Granted Patent B2

US 9,060,874 · App. 14/199,493 · Granted Jun 23, 2015

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A method of inserting and positioning a prosthetic intervertebral spacer in the intervertebral disc space between two adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a spacer including a longitudinal axis, a first interface, and a second interface;

engaging a tool to the first interface;

inserting the spacer at least partially into the intervertebral disc space by moving the tool substantially along an insertion direction;

disengaging the tool from the spacer;

engaging the tool to the second interface;

inserting the spacer further into the intervertebral disc space by moving the tool substantially along the insertion direction, such that the longitudinal axis of the spacer is angled with respect to the insertion direction; and

modifying the shape of the spacer by expanding the spacer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the insertion direction is substantially parallel to a posterior-anterior axis of the intervertebral disc space.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the combination of the inserting steps results in the longitudinal axis of the spacer being perpendicular to the insertion direction.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the spacer is substantially parallel to a medial-lateral axis of the intervertebral disc space.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting steps result in the spacer being positioned in an anterior aspect of the intervertebral disc space.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting steps include allowing the spacer to rotate with respect to the insertion direction.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the spacer further includes a front end having frictional properties that are greater than frictional properties of a rear end of the spacer, and wherein the inserting steps include allowing the front end to turn within the intervertebral disc space as it frictionally engages one or both of the adjacent vertebrae.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first interface and the second interface are ports, the tool includes a retractable member, and the engaging steps include placing the retractable member in the respective ports.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the combination of the inserting steps results in the longitudinal axis of the spacer being rotated approximately 90 degrees with respect to the insertion direction.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of packing bone grafting material into at least one of the first interface, the second interface, and an opening in the spacer.

11. A method of inserting and positioning a prosthetic intervertebral spacer in the intervertebral disc space between two adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a spacer including a curved front end, a longitudinal axis, a first interface, and a second interface;

establishing a connection between a tool and the first interface of the spacer such that the tool and the spacer cannot substantially pivot with respect to one another;

inserting the spacer at least partially into the intervertebral disc space by moving the tool substantially along an insertion direction;

relocating the connection to the second interface such that the tool and the spacer cannot substantially pivot with respect to one another; and

inserting the spacer further into the intervertebral disc space by moving the tool substantially along the insertion direction, such that the spacer rotates with respect to the insertion direction.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the combination of the inserting steps results in the longitudinal axis of the spacer being perpendicular to the insertion direction.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the inserting steps result in the spacer being positioned in an anterior aspect of the intervertebral disc space.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the spacer further includes a front end having frictional properties that are greater than frictional properties of a rear end of the spacer, and wherein the inserting steps include allowing the front end to turn within the intervertebral disc space as it frictionally engages one or both of the adjacent vertebrae.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first interface and the second interface are ports, the tool includes a retractable member, and the establishing step includes placing the retractable member in the respective ports.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of modifying the shape of the spacer by expanding the spacer.

17. A method of inserting and positioning a prosthetic intervertebral spacer in the intervertebral disc space between two adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a spacer including a longitudinal axis, a first interface, and a second interface;

applying a first force to the first interface to move the spacer in the intervertebral disc space;

applying a second force to the second interface to further move the spacer in the intervertebral disc space; and

modifying the shape of the spacer by expanding the spacer,

wherein the first and second forces are provided by a tool moving substantially along a single direction and cause the spacer to rotate, and

wherein the tool is disengaged from the spacer between the step of applying the first force and the step of applying the second force.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the spacer further includes a front end having frictional properties that are greater than frictional properties of a rear end of the spacer, and wherein the applying steps include allowing the front end to turn within the intervertebral disc space as it frictionally engages one or both of the adjacent vertebrae.

Assignments (9)