Contourable spinal staple with centralized and unilateral prongs

[0002] This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/628,761 filed on Jul. 31, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,787 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0003] This invention relates to surgical spinal implant systems, and particularly to those using spinal rods contoured for connection at various locations along the spinal column.

[0004] Spinal fractures often occur at the thoracolumbar junction. Most of these fractures are burst injuries, which are particularly dangerous because retropulsed bone fragments can cause spinal cord or caudal equina injuries. Posterior fixation has long been the primary approach for traumatic spinal injuries of this type.

[0005] The development of posterior internal fixation procedures for burst fractures was a substantial improvement over early approaches of bed rest and body casts. Several disadvantages to posterior fixation were, however, discovered. For example, this approach fails to reduce kyphosis or allow complete clearing of the spinal canal. Other complications include psuedoarthroses, late rod disengagement and inadequate reduction. Some posterior instrumentations require the fusions to extend at least two levels above and below the injury, particularly at the thoracolumbar junction. The posterior approach is also limited in the viability for use in burst fractures because in such fractures, neural compression generally occurs from the anterior direction. Therefore, it is generally better to decompress and fuse the spine from the anterior.

[0006] There are several advantages to anterior internal fixation. An anterior approach allows complete clearance from the spinal canal of bone fragments and for total resection of a tumor. It also permits fusion of a minimal number of motion segments. Yet in spite of these advantages, the use of anterior approaches has been limited by the risk of complications or other disadvantages.

[0007] Several plate and screw systems have been designed for anterior instrumentation of the spinal column. The Syracuse I-Plate may use rigid or semi-rigid screws in combination with a plate. But distraction or compression of the bone graft is not possible with this system. The CASF Plate marketed by AcroMed is designed to be used in a semi-rigid manner. This device, as well, does not permit compression or distraction of the bone graft and in addition cannot be used in a rigid construct. The Stafix Plating System marketed by Daruma of Taipei, Taiwan is an anterior thoracolumbar plate designed to address similar indications. This plate incorporates slots and holes as well as permitting quadrilateral placement of screws. The Anterior Thoracolumbar Plating System (Medtronic Sofamor Danek) is a slotted plate designed to attach to the anterior lateral aspect of the vertebral body. The plate allows distract and/or compression through the use of two screws and two bolts.

[0008] Several modular spinal instrumentation systems have also been developed for anterior procedures. One such device, the Kaneda device, is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. As shown, the device extends fixation one vertebral level cephalad and one level caudal to the vertebra in question. A typical construct has two vertebral body staples A, four vertebral screws B, two rods C, eight nuts (one on each side of a screw) and two transverse fixators F. Each vertebral body staple A has four spikes, one on each corner of the staple, to initially secure the staple to a vertebra. Vertebral screws B are then placed through holes H1 and H2 into the cephalad and caudal vertebrae. Rods C are located in the holes I in each screw B with the internal nuts D loosely threaded on each rod. The external nuts, also identified as “D” are then threaded onto the rods. Thereafter, the surgeon tightens all nuts against each side of a screw with the surgeon applying compressive or distractive forces as required. The anterior and posterior rods C are then coupled with transverse fixators F. Specific indications for such modular devices may include deficient anterior bone mass due to trauma, tumor, infection, degenerative disease, congenital causes, or deformity.

[0009] The Kaneda system is not entirely satisfactory, largely resulting from the design of vertebral staple A. The staple is used to stabilize screw B much the same way as a washer is used to stabilize a bolt in most any mechanical attachment. These staples, however, are placed on a vertebra, not a uniformly flat surface. Hence, the staple curvature should ideally match the contour of the surface of the vertebra before use. And even if the fit is perfect, it may still be unsatisfactory if the spikes on one end, say the two near hole H1, are pulled from the vertebra when a screw is tightened in the hole on the other end, H2 in our example. This “rocking” effect is depicted in FIG. 7.

[0010] Further details regarding staples in a spinal fixation device can be found in Kiyoshi Kaneda, Kaneda Anterior Spinal Instrumentation for the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine, Spinal Instrumentation, Williams & Wikins, (Baltimore, Hong Kong, London, Munich, Philadelphia, Sydney, Tokyo), pp. 413 et seq, the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated into this specification by reference.

[0011] As a result, there is a need for a vertebral staple in a modular system that can be more easily contoured to the surface of a vertebra, and that does lift spikes on one side of the staple from the vertebra when the other side is tightened. The following is one solution to this need.

[0012] In one aspect, this invention is a vertebral staple with a plate having at least two apertures to receive a spinal bolt, and at least two legs (also identifiable as prongs or spikes) integrally mounted to the bottom of the plate and wherein all legs mounted on the bottom of the plate are closer to one particular aperture for passing a spinal bolt than another aperture for passing a spinal bolt.

[0013] In another aspect, this invention is a vertebral staple with a plate having at least two apertures to receive a spinal bolt. The bottom of the plate has at least one leg (also identifiable as a prong or a spike) integrally mounted near the lateral edge of the plate, and at least one leg integrally mounted on the interior of the plate, with all legs mounted on the bottom of the plate closer to one particular aperture for passing a spinal bolt than another aperture for passing a spinal bolt.

[0014] In yet another aspect, this invention is a vertebral staple with a plate having a groove therein dividing the plate into a first portion and a second portion. Each of the first and second portions have at least one aperture for passing a bone bolt through the plate and into the vertebra to which the staple is attached. In addition, the bottom of the first portion of the plate has at least two legs (also identifiable as prongs or spikes) integrally attached to the plate, while no legs are mounted on the bottom of the second portion of the plate.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a prior art vertebral staple.

[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a prior bone bolt and longitudinal member.

[0017] FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively side and plan views of a prior art spinal fixation system.

[0018] FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively plan and side views of a prior art spinal fixation system shown attached to the spine.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a side view of a prior art vertebral staple.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 are respectively front, top, and side views of spinal fixation systems that incorporate one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the illustrated invention being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in this art.

[0023] A spinal staple 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 8. Staple 1 has a preferably bow-tie shaped body 2. The body 2 has a lateral edge 2A and an interior 2B. Body 2 can generally be subdivided in two halves by a groove 11. The first half 9 or wing 9 contains a hole 7 and the second half 10 or wing 10 contains a hole 8. Holes 7 and 8 can be either threaded or unthreaded and, as illustrated in FIG. 8, are preferably substantially the same size and shape. Additionally, the holes or apertures 7 and 8 are arranged cater-cornered to one another relative to the staple body 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, so as to be offset from one another in both a lateral direction (i.e., in a direction extending alone the first and second halves 9, 10) and an axial direction (i.e., in a direction extending alone the groove 11).

[0024] Three legs 3-5, prongs 3-5, or spikes 3-5 are attached to body 2 on the underside 6 of the first half 9. Legs 3 and 4 are unilateral with respect to body 2. Meaning, legs 3 and 4 are commonly attached near one end of the staple so that both legs 3 and 4 are more closely adjacent legged hole 7 than non-legged hole 8. Situated in this manner, legs 7 and 8 preferably attach toward the posterior side of the patient's vertebra, depending on the surgeon's installation. The third leg 5 is centrally mounted in the interior of body 2, preferably closer to legged hole 7 than non-legged hole 8, preferably on the same side of groove 11 as legs 3 and 4, and preferably not under groove 11.

[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. the interior or inner leg or prong 5 overlaps a portion of the aperture 7 in the axial direction (along the groove 11), and also overlaps a portion of the aperture 8 in the lateral direction (along the first and second halves 9, 10). As also illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the outer legs or prongs 3, 4 is offset from the inner leg prong 5 in both the axial direction and the lateral direction. Additionally, the outer legs or prongs 3, 4 also overlap a portion of the aperture 7 in the axial direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner prong 5 is positioned intermediate the outer prongs 3, 4 in the lateral direction. The inside edge 12 of legs 3 and 4 is preferably perpendicular to the underside 6. The outside edge 13 then tapers inwardly of the staple to intersect inside edge 12. The shape of leg 5 can be most anything that will work. In one embodiment, it is pyramidal and extends the same distance from underside 6 as legs 3 and 4.

[0026] Body 2 is preferably slightly convex in shape when viewed axially along groove 11, ends 14 and 15 being slightly bent or curved toward each other, generally at groove 11. The bow-tie shape and/or the presence of groove 11 in the present invention allows the surgeon to more easily bend and to conform staple 1 to complement the surface of the spine. The “pinched” middle resulting from the bow-tie shape and the presence of groove 11 reduce the amount of metal that the surgeon must deform to conform the staple to the patient's vertebra if compared to prior art devices. The reduced metal also affords increased visualization of the anatomy directly under the staple.

[0027] FIGS. 9-11 depict staple 1 in a spinal fixation system 16. System 16 has two vertebral staples, four vertebral bolts 17 or screws 17, two rods 18, and four clamps 19 or nuts 19 or plugs 19 to hold the rods 18 to screws 17. In this specification, the term “bolt” or “screw” refers to any various bone fasteners, including a standard bone screw, such as those sold under the trademark CD Horizon by Medtronic Sofamor Danek.

[0028] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail and the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.