Device for stabilizing a vertebral joint and method for anterior insertion thereof

Abstract

A prosthetic device can be used as a prosthesis following a discectomy or a corpectomy. The prosthetic device includes two endplates with staggered motion limiting members. The device can be configured to allow six degrees of motion when comparing one endplate relative to the other. The endplates can be configured to fix the joint by changing the body held within the device and by adding a locking plate and fasteners. A method teaches how to insert a device to an intervertebral space via an anterior incision.

1 . A method for stabilizing a first vertebra relative to a second vertebra, the method comprising:
 contacting a superior endplate of a stabilizing device to the first vertebra, the superior endplate having an inferior surface and a motion limiting member, said motion limiting member extending downward below said inferior surface;   contacting an inferior endplate of the device to the second vertebra, the inferior endplate having a superior surface and a motion limiting member, said motion limiting member extending upward above said superior surface; and   attaching a locking plate having a superior screw anchoring member to the first vertebra and an inferior screw anchoring member configured to the second vertebra, said locking plate overlying said superior endplate and said inferior endplate,   wherein the device further includes a compressible and flexible body having a superior surface and an inferior surface, said superior surface of said body facing said inferior surface of said superior endplate, said inferior surface of said body facing said superior surface of said inferior endplate, said body being held in contact with and laterally between said superior endplate and said inferior endplate by said motion limiting members.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said motion limiting member on said superior endplate and said motion limiting member on said inferior endplate are staggered with regard to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said body has a height; and   said motion limiting member on said superior endplate is shorter than said height of said body.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said body has a side; and   said motion limiting member on said superior endplate and said motion limiting member on said inferior endplate both support said body along said side.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said body has a first side and a second side opposing said second side;   said motion limiting member disposed on said superior endplate supports said body along said first side of said body; and   said motion limiting member disposed on said inferior endplate supports said body along said second side of said body.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising a further motion limiting member disposed on said superior endplate, said further motion limiting member supporting said body along said second side of said body. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said endplates is shaped substantially like a quadrilateral. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said endplates complements a contact surface of a body of a vertebra to be supported by said at least one of said endplates. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said endplates has bone growth bore formed therein. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a superior screw anchoring member extending superiorly from said superior endplate, said superior screw anchoring member being configured to be fastened to a superior vertebra. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising an inferior screw anchoring member extending inferiorly from said inferior endplate, said inferior screw anchoring member being configured to be fastened to an inferior vertebra. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an inferior screw anchoring member extending inferiorly from said inferior endplate, said inferior screw anchoring member being configured to be fastened to an inferior vertebra. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising a fastener connected to said superior screw anchoring member, said fastener being configured to secure said superior screw anchoring member to the superior vertebra. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a fastener connected to said inferior screw anchoring member, said fastener being configured to secure said inferior screw anchoring member to the inferior vertebra. 
     
     
         15 . A method for stabilizing a first vertebra relative to a second vertebra, the method comprising:
 inserting a stabilization device between the first vertebra and a second vertebra;   attaching a locking plate to the stabilization device; and   securing the locking plate to the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the locking plate further includes a superior screw anchoring member configured to connect to the first vertebra and an inferior screw anchoring member configured to connect to the second vertebra,   wherein the stabilization device further comprises:
 a superior endplate having an inferior surface and a motion limiting member, said motion limiting member extending downward below said inferior surface; 
 an inferior endplate having a superior surface and a motion limiting member, said motion limiting member extending upward above said superior surface; and 
 a compressible and flexible body having a superior surface and an inferior surface, said superior surface of said body facing said inferior surface of said superior endplate, said inferior surface of said body facing said superior surface of said inferior endplate, said body being held in contact with and laterally between said superior endplate and said inferior endplate by said motion limiting members. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said motion limiting member on said superior endplate and said motion limiting member on said inferior endplate are staggered with regard to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said body has a height; and   said motion limiting member on said superior endplate is shorter than said height of said body.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said body has a side; and   said motion limiting member on said superior endplate and said motion limiting member on said inferior endplate both support said body along said side.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said body has a first side and a second side opposing said second side;   said motion limiting member disposed on said superior endplate supports said body along said first side of said body; and   said motion limiting member disposed on said inferior endplate supports said body along said second side of said body   
     
     
         20 . A method for stabilizing a superior vertebra relative to an inferior vertebra following a discectomy or a corpectomy, the method comprising:
 inserting a stabilization device between the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra; and   attaching the stabilization device to the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra,   wherein the stabilization device comprises:
 a superior endplate having an anterior edge, a posterior edge, a right edge, a left edge, an inferior surface, a textured superior surface, and motion limiting members extending inferiorly from said inferior surface, said superior endplate having a bone growth bore formed therein; 
 an inferior endplate having an anterior edge, a posterior edge, a right edge, a left edge, a superior surface, a textured inferior surface, and motion limiting members, one of said motion limiting members extending superiorly said inferior endplate having a bone growth bore formed therein; 
 a compressible and flexible body having a superior surface, an inferior surface, and a height defined between said superior surface and said inferior surface, said superior surface of said body facing said inferior surface of said superior endplate, said inferior surface of said body facing said superior surface of said inferior endplate, said body being held in contact and laterally between said superior endplate and said inferior endplate by said motion limiting members; 
 a superior screw anchoring member extending superiorly from said anterior edge of said superior endplate, said superior screw anchoring member being configured to connect to the superior vertebra; 
 an inferior screw anchoring member extending inferiorly from said anterior face of said inferior endplate, said inferior screw anchoring member being staggered from said superior screw anchor and configured to connect to the inferior vertebra; and 
 a locking plate having a superior screw anchoring member configured to connect to the superior vertebra and an inferior screw anchoring member configured to connect to the inferior vertebra, said locking plate overlying said superior endplate and said inferior endplate.