EP0853932A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fusion implant
Assignee: Spinal Innovations LLC
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Filing: 1998-01-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A fusion implant for insertion between opposing vertebrae includes a body having an inner surface defining a hollow inner chamber for containing a graft material therein. The body includes a stress transfer mechanism for transferring stress from the vertebrae surrounding the implant to the graft material contained within the implant. A method is provided for implanting the fusion implant between opposing vertebrae by the steps of inserting an implant into a collapsed disc space between adjacent vertebrae, the implant including a collapsed body, and expanding the body to spread the adjacent vertebrae apart.
Inventors
- 👤 Marc Richelsoph
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61F2/446; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30724; A61F2/30767; A61F2/442; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2/28; A61F2002/2835; A61F2002/286; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30131; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30153; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30205; A61F2002/3021; A61F2002/30217; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30261; A61F2002/30291; A61F2002/30293; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30317; A61F2002/30324; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30518; A61F2002/30528; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30565; A61F2002/30571; A61F2002/30593; A61F2002/30594; A61F2002/30604; A61F2002/30616; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30785; A61F2002/3082; A61F2002/30841; A61F2002/30845; A61F2002/3085; A61F2002/4635; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0023; A61F2210/0033; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0013; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0019; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0067; A61F2230/0069; A61F2230/0082; A61F2230/0091; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0036; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907; Y10S606/911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A fusion implant for insertion between opposing vertebrae, said implant
comprising: a body (either of uniform thickness, or varying in thickness in at least one
location) including an inner surface defining a hollow inner chamber for
containing a graft material therein, said body including stress transfer
means for transferring stress from the vertebrae surrounding said implant
to the graft material contained within said implant, said body optionally
including fixation means for fixing said implant to the opposing vertebrae.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
31 words
An implant according to claim 1, including upper and lower portions for
contacting upper and lower vertebrae bodies, said upper and lower
portions being deflectable and defining said stress transfer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
An implant according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said body includes first and
second open ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween and a length
of said body extending about said longitudinal axis and between said open
ends, said stress transfer means providing for contraction and expansion
of said body about said longitudinal axis along said length thereof (said
body typically consisting of a flexible material allowing for spring like
contraction and expansion of said body about said longitudinal axis).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
An implant according to claim 3, wherein said body includes opposing
spaced edges extending along said length of said body, said spaced edges
being typically spaced an equal distance apart along said length of said
body (such that said body is, for example, cylindrical) or diverging from
each other along said length of said body (such that said body is, for
example, conical).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An implant according to claim 4, further including contraction limiting
means for limiting the contraction of said body about said longitudinal
axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
An implant according to claim 4 or 5, wherein at least one of said edges
includes a lip portion extending therefrom, said other of said edges
contacting and abutting against said lip portion during contraction of said
body about said longitudinal axis thereby limiting the contraction of said
body about said longitudinal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An implant according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein said body consists
of a memory metal which is bendable from an original state to a contracted
state and returns to said original state upon application of a stimulus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An implant according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said fixation means
includes threaded portions on opposed outer surfaces of said body, said
body including opposing flexible side walls in between said threaded
portions defining said stress transfer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A fusion implant for insertion between opposing vertebrae, said implant
comprising: a body consisting of a hollow shell having a central longitudinal axis, said
shell including at least one flexible body portion for allowing contraction
and expansion about said axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
An implant according to claim 9, wherein said body (which typically
includes opposing spaced edges extending along said length of said body)
consists of a flexible material allowing for spring like contraction and
expansion of said body about said longitudinal axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An implant according to claim 10, wherein an area of said body includes
openings therethrough for allowing graft material inside said body to
contact bone outside of said body upon insertion of said implant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
An implant according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein said body is
collapsible and expandable, whereby said body automatically expands
upon release from an insertion instrument so as to widen a disc space
between opposing vertebral and plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
An implant according to any of claims 1 to 12, including an external
surface of said body, said external surface including a porous coating for
allowing bone ingrowth, and/or a textured external surface for enhancing
bone fixation.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
38 words
A method of implanting a fusion implant between opposing vertebrae by:
inserting an implant into a collapsed disc space between adjacent
vertebrae, the implant including a collapsed body, and expanding the body
to spread the adjacent vertebrae apart.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein said inserting step is further
defined as collapsing the implant and inserting the same into an insertion
instrument and disposing the implant through the instrument and into the
collapsed disc space, the implant automatically expanding upon release
from the instrument to widen the disc space between the opposing
vertebral end plates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 14 or 15, further including the step of
calibrating the force required to collapse the body of the implant against
the graft material according to patient weight and loading conditions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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