Multi-walled placeholder

Abstract

A placeholder for vertebrae or vertebral discs includes a tubular body, which along its jacket surface has a plurality of breakthroughs or openings for over-growth with adjacent tissue. The placeholder includes at least a second tubular body provided with a plurality of breakthroughs and openings at least partially inside the first tubular body. The first and second tubular bodies can have different cross-sectional shapes, can be are arranged inside one another by press fit or force fit or can be connected to each other via connecting pins and arranged side by side to one another in the first body.

1 . A placeholder for implantation in a human or animal body, the placeholder comprising: 
 a first tubular body having a jacket surface with a plurality of openings;    a second tubular body having a jacket surface with a plurality of openings, the second tubular body disposed at least partially inside the first tubular body; and    at least one spacer;    wherein the second tubular body is spaced apart with the at least one spacer from the first tubular body.    
   
   
       2 . A placeholder according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the second tubular body is different from the cross-sectional shape of the first tubular body in a sectional plane transverse to a tubular longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       3 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tubular bodies are concentric.  
   
   
       4 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer comprises a connecting element configured to connect the first tubular body to the second tubular body.  
   
   
       5 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising at least two second tubular bodies in the first tubular body.  
   
   
       6 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the first tubular body and the at least two second tubular bodies are concentrically arranged.  
   
   
       7 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the at least two second tubular bodies are accommodated side by side in the first tubular body.  
   
   
       8 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the at least two second tubular bodies are spaced apart from each other.  
   
   
       9 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the at least two second tubular bodies are arranged with their tubular longitudinal axes offset parallel to a tubular longitudinal axis of the first body.  
   
   
       10 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first tubular body and the second tubular body are connected to each other via welds.  
   
   
       11 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a connecting element welded to the first and second tubular bodies.  
   
   
       12 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the first tubular body and the second tubular body are detachably connected to each other via the connecting element.  
   
   
       13 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein a number of connecting elements comprises 2 to 24 connecting elements.  
   
   
       14 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the second tubular body projects out from the first tubular body in a longitudinal direction.  
   
   
       15 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein 2 to 4 connecting elements are disposed along a cross section of the first and second tubular bodies such that the connecting elements are aligned with a row of openings.  
   
   
       16 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the connecting element comprises at least one retaining plate and/or a plurality of connecting pins arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular body.  
   
   
       17 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the connecting element comprises a plurality of retaining plates.  
   
   
       18 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the connecting element comprises at least one retaining plate arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular body and having receivers for retaining the second tubular body by any one of press fit, force fit and connecting pins.  
   
   
       19 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the connecting element comprises at least one retaining plate arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular body and arranged as an end plate at or in a region of a front face of the first tubular body.  
   
   
       20 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the connecting element comprises a plurality of retaining plates, each arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular body and distributed as intermediate plates along the length of the first tubular body.  
   
   
       21 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the connecting element comprises at least one retaining plate arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular body and has a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       22 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the connecting element comprises at least one retaining plate supported by screw or rivet connections in the first tubular body.  
   
   
       23 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the connecting element comprises at least one retaining plate.  
   
   
       24 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the retaining plate comprises an end plate formed as a slit ring for spring loading.  
   
   
       25 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the connecting element comprises a plurality of connecting pins arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular body and comprising any one of rivets and screws.  
   
   
       26 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the connecting element is a plurality of connecting pins having stop surfaces for spaced apart support of the first and second tubular bodies.  
   
   
       27 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the first and second tubular bodies have separate connecting openings for accommodating the connecting element.  
   
   
       28 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the connecting openings for accommodating the connecting element are threaded holes.  
   
   
       29 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the connecting pins are formed such that they can be accommodated in available openings of the first and second tubular bodies.  
   
   
       30 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the second tubular body is accommodated completely in the first tubular body.  
   
   
       31 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the openings of the first and second tubular bodies are aligned.  
   
   
       32 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the openings of the first or second tubular bodies are offset relative to each other.  
   
   
       33 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tubular bodies have different wall thicknesses.  
   
   
       34 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the openings are arranged in rows and columns.  
   
   
       35 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer comprises a plurality of spacers, wherein the second tubular body is spaced apart with the plurality of spacers from the first tubular body.  
   
   
       36 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of spacers are disposed on an inner surface of the first tubular body or an outer surface of the second tubular body, and wherein the spacers project outward from the outer surface or project inward from the inner surface.  
   
   
       37 . A placeholder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tubular bodies each have, at least on one end, projections and indentations which are formed by a cut portion of their respective openings.  
   
   
       38 . A placeholder for implantation in a human or animal body comprising: 
 an outer tubular body having a jacket surface and a plurality of openings on the jacket surface; and    a plurality of inner tubular bodies arranged inside the outer tubular body, each of the plurality of inner tubular bodies having a jacket surface and a plurality of openings on the jacket surface.    
   
   
       39 . The placeholder of  claim 38 , wherein the inner tubular bodies have different cross-sectional sizes such that at least two of the inner tubular bodies are arranged at least partially one inside the other.  
   
   
       40 . The placeholder of  claim 38 , wherein the inner tubular bodies are arranged inside the outer tubular body such that the outer tubular body and the inner tubular bodies are concentric.  
   
   
       41 . The placeholder of  claim 38 , wherein the inner tubular bodies are arranged side by side inside the outer tubular body  
   
   
       42 . The placeholder of  claim 38 , wherein the inner tubular bodies are arranged inside the outer tubular body such that the inner tubular bodies are spaced apart from each other.  
   
   
       43 . The placeholder of  claim 38 , wherein the inner tubular bodies are arranged inside the outer tubular body such that the inner tubular bodies are press fit inside the outer tubular body.  
   
   
       44 . A placeholder for implantation in a human or animal body, the placeholder comprising: 
 a first tubular body having a jacket surface with a plurality of openings for over-growth with adjacent tissue;    a second tubular body having a jacket surface with a plurality of openings, the second tubular body disposed at least partially inside the first tubular body; and    wherein the first tubular body has a circular cross-sectional shape and the second tubular body has any one of a triangular, oblong, hexagonal, octagonal or generally polygonal, oval and kidney-like cross-sectional shape.    
   
   
       45 . A placeholder for implantation in a human or animal body, the placeholder comprising: 
 a first tubular body having a jacket surface with a plurality of openings for over-growth with adjacent tissue;    a second tubular body having a jacket surface with a plurality of openings, the second tubular body disposed at least partially inside the first tubular body; and    wherein the first tubular body has an oval or kidney-like cross-sectional shape and the second tubular body has any one of a triangular, oblong, hexagonal, octagonal or generally polygonal, oval and kidney-like cross-sectional shape.    
   
   
       46 . A placeholder for implantation in a human or animal body, the placeholder comprising: 
 a first tubular body having a jacket surface with a plurality of openings for over-growth with adjacent tissue;    a second tubular body having a jacket surface with a plurality of openings, the second tubular body disposed at least partially inside the first tubular body; and    wherein the second tubular body is arranged directly or via one or more connecting elements in the first body by means of press fit or force fit.    
   
   
       47 . A method of manufacturing a placeholder for implantation in a human or animal body comprising: 
 inserting a second tubular body at least partially inside a first tubular body, the second tubular body having a plurality of openings on a surface thereof, and the first tubular body having a plurality of openings on a surface thereof; and    connecting the first tubular body and the second tubular body in a spaced apart configuration with at least one connecting element.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising cutting a tubular body of a first size to a first length to provide the first tubular body, and cutting a tubular body of a second size to a second length to provide the at least second tubular body.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising surface treating the first tubular body and the second tubular body.  
   
   
       50 . A method of manufacturing a placeholder for implantation in a human or animal body comprising: 
 inserting a plurality of inner tubular bodies at least partially inside an outer tubular body, the inner tubular bodies having a plurality of openings on a jacket surface thereof, and the outer tubular body having a plurality of openings on a jacket surface thereof; and    arranging the inner tubular bodies inside the outer tubular body such that the inner tubular bodies and the outer tubular bodies are detachably connected.    
   
   
       51 . A method of manufacturing a placeholder for implantation in a human or animal body comprising: 
 inserting a plurality of inner tubular bodies at least partially inside an outer tubular body, the inner tubular bodies having a plurality of openings on a jacket surface thereof, and the outer tubular body having a plurality of openings on a jacket surface thereof; and    arranging the inner tubular bodies inside the outer tubular body such that the inner tubular bodies and the outer tubular body are connected by means of press fit or force fit.    
   
   
       52 . A modular placeholder system for implantation in a human or animal body comprising: 
 first, second and third tubular bodies, each having a jacket surface and a plurality of openings on the jacket surface;    wherein each of the first, second and third tubular bodies have a different size or shape relative to each of the other tubular bodies; and    wherein the first and second tubular bodies are secured to each other one inside the other to form a first placeholder and, alternatively, the first and third tubular bodies are secured to each other one inside the other to form a second placeholder.