DE19944682C2 - Spine segment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a spinal segment for implantation into a human spine.

Many people suffer from a sick or worn out in between vertebral disc (also called intervertebral disc). A real cure to this Intervertebral disc is not possible because the majority of them Cartilage existing intervertebral disc cannot regenerate.

DE 196 32 404 A1 describes a transplantable cartilage tissue consisting of a new extracellular matrix (ECM) known due to genetic manipulation matrix molecules, immunosuppressive or cell-differentiating factors, the cartilage tissue of is surrounded by a semipermeable membrane. This is cartilage tissue suitable for joints, but not suitable as a replacement for intervertebral discs.  

Already in Bonadio, Jeffrey; Smiley, Elisabeth; Patil, Pravin; Goldstein, Steven: "Localized, direct plamid gene delivery in vivo: prolonged therapy results in reproducible tissue regeneration ", published in" Nature Medicine ", July 1999 Vol. 5, No. 7, pages 753-759 becomes the wish voiced, genetically manipulated bone parts during orthopedic interventions to be able to implant.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the object a spine segment for implantation in a human spine to create what is available in sufficient quantity.

As a technical solution to this problem, the invention proposes a spinal segment for implantation in a human Form spine, which is a vertebral body insert and / or Intervertebral disc with the associated upper and / or lower Vertebral fragment and / or a vertebral arch, especially with the includes various extensions, the intervertebral disc from one genetically manipulated animal intervertebral disc is formed, or where the Vertebral insert, the vertebral fragments, the vertebral arch and / or the extensions are formed from genetically manipulated animal bones.

The present invention is based on the knowledge that a transgenic animal intervertebral disc and / or a transgenic animal bone, especially from pork or sheep, basically also for Implantation in a human spine is suitable.

Has a spine segment trained according to this technical teaching the advantage that this means that it is in need and in sufficient quantity Intervertebral discs and associated vertebral bodies are created can.  

It has turned out to be advantageous, the corresponding transgenic animal intervertebral discs or vertebral inserts or Vertebral fragments or vertebral arches or their extensions like this to genetically manipulate that these elements have the same blood type, in particular the same blood subgroup, the same tissue structure and / or the same bone structure as the human spine in which they are to be implanted.

This will make the successful growth in human Spine positively influenced and a rejection of the implant by the human body unlikely.

The intervertebral disc of both human and animal Spine is with the vertebral body below and above overgrown and is only held in the correct position. It has been found that an intermediate vertebra once separated disc does not easily grow on the vertebral body again, which is why it is advantageous to use the intervertebral disc with the one underneath and / or the overlying vertebral body or at least with one to implant the corresponding vertebral fragment. So this Implant is quickly brought to the desired size and / or quickly growing in the human spine, the growth of the Animal bone by means of a nutrient solution and / or a growth factor (Growing Factors) accelerates. This nutrient solution can, for example Hydroxelapatite (also called coral lime), which is the bone formation positively supported.

The diseased and worn intervertebral disc is removed before partly by smoothly cutting through the neighboring vertebrae body. This also facilitates the design of the implant. After the implant has been placed in the relevant human area  Spine has been inserted, the implant is inserted by inserting a Clamp fixed in the two parts of the severed vertebral body. A such clip is advantageously U-shaped and so sharp edged that the bracket with its free ends in the two parts of the respective vertebral body can be pressed in.

In an alternative embodiment, the intervertebral disc is replaced by a replaced exclusively from genetically manipulated vertebral bodies. This makes the corresponding part of the spine permanently rigid, but the implantation of this vertebral body insert is less problematic.

In an alternative embodiment, it has proven to be advantageous the vertebral body fragments and / or the vertebral arch by at least a screw, in particular a so-called bio screw or one Fix biopins. This also ensures a reliable hold of the Implant reached.

In a preferred development, the screw is so long and thin executed that the screw through the vertebral arch into the Vertebral body is enough; this is also a reliable fixation of the Implant possible.

In another preferred development, the screw opens into one corresponding internal thread counterpart, which of the opposite side is inserted into the vertebral body and which one is positively held in the vertebral body. This is one positive and very reliable connection of the implant with the given human spine.

Further advantages of the spinal segment according to the invention result itself from the accompanying drawing and those described below Embodiments. Likewise, the above and the According to the invention, features which are further elaborated in each case individually or can be used in any combination. The The mentioned embodiments are not to be considered as a final list understand, but rather have exemplary character. Show it:

Figure 1 is a side view of a human spine with the first, exploded spine segments.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a human spine with further explosively shown spine segments;

3 is a rear view of a human spinal column with a spinal column segment and according to the invention with exploded shown brackets.

Figure 4 is a side view of a human spinal column with a further exploded shown spinal column segment.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of a human spine with a spine segment according to the invention and with explosively shown brackets.

The human spine 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a number of vertebrae 12 , between each of which an intervertebral disc or intermediate vertebral disc 14 is arranged. A morbid or damaged intervertebral disc 14 may be replaced by a new intervertebral disc by a vertebral body fragment is 16 body cut out of the vortex 18 together with the intervertebral disc 14 from lying respectively above and below the intervertebral disc 14 fluidized 12th

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the spinal segment 20 separated from the spine 10 comprises a damaged intervertebral disc 14 and the adjacent vertebral body fragments 16 of the vertebral body 18 of the vertebrae 12 . The vertebral body fragment 16 is cleanly separated by a straight cut. A new spinal segment 20 , which has the same dimensions and contours, is then inserted into the free space created in this way. This new spine segment 20 is composed of a genetically manipulated animal intervertebral disc 22 and corresponding, genetically manipulated vertebral body fragments 24 . This genetically manipulated spine segment 20 is taken, for example, from a genetically manipulated pig or a genetically manipulated sheep. The animals are genetically manipulated in such a way that they have the same blood group, and in particular the same blood subgroup, the same tissue structure and the same bone structure as the human spine to be treated. A correspondingly genetically manipulated pig or sheep increases the acceptance of the implanted spinal segment 20 in the human spine 10 , since the human body will not reject this implant as a foreign body.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the vertebral column segment 26 extends over the entire vertebral body 18 of the vertebrae 12 , the vertebral arch being separated from the vertebral body 18 together with the extensions 28 . As a result, the entire size of the intervertebral disc 14 can be re-implanted.

The vertebral body segment 20 shown in FIG. 1 or the vertebral arch with its extensions 30 shown in FIG. 1 is screwed to a corresponding, healthy part of the vertebra 12 using a bioscrew or a biopin 32 . The vertebral body segment 26 shown in FIG. 2 is penetrated in the region of its vertebral body fragments 34 by sleeve-like counterparts 36 , into the internal thread of which screws 38 carried out by the vertebral arch 28 can be screwed. As a result, the vertebral body segment 26 is joined together without damaging the nerve strands running in the spine 10 .

The spine segment 26 assembled in this way is then connected to the healthy vertebral body 18 by means of U-shaped clamps 40 . As can be seen better in detail in FIG. 3, the clamp 40 is pressed with its sharp-edged leg into the vertebral body fragment 40 of the implant, while the other, likewise sharp-edged leg of the U-shaped clamp 40 is pressed into the vertebral body 18 of the vertebra 12 and thus holds the vertebral body segment 26 to be implanted in the desired position. Distributed over the circumference of the vertebral body 18 , one, two or three such clips 40 can be used as required.

The spine fragment to be obtained from the respective pig or sheep may not have the size required for the human spine 10 . That is why the spine segment taken from the respective animal is brought to the desired size in the laboratory with growth accelerators. Such growth accelerators can be, for example, coral lime (hydroxelapatite) and / or a growth factor. For example, the coral lime is applied to the vertebral body fragment and impregnated with a growth factor, for example a transforming growing factor or a bone morpho genetic protein. After the accelerated growth of the bone (vertebral body fragment) has resulted in an implant of sufficient size, it can then be implanted in the spine.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in that the spinal column segment is a vertebral body insert 42 which is formed exclusively from genetically manipulated bones, as described above or is inserted through the clips 40 in place of the removed intervertebral disc. This vertebral body insert 42 grows together with the adjacent vertebral body fragments 18 in a known manner. This part of the spine becomes stiff. If necessary, further bone parts can be attached, in particular screwed, to this vertebral body insert 42 .

Reference list

10th

Spine

12th

whirl

14

Hissing disc

16

Vertebral fragment

18th

Vertebral body

20th

Spine segment

22

Animal intervertebral disc

24th

Vertebral fragment

26

Spine segment

28

Vertebral arch with extensions

30th

Vertebral arch with continuation

32

Bio screw

34

Vertebral fragment

36

Counterpart

38

screw

40

Bracket

42

Vertebral insert

Claims (11)

1. spine segment for implantation in a human spine ( 10 ) comprising a vertebral body insert ( 42 ) and / or comprising an intervertebral disc ( 22 ) with the associated upper and / or lower vertebral body fragment ( 24 , 34 ) and / or comprising a vertebral arch ( 28 , 30 ), in particular with the various extensions, the intervertebral disc ( 22 ) being formed from a genetically manipulated animal intervertebral disc, or the vertebral body insert ( 42 ), the vertebral body fragments ( 24 , 34 ), the vertebral arch ( 28 , 30 ) and / or the Processes are formed from genetically manipulated animal bones. 2. spine segment according to claim 1, characterized, that the genetically manipulated animal bones are based on a pig or a sheep bone are formed. 3. Spine segment according to claim 1, characterized in that the animal intervertebral disc ( 22 ) is formed on the basis of an intervertebral disc of a pig or a sheep. 4. Spine segment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the animal bone and / or the animal intervertebral disc ( 22 ) has the same blood group, in particular the same blood subgroup, the same tissue structure and / or the same bone structure as the human, as a result of genetic engineering manipulation Spine ( 10 ). 5. spine segment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized, that the animal bones by means of a nutrient solution and / or a Growth factor have grown faster. 6. Spine segment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper and / or lower vertebral body fragment ( 24 , 34 ) or the vertebral body insert ( 42 ) can be fixed on the human spine ( 10 ) by means of a clip ( 40 ). 7. spine segment according to claim 6, characterized in that the clip ( 40 ) is U-shaped and is formed on its free legs so sharp that the clip ( 40 ) hereby in the vertebral fragment ( 24 , 34 ) or the vertebral insert ( 42 ) on the one hand and in an adjacent vertebral body ( 18 ) of the human spine ( 10 ) on the other hand. 8. Spine segment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper and / or lower vertebral body fragment ( 24 , 34 ) and / or the vertebral arch ( 28 , 30 ) by means of at least one screw ( 32 , 38 ) on the human spine ( 10 ) can be fixed. 9. spine segment according to claim 8, characterized in that the screw ( 38 ) is so long and thin that the screw ( 38 ) through the vertebral arch ( 28 ) extends into the vertebral body ( 18 ). 10. spine segment according to claim 9, characterized in that the screw ( 38 ) opens into a corresponding internal thread having a counterpart ( 36 ) which is positively held in the vertebral body ( 18 ). 11. Spine segment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertebral body insert ( 42 ) and / or the vertebral body fragment ( 24 , 34 ) and / or the vertebral arch ( 28 , 30 ) has a flat contact surface for contact with the human spine ( 10 ) exhibit.