Patent US5106386A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4611580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intervertebral body stabilization
Assignee: Henry Ford Hospital
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Filing: 1983-11-23
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Granted: 1986-09-16
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Expires: 2003-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for stabilizing the spine wherein a bone graft has been provided between oppositely spaced vertebral bodies in the space where vertebral bodies have been removed which comprises forming spaced transversely extending holes in the vertebral bodies, and applying a stabilizing device. The stabilizing device comprises screws that are threaded into the holes and a threaded shaft that is attached and fixed with respect to the screws, to stabilize the vertebral bodies.
Inventors
- 👤 Kent K. Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7002; A61B17/7004; A61B17/7008; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/8665; A61B2017/867
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of stabilizing the spine wherein a bone graft has been provided between oppositely spaced vertebral bodies in the space where vertebral bodies have been removed which comprises forming spaced transversely extending parallel holes in one side of the oppositely spaced vertebral bodies, threading a screw fixedly attached to a head, having an unthreaded opening and opposed flattened sides at the ends of said opening, into each said hole; bringing the unthreaded openings in said heads in alignment, passing a threaded shaft through the aligned unthreaded openings in said heads and threading opposed nuts into engagement with opposed flattened sides of each head until the desired distance between the opposed vertebral bodies is achieved, thereafter tightening said nuts in adjusted position engaging said opposed flattened sides to stabilize the vertebral bodies.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of stabilizing the spine wherein a bone graft has been provided between oppositely spaced vertebral bodies in the space where vertebral bodies have been removed which comprises forming spaced transversely extending parallel holes in one side of the oppositely spaced vertebral bodies, threading a screw fixedly attached to a head, having an unthreaded opening and opposed flattened sides at the ends of said opening, into each said hole; bringing the unthreaded openings in said heads in alignment, passing a threaded shaft through the aligned unthreaded openings in said heads and threading opposed nuts into engagement with opposed flattened sides of each head until the desired distance between the opposed vertebral bodies is achieved, thereafter tightening said nuts in adjusted position engaging said opposed flattened sides to stabilize the vertebral bodies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
A vertebral body stabilizer for stabilizing the spine wherein a bone graft has been provided between oppositely spaced vertebral bodies comprising spaced laterally extending screws adapted to be threaded into the sides of the oppositely spaced bodies, each screw including a head fixed at one end having an unthreaded transverse opening and opposed flattened sides at the ends of said opening therethrough, a shaft slidably extending through said openings in said heads, said shaft being threaded, and means threaded on said shaft and engaging said opposed flattened sides of each said head for adjusting the desired distance between the opposed vertebral bodies and for locking said screws in adjusted positioned on said shaft in longitudinally spaced relation to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
A vertebral body stabilizer for stabilizing the spine wherein a bone graft has been provided between oppositely spaced vertebral bodies comprising spaced laterally extending screws adapted to be threaded into the sides of the oppositely spaced bodies, each screw including a head fixed at one end having an unthreaded transverse opening and opposed flattened sides at the ends of said opening therethrough, a shaft slidably extending through said openings in said heads, said shaft being threaded, and means threaded on said shaft and engaging said opposed flattened sides of each said head for adjusting the desired distance between the opposed vertebral bodies and for locking said screws in adjusted positioned on said shaft in longitudinally spaced relation to one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stabilizer set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for adjusting and locking said screws comprises opposed nuts adapted to engage the head of each said screw.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The stabilizer set forth in claim 3 including locking washers interposed between each nut and the associated head.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-09-15 | 1990-03-17 | 1990-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-15 | 1994-03-17 | 1994-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-15 | 1998-03-17 | 1998-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |