Arthrocare Corporation

Simplify Medical Pty Limited

Spinalmotion, Inc.

Arthocare Corporation

Simplify Medical, Inc.

David C Hovda

Philip E Eggers

Hira V Thapliyal

Malan De Villiers

Maria B Ellsberry

Jean Woloszko

Yves P Arramon

Ulrich Reinhard Hahnle

James Shapiro

Lewis Sharps

Brian E Martini

Michael C Sherman

Phillip M Olsen

Norman R Sanders

Olivier Ricart

Darren Crawford

Theodore C Ormsby

Terry S Davison

Neville Alleyne

Ulrich Reinhard Hähnle

Mark Alvis

Lisa Metelman

John J Lettice

Thomas Kula, Jr

Zsuzsi Conforti

Bryan Barr

An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a core. The core is retained between the upper and lower plates by a retention feature in the form of central projections on the plates and a corresponding opening in the core. The retention feature is designed to allow the plates to slide over the upper and lower surfaces of the core in the anterior/posterior direction and in the lateral direction and to allow the plates to rotate with respect to each other and the core. The retention feature is also designed to prevent contact between the first and second plates during sliding movement of the plates over the core. Each central projection has a diameter that is smaller than a smallest diameter of a central opening of the core.

Intervertebral prosthesis

A method for inserting an intervertebral disc prosthesis into a space between two vertebrae involves inserting the prosthesis partway into the space under constraint to prevent endplates of the prosthesis from articulating, releasing the prosthesis from constraint, and inserting the unconstrained prosthesis farther into the space. In some embodiments, the method involves grasping the prosthesis with a grasping device to insert the prosthesis partway under constraint, loosing the grasping device to release the prosthesis from constraint, and pushing the prosthesis farther into the disc space using the grasping device and/or one or more separate pusher devices. A system includes a grasping device, at least one separate pushing device, and optionally a vertebral spreading device and/or a vertebral midline indicator device.

Methods and apparatus for intervertebral disc prosthesis insertion

Systems and methods are provided for robotically assisted disc prosthesis selection and implantation. The system includes a 3D modeling system for creating a 3D model of first and second vertebra adjacent the intended surgical site and identifying and storing data for the positions of the first and second vertebrae. A computing system for stores and processes the 3D model and the position data. A robot connected to the computing system attaches to a plurality of instruments including sizing templates, trials, cutters or placement instruments for intervertebral disc prostheses. An interface on the computing system allows the surgeon to sequentially deliver the plurality of instruments with the robot to a registration position to improve the speed and accuracy of the surgical procedure.

Robot assisted intervertebral disc prosthesis selection and implantation system

Systems and methods for robotically distracting a disc space are provided for implantation of an intervertebral prosthetic disc. The system includes a 3D modeling system for creating a 3D model of first and second vertebra adjacent the disc space and identifying positions of the first and second vertebrae. A robotic distractor precisely opens the disc space just large enough to receive a selected intervertebral disc. A computing system stores and processes the 3D model and the positions of the first and second vertebrae before and after distraction. A surgeon interface on the computing system allows the surgeon to select an intervertebral disc prosthesis to be implanted and a desired distraction distance or force to be achieved.

Robotic systems and methods for distraction in intervertebral disc prosthesis implantation

A dynamic intervertebral spacer includes a ring which is split on an anterior portion. A posterior portion of the ring acts as a torsion spring. After implantation, the ring is able to act as a spring between superior and inferior vertebral bodies, thus allowing dynamic bone growth in fusion procedures.

Intervertebral spacer that dynamically promotes bone growth

Systems and methods for robotically preparing a disc space are provided for implantation of an intervertebral prosthetic disc. The system includes three-dimensional modeling to identify positions of vertebrae adjacent a surgical site and a disc selection interface in a computing system to allow the surgeon to select an intervertebral disc prosthesis for implantation. A bone cutting interface allows the surgeon to determine a bone cutting pattern tailored to both the three-dimensional positions of the vertebrae and the selected intervertebral disc. A robot controls a cutting device or guides a cutting device to cut the vertebral bone in the bone cutting pattern.

Robotic system and method for bone preparation for intervertebral disc prosthesis implantation

An intervertebral spacer is designed particularly for patients who are not candidates for total disc replacement. The spacer maintains disc height and prevents subsidence with a large vertebral body contacting surface area while substantially reducing recovery time by eliminating the need for bridging bone. The intervertebral spacer or fusion spacer includes a rigid spacer body sized and shaped to fit within an intervertebral space between two vertebral bodies. In one embodiment, the spacer body has two opposed metallic vertebral contacting surfaces, at least one fin extending from each of the vertebral contacting surfaces and configured to be positioned within slots cut into the two vertebral bodies. Holes, if present, cover less than 40 percent of the entire vertebral body contacting surfaces to provide increased bone ongrowth surfaces and to prevent subsidence.

Method and spacer device for spanning a space formed upon removal of an intervertebral disc

An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a core. The core is retained between the upper and lower plates by a retention feature in the form of central projections on the plates and a corresponding opening in the core. The retention feature is designed to allow the plates to slide over the upper and lower surfaces of the core in the anterior/posterior direction and in the lateral direction and to allow the plates to rotate with respect to each other and the core. The retention feature is also designed to prevent contact between the first and second plates during sliding movement of the plates over the core.

A prosthesis system comprises plates that can be positioned against vertebrae and a selected resilient core that can be positioned between the plates to allow the plates to articulate. The selected resilient core can be chosen from a plurality of cores in response to patient characteristics, such as age and/or intervertebral mobility, such that the prosthesis implanted in the patient is tailored to the needs of the patient. The plurality of cores may comprise cores with different resiliencies, and one of the cores can be selected such that the upper and lower plates articulate with the desired shock absorbing resiliency and/or maximum angle of inclination when the one selected core is positioned between the plates.

Customized intervertebral prosthetic disc with shock absorption

An intervertebral joint assembly includes an upper support and a lower support, each of which has two or more components. The upper and lower support components are arranged in situ to form the upper and lower supports, respectively. By arranging the supports in situ, the supports can be introduced from the back of the patient, for example with an arthroscope. Each of the upper and lower supports has a surface adapted to engage a vertebra and a surface adapted to engage the other support or an intermediate member to form an articulate joint which articulates the joint assembly. In some embodiments, the components of the upper and lower supports are assembled in situ, for example with pivoting, telescoping or bending, to form the upper and lower supports, respectively. The supports can be attached to vertebrae with pedicles screws, and/or other anchors attached to the supports.

Posterior spinal device and method

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

David C Hovda