Axis Spine Technologies Ltd.

Christopher Reah

Jonathan Arcos

Nicholas Sandham

David Powell

John Sutcliffe

Charles Barfield

Michael C Sherman

Nick Sandham

Eddie Hamilton

Patrick Mckenna

Obi Agu

Patrick Joseph McKenna

Intervertebral fusion device comprising a superior component, an inferior component, and a core component. The superior component comprises first and second superior parts which are coupled to each other to allow the first and second superior parts to move apart to thereby increase a perimeter of the superior component top side. The inferior component comprises first and second inferior parts which are coupled to each other to allow the first and second inferior parts to move apart to thereby increase a perimeter of the inferior component bottom side. The core component is configured for insertion between the superior and inferior components whereby separation between the superior and inferior components is determined. The core component interengages with each of the superior and inferior components upon insertion. The superior and inferior components are unattached to each other before the core component is inserted between the superior and inferior components. As the core component is progressively inserted between the superior and inferior components, the core component: bears against the first and second superior parts to push the first and second superior parts progressively apart; and bears against the first and second inferior parts to push the first and second inferior parts progressively apart.

Intervertebral devices

A self-supporting surgical retractor is provided for retracting soft tissue and anatomy at a spinal surgical site. The retractor includes a tubular base defining an upper rim and a lower rim and a working channel there between the upper and lower rims, in which the base and lower rim are sized and configured to be seated on adjacent vertebral bodies spanning an intervertebral space. At least two elongated legs are provided, each projecting from the upper rim and each including a fixation feature at a free end thereof. Each of the legs has a length sufficient for the fixation feature to be outside the body of a patient when the lower rim is seated on adjacent vertebral bodies of the patient. The retractor is formed of a radio-transparent or radio-lucent material.

Radiolucent surgical retractor

An anterior lumbar interbody fusion device comprising a superior component, an inferior component, and a locking mechanism. The superior component bottom side and the inferior component top side oppose each other when these are received in the intervertebral space whereby their external sides abut against the respective vertebra, thereby coupling force between the latter. The components inter-engage with each other whereby they are constrained to move in an anterior-posterior direction relative to each other and resistance is presented to movement relative to each other in each of a direction of separation and a direction orthogonal to the anterior-posterior direction and to the direction of separation. The locking mechanism allows for relative movement of the components in the anterior-posterior direction which increases an extent of their overlap and presents resistance to movement of the at least one of the component in the anterior-posterior direction which decreases an extent of their overlap, for instance with a mechanism such as protrusions shaped to engage with set of recesses and sprung cantilever beams forming a ratchet mechanism. Optionally, the fusion device may comprise or lack a core component received between said superior and inferior components.

The insertion instrument () for inserting a modular intervertebral fusion device or components thereof into an inter-vertebral space comprises at least one superior (arm), () mounted on a superior support () such that the at least one superior arm extends from the superior support. The insertion instrument further comprises at least one inferior arm (), () mounted on an inferior support () such that the at least one inferior arm extends from the inferior support. The superior and inferior supports (), () are mechanically coupled to each other whereby: the at least one superior arm (), () and the at least one inferior arm (), () extend in generally a same direction such that, in use, each of the distal ends of the superior and inferior arms engage at a respective location on a modular intervertebral fusion device or component thereof; and the superior and inferior supports (), () rotate relative to each other to provide relative rotation of: the at least one superior arm; and the at least one inferior arm, whereby there is movement together and apart of the at least one superior arm and the at least one inferior arm at their distal ends. One of: the at least one superior arm (), (); and the at least one inferior arm (), () is unarticulated between its distal end and the respective superior or inferior support (), (). The other one of: the at least one superior arm (), (); and the at least one inferior arm (), () comprises a hinge () between its distal end and the respective superior or inferior support. The hinge () rotates the distal end of the other one of the superior arm and the inferior arm towards or away from the one of the superior arm and the inferior arm.

Insertion instruments

The intervertebral fusion device () comprises a superior component (), an inferior component () and a core component (). The superior and inferior components () are received in an intervertebral space between first and second vertebrae whereby the superior component top side abuts against the first vertebra, the inferior component bottom side abuts against the second vertebra, and the superior component bottom side and the inferior component top side oppose each other. A height of the intervertebral fusion device is determined upon insertion of the core component () between the superior and inferior components (). Each of the superior component top side and the inferior component bottom side is one of: oblong having a major axis; and square, being bounded by four edges. During insertion of the core component () a first core profile of the core component cooperates with a superior component profile at the superior component bottom side and a second core profile of the core component cooperates with an inferior component profile at the inferior component top side whereby the core component moves in a direction oblique to the major axis where the superior component top side or the inferior component bottom side is oblong or to an edge of the superior component top side or the inferior component bottom side where the superior component top side or the inferior component bottom side is square.

An assembly for determining height and angle of an intervertebral device to be implanted in an intervertebral space. The assembly comprises a sizing instrument () comprising a support () attached to first and second arms (), () which extend in generally a same direction from the support. The assembly also comprises superior and inferior endplates (), () of the intervertebral device to be implanted. One of the superior and inferior endplates (), () engages with a distal end of the first arm () and the other of the superior and inferior endplates (), () engages with a distal end of the second arm (), the superior and inferior endplates opposing each other when they are engaged with their respective arms. The distal end of the second arm () performs first and second forms of movement relative to the distal end of the first arm (), the first and second forms of movement being independent of each other, the distal end of the second arm moving along different respective paths in the first and second forms of movement, the first form of movement changing separation between the superior and inferior endplates (), (), and the second form of movement changing an angle between the superior and inferior endplates (), (). The support () comprises a user control which is mechanically coupled to at least the second arm () of the first and second arms to provide upon user operation of the user control each of the first and second forms of movement of the distal end of the second arm.

Assemblies for determining height and angle of an intervertebral device

The present invention relates to an intervertebral fusion device () comprising a superior component (), an inferior component (), and a core component () inserted there between. The intervertebral fusion device further comprises first and second retention mechanisms which resist ejection of the core component from between the superior and inferior components. Each of the first and second retention mechanisms comprises first and second portions. One of the first and second portions is unitary with one of the superior and inferior components. The other of the first and second portions is unitary with the core component. The first and second portions each comprise an inter-engaging formation which are urged in an opposite direction. The first inter-engaging formation is urged to inter-engage with the second inter-engaging formation upon insertion of the core component between the superior and inferior components.

Inter vertebral devices

The present invention relates to an intervertebral fusion device () comprising a superior component (), an inferior component () receivable in an intervertebral space between first and second vertebrae, with the core component () insertable between the superior and inferior components to determine a separation between the superior and inferior components. The superior, inferior components and core components comprise respective formations and profiles. The formations () present a barrier to separation of the core from one of the inferior and superior components during insertion of the core component. The profiles guide the core component during insertion of the core component while presenting no barrier to separation from each other during its insertion. The components comprise further formations () which present a barrier to separation of the components from each other once the core has been fully inserted between the inferior and superior components.

The present invention relates to an intervertebral fusion device () comprising a superior component (), an inferior component () and a core component (). The superior component () and the inferior component () are receivable in an intervertebral space between first and second vertebrae with the core component () insertable between the superior and inferior components to determine a separation between the superior and inferior components. A bone graft conveying aperture is defined in at least one of a superior component top surface () of the superior component and an inferior component bottom surface () of the inferior component. The core component defines a bone graft material holding space which is enclosed except at at least one of a core component top surface and core component bottom surface of the core component and a bone graft material delivery opening. The bone graft material delivery opening extends from outside the core component side to the bone graft material holding space. The bone graft material delivery opening is closed by a closure component.

Intervertebral implants

An intervertebral fusion device is disclosed. The intervertebral fusion device comprises a superior component (), an inferior component () and a core component (). The superior component () has a superior component top side and a superior component bottom side and is configured to be received in an intervertebral space between first and second vertebrae whereby the superior component top side abuts against the first vertebra. The inferior component () has an inferior component top side and an inferior component bottom side and is configured to be received in the intervertebral space whereby the inferior component bottom side abuts against the second vertebra. The superior component bottom side and the inferior component top side oppose each other when the superior and inferior components () are received in the intervertebral space. The core component () is configured for insertion between the superior and inferior components () whereby a separation between the superior and inferior components is determined. The core component () comprises a retention mechanism which moves between a contracted condition and an expanded condition. The core component () is insertable between the superior and inferior components () when the retention mechanism is in the contracted condition. The retention mechanism inter-engages with the superior component () and the inferior component () when in the expanded condition and when the core component () is received between the superior and inferior components to thereby present resistance to movement of the core component from between the superior and inferior components.

Growing community of inventors

St. Albans, United Kingdom

Christopher Reah