13 results about "Vertebral endplate" patented technology

A biomimetic intervertebral fusion device with a piezoelectric multifunctional coating belongs to the field of implantable medical devices. It includes an upper piezoelectric multifunctional coating, a fusion device body, and a lower piezoelectric multifunctional coating. A bone graft window is located in the middle of the biomimetic intervertebral fusion device. The piezoelectric multifunctional coating is made of electrospun piezoelectric PVDF / HA fibers, which are conformally adhered to the upper and lower surfaces of the fusion device body through a polydopamine adhesive layer. The upper and lower surfaces of the fusion device body have a biomimetic curved surface configuration to match the morphology of the vertebral endplates, increasing the contact area and reducing stress concentration at the fusion interface. While maintaining an elastic modulus similar to natural bone and good radiation permeability, this fusion device, after implantation, can create a microenvironment conducive to cell adhesion and proliferation. Under the influence of cell traction, ultrasonic stimulation, and the physiological load of the human lumbar spine, it generates electrical stimulation signals, promoting bone fusion, improving the stability of the fusion interface, and reducing the risk of postoperative loosening and subsidence of the fusion device.

Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for treating back pain (e.g., chronic low back pain) caused by different (e.g., independent) sources of pain, such as pain originating or stemming from intervertebral discs, from vertebral endplates, and / or from intraosseous locations within one or more vertebral bodies. For examples, methods for treating back pain (e.g., chronic low back pain) may involve both vertebral fusion (e.g., arthrodesis or spondylodesis to fuse adjacent vertebrae) and neuromodulation (for example, ablation of nerves within or surrounding one or more of the adjacent vertebrae). The neuromodulation may facilitate treatment of pain that is generated by insertion of fusion hardware.

Expandable spinal fusion devices, systems, and methods of using them are provided, and they can be inserted in a subject in a collapsed state through a small surgical corridor, and the expand cephalocaudal only, transverse only, or in both directions, in which direction of expansion can also be obtained independently, if desired, after the insertion. These inventions are valuable in reducing risk and surgical complexity, allowing for an on-the-fly selection of a desirable width footprint, a desired control of height expansion through a gradual cephalocaudal expansion, and a desired control of the alignment of the adjacent vertebral bodies. Devices, systems, and methods are also offered to provide a desired control of the contact area desired between the device and the upper and lower vertebral endplates achieved, for example, using an interdigitated endplate system.

Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for accessing and modulating tissue (for example, systems and methods for accessing and ablating nerves or other tissue within or surrounding a vertebral body to treat chronic lower back pain). Assessment of vertebral endplate degeneration or defects (e.g., pre-Modic changes) to facilitate identification of treatment sites and protocols are also provided in several embodiments. Several embodiments comprise the use of biomarkers to confirm or otherwise assess ablation, pain relief, efficacy of treatment, etc. Some embodiments include robotic elements for, as an example, facilitating robotically controlled access, navigation, imaging, and / or treatment.

One embodiment of the present invention is an interbody fixation device to be inserted into an intervertebral space between an upper vertebral body and a lower vertebral body. The interbody fixation device includes a plurality of independent elastic members each having a pair of upper and lower contact surfaces configured to be in contact with the endplates of the upper and lower vertebral bodies. Each of the plurality of elastic members has elasticity between the pair of upper and lower contact surfaces. When the vertebral endplates above and below an intervertebral disc space in which the interbody fixation device is implanted are partially fractured (damaged), an elastic member in contact with the fractured part sinks, while propagation of sinking to the other elastic members is suppressed, thereby ensuring stable retention. This makes it possible to provide an interbody fixation device that can be stably retained after implantation, even in cases in which vertebral body bones constituting the intervertebral disc space are fragile due to osteoporosis or the like.

Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for determining likelihood of a patient favorably responding to a neuromodulation procedure based on a quantitative or objective score or determination based on a plurality of indicators of pain (e.g., chronic low back pain stemming from one or more vertebral bodies or vertebral endplates of a patient). The systems and methods may involve application of artificial intelligence techniques (e.g., trained algorithms, machine learning or deep learning algorithms, and / or trained neural networks).

Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for determining likelihood of a patient favorably responding to a neuromodulation procedure based on a quantitative or objective score or determination based on a plurality of indicators of pain (e.g., chronic low back pain stemming from one or more vertebral bodies or vertebral endplates of a patient). The systems and methods may involve application of artificial intelligence techniques (e.g., trained algorithms, machine learning or deep learning algorithms, and / or trained neural networks).

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a disc replacement implant includes, a first endplate configured to engage a vertebral endplate of a first vertebra adjacent an intervertebral space, a second endplate configured to engage a vertebral endplate of a second vertebra opposite the first end plate in the intervertebral space, a core between the first and second endplates, and an annulus surrounding the core and connecting a perimeter of the first endplate to a perimeter of the second end plate. In embodiments, the annulus can include a portion that extends inwardly between the first and second core plates to the spacer.

Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for treating back pain (e.g., chronic low back pain) caused by different (e.g., independent) sources of pain, such as pain originating or stemming from intervertebral discs, from vertebral endplates, and / or from intraosseous locations within one or more vertebral bodies. For example, methods for treating back pain (e.g., chronic low back pain) may involve both vertebral fusion (e.g., arthrodesis or spondylodesis to fuse adjacent vertebrae) and neuromodulation (for example, ablation of nerves within or surrounding one or more of the adjacent vertebrae). The neuromodulation may facilitate treatment of pain that is generated by insertion of fusion hardware.

This invention discloses a silk warp-knitted biomimetic hook-and-loop artificial vertebral endplate assembly and its preparation method, relating to orthopedic implants. The artificial vertebral endplate comprises a sheet-like fabric endplate body, with a bonding surface for connecting the artificial intervertebral disc core or intervertebral device on its opposite sides, and a functional surface formed by a loop array. The bonding surface is formed by a warp-knitted base structure with a mesh-like base structure, while the functional surface is formed by a loop array with adjustable height, density, and end curvature from silk fibers, modified silk protein fibers, or their composite fibers. The endplate body is integrally woven using a warp-knitting process, with at least two ground combs forming the base structure and at least one yarn comb forming the loop array. The roots of the loops are integrally looped and anchored to the base structure, and the endplate body has three-dimensional interconnected pores. The hook structure surface of the bone-side hooking structure or matching hooking component cooperates with the loop array to form a mechanical interlock, and the bone integration surface is used to form a contact interface with the bone side.

Custom patient-specific interbody implants, systems, and methods of generating custom implants. The implants may include upper and lower surfaces with an irregular surface topography, which are custom contoured to match the adjacent vertebral endplates of a specific patient. The method may include uploading images of the spine for the patient and processing the images into a virtual three-dimensional model of the spine including topography of individual vertebral bodies. The user may automatically and / or manually manipulate the virtual three-dimensional model to pre-operatively simulate a desired correction to the spine. The virtual implant model may be generated based on the desired correction and the topography of adjacent vertebral bodies.

A variety of expandable cage improvements are provided. The cages can have a width expansion assembly that operates independently of a height expansion assembly and the wedges and ramps do not need to make contact with each other. Wedges, or movable spacers with pivotal link connections, can be used, and any portion of the cage can be expanded in width or in height in an amount that differs from other portions of the cage to provide any of a multitude of desired cage shapes. Interdigitating fingers, slidable and / or pivoting, are provided to distribute stresses over a vertebral endplate as desired.

Instrument that allows the retrieval of metallic foreign bodies lost in the disc space (Figure 1). This instrument has two jaws (Figure 2) which open like those of scissors but whose particularity is that one of the jaws is magnetized so that the metallic foreign body adheres to it (Figure 3), the second jaw then catches it by means of a conical clamping (Figure 4), which allows a capture on the spot of the foreign body while preventing it from escaping deep into the disc space. We propose a second configuration of the surgical instrument (Figure 6), which increases the functional clearance between the two jaws to allow for the retrieval of foreign bodies of varying thicknesses. This solution is equipped with three springs of different stiffnesses, positioned coaxially with the jaws' axis of rotation, with transverse displacement to accommodate different thicknesses of foreign body to be retrieved. The central spring maintains a minimal initial play, which gradually increases as the jaws close. Conversely, the two outer springs apply a clamping force that ensures the captured foreign object is immobilized. This instrument is very easy to use. With the jaws open, the instrument is inserted into the disc space parallel to the vertebral endplates. The foreign object will be attracted to the magnetic jaw. Once in place, and under fluoroscopic guidance, the surgeon closes the jaws of the forceps, allowing for safe retrieval of the foreign body. We propose that this instrument be included in the standard equipment of all spinal surgery operating rooms. Indeed, although rare, the loss of a metallic foreign body at the surgical site, particularly within the disc space (e.g., a broken instrument or scalpel blade), is potentially serious. The invented instrument represents a "life-saving tool" that helps to avoid further complications, including life-threatening situations.