structure.
23 . The method as recited in claim 22 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
inserting said cage between said spinal bones until said at least one migration preventor engages at least one of said spinal bones.
24 . The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said covering step further comprises the step of securing a cover to said spinal bones in order to cover said opening.
25 . The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said cage comprises a shape generally corresponding to a size of a single spinal bones.
26 . The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said cage comprises a shape generally corresponding to a size of multiple spinal bones.
27 . The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said cage comprises a shape generally corresponding to a size of a single vertebral disk.
28 . The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said cage comprises a shape generally corresponding to a size of a multiple vertebral disks.
29 . The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
situating a plurality of cages into a plurality of graft areas, each of said plurality of cages cooperating with a plurality of spinal bones to define a plurality of graft openings.
30 . The method as recited in claim 29 wherein said method further comprises the step of:
securing a cover to said spinal bones, said cover covering each of said plurality of graft openings.
31 . The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
removing said cover; and
inserting a second cage into a second graft area between two spinal bones, said second cage cooperating with said spinal bones to define a second anterior opening for introducing graft material into said second graft area;
securing a second cover to said spinal bones to cover said anterior opening and said second anterior opening, said second cover being longer than said cover.
32 . An implant plate comprising:
a generally planar member;
said generally planar member comprising a plurality of apertures each having an associated sear for receiving and supporting a head of a screw; and
a wall associated with at least one of said plurality of apertures, with said head of said screw becoming generally opposed to and at least partially surrounded by said wall;
said wall being interrupted by an opening.
33 . The implant plate as recited in claim 32 wherein said generally planar member comprises a lock for passing through said opening and engaging said head of said screw.
34 . The implant plate as recited in claim 33 wherein said lock is a resilient member.
35 . The implant plate as recited in claim 34 wherein said lock is a resilient member has an end integral with said generally planar member and a second end that is associated with said opening and that engages said head of said screw to facilitate retaining said screw in said implant plate.
36 . The implant plate as recited in claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of apertures comprises a wall associated there so that when a plurality of screws are received in said plurality of apertures, respectively, said head of said screw becomes generally opposed to and at least partially surrounded by said wall.
37 . The implant plate as recited in claim 32 wherein said opening is oriented or faces a center of said generally planar member.
38 . The implant plate as recited in claim 34 wherein said resilient member comprises an elongated arm having an end having a detent portion;
said elongated arm moving from a home position when it is screwed into a spinal bone, and returning to said home position after said screw clears said detent portion.
39 . The implant plate as recited in claim 38 wherein a second end of said elongated arm is integrally formed in said generally planar member.
40 . The implant plate as recited in claim 39 wherein said resilient member is generally L-shaped in cross-section.
41 . The implant plate as recited in claim 39 wherein said generally planar member and said elongated arm are integral and made of titanium.
42 . The implant plate as recited in claim 32 wherein said wall is generally C-shaped in cross section.