Patent US20010051829A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US20010051829A1
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Artificial intervertebral disc
Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp
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Filing: 2001-08-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2021-08-03
Abstract
Abstract An intervertebral prosthesis includes a disc member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom. The disc member has sufficient rigidity to support the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation, and defines a longitudinal axis extending the height of the disc member and a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The disc member includes an exterior wall which has a slit defined therein. The slit defines a longitudinal component of direction and a lateral component of direction. Preferably, the exterior wall includes a plurality of helical slits, adjacent slits being disposed in at least partial overlapping relation to define an overlapping region. Upon insertion of the disc member within the intervertebral space with the support surfaces in contacting engagement with respective vertebral portions of the adjacent vertebrae, forces exerted by the vertebral portions on the support surfaces are transferred along the exterior wall through the overlapping region.
Inventors
- 👤 Lance Middleton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/442; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30744; A61F2/4455; A61F2/4465; A61F2/46; A61F2/4637; A61F2/28; A61F2002/2835; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30133; A61F2002/30159; A61F2002/30181; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30289; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30331; A61F2002/30354; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30565; A61F2002/30566; A61F2002/30571; A61F2002/30593; A61F2002/30594; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30777; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0033; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0015; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/006; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0091; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00017; A61F2310/00023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
1 . An intervertebral prosthesis, which comprises a disc member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom, the disc member defining a longitudinal axis extending the height of the disc member and a radial axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the disc member defining an exterior wall having at least one slit therein, the at least one slit defining a first component of direction and a second component of direction different from the first component of direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
1 . An intervertebral prosthesis, which comprises a disc member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom, the disc member defining a longitudinal axis extending the height of the disc member and a radial axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the disc member defining an exterior wall having at least one slit therein, the at least one slit defining a first component of direction and a second component of direction different from the first component of direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
2 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the exterior wall includes a plurality of slits, adjacent slits being disposed in at least partial overlapping relation with respect to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
3 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 2 wherein at least portions of three slits are disposed in overlapping relation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
4 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the exterior wall includes a plurality of slits, adjacent slits being disposed in radial relation with respect to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
5 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction defines a longitudinal component of direction and the second direction defines a lateral component of direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
6 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the second direction defines an angular component of direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
7 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the disc member includes first and second support surfaces disposed at respective longitudinal ends of the disc member and dimensioned to supportingly engage vertebral portions of respective vertebrae.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
8 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 7 , wherein the disc member includes a central opening extending through one or more of the support surfaces in communication with the inner cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
9 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 8 further including an end cap releasably mounted to the one support surface, the end cap positionable within the opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
10 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 9 including first and second end caps releasably mounted to respective first and second support surfaces, the end caps positionable within respective openings of the first and second support surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
11 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 9 wherein the end cap includes an inner opening dimensioned to minimize rigidity of the end cap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
12 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 2 wherein the disc member is monolithically formed having the first and second support surfaces formed therewith.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
13 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the exterior wall includes a continuous slit therein, the slit arranged about the exterior wall such that longitudinally displaced portions of the slit are in at least partial overlapping relation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
14 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the disc member includes an inner cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
15 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 14 wherein the exterior wall defines an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface and wherein the slits each extend from the outer wall surface to the inner wall surface in communication with the inner cavity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
16 . An intervertebral prosthesis, comprising a body member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom, the body member including an exterior wall, an inner cavity and support surfaces disposed at respective ends of the exterior wall, the exterior wall having a plurality of helical slits defined therein and extending to communicate with the inner cavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
16 . An intervertebral prosthesis, comprising a body member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom, the body member including an exterior wall, an inner cavity and support surfaces disposed at respective ends of the exterior wall, the exterior wall having a plurality of helical slits defined therein and extending to communicate with the inner cavity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
17 . An intervertebral prosthesis, according to claim 16 wherein the helical slits are positioned such that at least two adjacent helical slits are in partial overlapping relation to define an overlapping region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
18 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 17 wherein the helical slits are arranged such that at least three slits are disposed in partial overlapping relation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
19 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 18 wherein each support surface has an opening in communication with the inner cavity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
20 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 16 wherein the support surfaces each have an opening therein in communication with the interior cavity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
21 . The intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 20 including first and second end caps releasably mounted to respective first and second support surfaces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
126 words
22 . An intervertebral prosthesis, comprising a disc member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom, the disc member defining a longitudinal axis and a radial axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the disc member including an exterior wall portion having a plurality of slits that follow a multidirectional path, at least portions of the multi-directional path having a longitudinal component, the adjacent slits being disposed in a radial relation with respect to the longitudinal axis, the slits dimensioned to extend sufficiently within the exterior wall portion whereby upon insertion of the disc member within the intervertebral space forces exerted on the disc member are transferred along the exterior wall portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
126 words
22 . An intervertebral prosthesis, comprising a disc member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom, the disc member defining a longitudinal axis and a radial axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the disc member including an exterior wall portion having a plurality of slits that follow a multidirectional path, at least portions of the multi-directional path having a longitudinal component, the adjacent slits being disposed in a radial relation with respect to the longitudinal axis, the slits dimensioned to extend sufficiently within the exterior wall portion whereby upon insertion of the disc member within the intervertebral space forces exerted on the disc member are transferred along the exterior wall portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
73 words
23 . An intervertebral prosthesis, comprising a disc member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom, the disc member having sufficient rigidity to support the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation, and defining a longitudinal axis, the disc member including an exterior wall portion and an inner cavity, the exterior wall portion including at least one slit defined therein.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
73 words
23 . An intervertebral prosthesis, comprising a disc member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom, the disc member having sufficient rigidity to support the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation, and defining a longitudinal axis, the disc member including an exterior wall portion and an inner cavity, the exterior wall portion including at least one slit defined therein.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
24 . An intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 23 wherein the at least one slit extends from an outer surface of the exterior wall portion to an inner surface of the exterior wall portion in communication with the inner cavity.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
25 . An intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 24 wherein the at least one slit has a longitudinal component of direction and a lateral component of direction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
26 . An intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 25 , wherein the at least one slit is helical.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
27 . An intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 26 wherein the body member includes a plurality of slits.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
28 . An intervertebral prosthesis according to claim 27 wherein adjacent slits are disposed in at least partial overlapping relation with respect to the longitudinal axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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