Adjustable vertebral body replacement

Patent Number: 6344057, issued on 2002/02/05    
Applied on 1998/05/05
Inventor(s): Louis Marie Rabbe, Lawrence M Boyd
Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.

Abstract: An adjustable vertebral body replacement implant and assembly includes a thin-walled cylindrical body configured to span over most of the length between intact vertebrae when damaged or diseased vertebrae have been removed. The cylindrical body defines a hollow interior and includes endplates with end surfaces configured to contact the adjacent vertebra and to engage the cylindrical body therebetween. Said end surface includes a blade or plurality of blades configured to penetrate the adjacent vertebra and to facilitate insertion and removal of the implant. This end surface also defines a bore through said endplate. In one embodiment, an end cap which includes a porous body such as porous tantalum manufactured under the name HEDROCEL.RTM. is placed in said bore. The end cap provides strength to carry the vertebral loading while allowing vascularization between the intact vertebral and bone growth material disposed within the implant. In another embodiment, the end cap includes an anchor embedded in the bone growth material. The end cap may also include a positioning surface to align the end cap within the bore.