US20050027358A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable nuclear prosthesis
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 2003-07-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-07-29
Abstract
Abstract The nucleus of an intervertebral disc is replaced with a construct including a distendable sack or balloon which is inflated with a hardenable material and is detached in situ when the injected material has hardened. Alternatively, two nested balloons may be inserted, and then filled with materials which have different hardnesses when cured, to simulate a natural disc.
Inventors
- 👤 Loubert Suddaby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2/44; A61F2/441; A61F2/442; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/30004; A61F2002/30014; A61F2002/30016; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30563; A61F2002/30581; A61F2002/30583; A61F2002/30586; A61F2002/444; A61F2002/4625; A61F2002/4627; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0085; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0018; A61F2250/0019
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
1 . A method of replacing a natural vertebral disc, said method comprising steps of removing at least a portion of the vertebral disc, leaving an intervertebral space between opposed vertebral end plates, inserting a deflated balloon into said space, injecting a first liquid into said space until proper intervertebral spacing is achieved, aspirating all of said first liquid from said space and measuring the withdrawn volume of said first liquid, injecting the same volume of a hardenable material in liquid form into said space, and causing or allowing said hardenable material to harden in said space, without withdrawing the balloon, thereby forming a stable mass conforming in shape to said intervertebral space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
1 . A method of replacing a natural vertebral disc, said method comprising steps of removing at least a portion of the vertebral disc, leaving an intervertebral space between opposed vertebral end plates, inserting a deflated balloon into said space, injecting a first liquid into said space until proper intervertebral spacing is achieved, aspirating all of said first liquid from said space and measuring the withdrawn volume of said first liquid, injecting the same volume of a hardenable material in liquid form into said space, and causing or allowing said hardenable material to harden in said space, without withdrawing the balloon, thereby forming a stable mass conforming in shape to said intervertebral space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said hardenable material is a polymeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
3 . A method of replacing a natural vertebral disc, said method comprising steps of removing at least a portion of the vertebral disc, leaving an intervertebral space between opposed vertebral end plates, inserting a first deflated balloon into said space, placing a second deflated balloon within said first balloon, thus defining a second chamber between said first balloon and said second balloon, injecting a first material in liquid form into said first balloon, injecting a second hardenable material in liquid form into said chamber, and causing or allowing said hardenable materials to harden, without withdrawing either balloons, thereby forming a stable mass conforming in shape to said intervertebral space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
3 . A method of replacing a natural vertebral disc, said method comprising steps of removing at least a portion of the vertebral disc, leaving an intervertebral space between opposed vertebral end plates, inserting a first deflated balloon into said space, placing a second deflated balloon within said first balloon, thus defining a second chamber between said first balloon and said second balloon, injecting a first material in liquid form into said first balloon, injecting a second hardenable material in liquid form into said chamber, and causing or allowing said hardenable materials to harden, without withdrawing either balloons, thereby forming a stable mass conforming in shape to said intervertebral space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said first material is hardenable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said first hardenable material and said second hardenable material have, when hardened, different physical properties.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said first hardenable material is harder than said second hardenable material, when both have hardened.
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