VERTEBRAL PROSTHESIS

Abstract

The invention relates to a vertebral prosthesis with outstanding functionality, adaptability, and safety with respect to its predecessors. It is conceived and designed to provide a better service and serve as an axis so that spinal operations, as well as other diseases can be better addressed. It seeks, above all, to adapt to the nature of human biology and resembles that nature as much as possible, based on an internal suspension system which allows greater mobility and better weight distribution, imitating the natural deformation of the bone.

Claims

1. A vertebral prosthesis, characterised in that it is made up of a body obtained by means of 3D printing from a 3D image obtained from the patient by means of radiology, reproducing the original physiognomy of the vertebra in question, with the particularity that the prosthesis is obtained from four portions, divided into two symmetrical upper portions (5-6) and two equally symmetrical lower portions (6-7) equipped with fixing means for fixing to each other, a short lower neck (10) being established in the assembly formed by the two upper portions (5-6), in which the assembly formed by the two lower parts (7-8) is axially displaceable, parts which will exhibit a hollow bowl-like configuration, being linked to the upper parts from a series of suspension elements formed by a hydraulic shock absorber (11) and a spring (12) concentric thereto.

2. The vertebral prosthesis according to claim 1, characterised in that the fixing means between the four portions of the prosthesis are materialised in tongue-and-groove coupling means, a semi-clamp (8)-attachment/through screw (9) assembly in correspondence with one of the ends of the prosthesis, and a through fixing screw through at least one hole (14) in correspondence with the opposite end of the prosthesis.

3. The vertebral prosthesis according to claim 1, characterised in that a medullary canal (13) is defined between the two upper portions (5-6).

4. The vertebral prosthesis according to claim 1, characterised in that the upper surface of the upper parts (5-6) incorporates forms (15-16) for anchoring another type of prosthesis.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] As a complement to the description provided below, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with a practical preferred exemplary embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of plans which, by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of a vertebral prosthesis made according to the object of the present invention, in the example chosen for the replacement of a segment of the L3 vertebra, since said vertebra is the most commonly affected segment in interventions of this type, a figure wherein the lower part involved in the prosthesis appears partially cross sectioned, in order to be able to view the internal shock absorbing means.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows an upper view of the assembly of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a front elevation and partial cross section view of the prosthesis, to show the internal shock absorbing system thereof.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Firstly, to obtain the prosthesis of the invention, a radiological examination of the patient, specifically of the vertebra to be treated, would be previously carried out to obtain a 3D image of the vertebra and, from said information and by means of 3D printing processes, obtain the prosthesis.

[0023] In this way, structures (1-2) that occur naturally in the vertebra are reproduced in an exact way, functioning as a physical limit to the normal movements of the spine, as well as enabling the use of artificial ligaments (4) on it, to increase this functionality. Said structures that imitate the natural ones enable a better surface anchoring of the musculature, facilitating the aforementioned points even more.

[0024] More specifically, the prosthesis of the invention will be segmented into four portions, divided into two symmetrical upper portions (5-6) and two lower portions (6-7) equally symmetrical to each other, which reproduce the physiognomy of the vertebra, and which are tongue-and-grooved coupled to each other, so that the upper portions (5-6) are fixed to each other through a semi-clamp (8) and an attachment/through screw (9), a short lower neck (10) being established in the assembly formed by the two upper portions (5-6), in which the assembly formed by the two lower parts (7-8) is axially displaceable, parts which will exhibit a hollow bowl-like configuration, being linked to the upper parts from a series of suspension elements formed by a hydraulic shock absorber (11) and a spring (12) concentric thereto.

[0025] This shock absorbing system enables a more natural weight distribution, imitating the natural deformation of the bone with respect to the weight that impinges therein, changing and gaining space according to the posture.

[0026] The distal structure (2) or end of the two upper halves of the prosthesis will exhibit at least one hole (14) for the passage of a fixing screw, which also acts as the axis for the interspinous ligament (4).

[0027] Finally, it only remains to point out that the upper surface of the upper parts (5-6) could incorporate forms (15-16) for anchoring other types of prostheses, in order to facilitate the anchoring thereof.

[0028] The modular nature of the prosthesis means that it can be arranged in a simple, comfortable and safe way around the spinal cord and secure said prosthesis without endangering the spinal cord, a medullary canal (13) of identical configuration to that of a real vertebra being defined between the two upper portions (5-6), but with the aforementioned ease of access to said canal, in addition to facilitating anchoring in a much more fluid and natural way with respect to the spinal cord.