Open intervertebral spacer

US7993406B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

Inventors

• John R. Bianchi · Gainesville, US
• Kevin C. Carter · Gainesville, US
• Bradley T. Estes · Durham, US
• Larry Boyd · North Webster, US
• John Pafford · Bartlett, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 1, 2010
• Grant date: Aug 9, 2011
• Expiry date: Mar 1, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S623/908
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Open chambered spacers, implanting tools and methods are provided. The spacers 500′ include a body 505′ having a wall 506′ which defines a chamber 530′ and an opening 531′ in communication with the chamber 530′. In one embodiment the wall 506′ includes a pair of arms 520′, 521′ facing one another and forming a mouth 525′ to the chamber 530′. Preferably, one of the arms 520′ is truncated relative to the other, forming a channel 526. In one aspect the body 505′ does a bone dowel comprise an off-center plug from the diathesis of a long bone. The tools 800 include spacer engaging means for engaging a spacer and occlusion means for blocking an opening defined in the spacer. In some embodiments, the occlusion means 820 includes a plate 821 extendable from the housing 805. In one specific embodiment the plate 821 defines a groove 822 which is disposed around a fastener 830 attached to the housing 805 so that the plate 821 is sliceable relative to the housing 805.