← Back to Patent Explorer
US4887595A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Surgically implantable device for spinal columns

Assignee: DePuy Spine LLC
•
Filing: 1987-07-29
•
Granted: 1989-12-19
•
Expires: 2007-07-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A surgically implantable device for maintaining the relative positions of spinal bodies of a spinal column. The device comprises a plate portion for connection with a first spinal body. The plate portion has a first major side surface for facing the first spinal body and a second major side surface. The plate portion has an opening which extends through the first and second major side surfaces for receiving a fastener to connect the plate portion with the first spinal body. A rod portion is fixedly connected to the plate portion and extends therefrom. The rod portion is bendable to conform to a desired spinal curvature. The rod portion has a part for connection with a second spinal body.

Inventors

  • 👤 Charles F. Heinig
  • 👤 Marc A. Asher
  • 👤 Walter E. Strippgen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 04:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7002; A61B17/7004; A61B17/7007; A61B17/7041; A61B17/7055; A61B17/7058; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/8695

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 204 words
An apparatus for maintaining the relative positions of spinal bodies of a spinal column, said apparatus comprising: a plate for connection with a first spinal body, said plate having a central axis and having first and second major side surfaces at least one of which is for facing the first spinal body, said first and second major side surfaces extending substantially parallel to each other, and being interconnected by a plurality of minor side surfaces extending transverse to said first and second major side surfaces; surface means defining an opening extending through said plate between said first and second major side surfaces for receiving a fastener to connect said plate with the first spinal body; a first rod fixedly connected to and extending from one of said plurality of minor side surfaces of said plate and being connectable with a second spinal body, said first rod being deformable for the purpose of conforming to a desired curvature of a portion of the spinal column; and a connecting portion located between said first rod and said one minor side surface and having a transition zone of gradually changing cross section for minimizing stress loading in said connecting portion due to bending of said first rod.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 204 words
An apparatus for maintaining the relative positions of spinal bodies of a spinal column, said apparatus comprising: a plate for connection with a first spinal body, said plate having a central axis and having first and second major side surfaces at least one of which is for facing the first spinal body, said first and second major side surfaces extending substantially parallel to each other, and being interconnected by a plurality of minor side surfaces extending transverse to said first and second major side surfaces; surface means defining an opening extending through said plate between said first and second major side surfaces for receiving a fastener to connect said plate with the first spinal body; a first rod fixedly connected to and extending from one of said plurality of minor side surfaces of said plate and being connectable with a second spinal body, said first rod being deformable for the purpose of conforming to a desired curvature of a portion of the spinal column; and a connecting portion located between said first rod and said one minor side surface and having a transition zone of gradually changing cross section for minimizing stress loading in said connecting portion due to bending of said first rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said first rod has a longitudinal central axis which extends coaxially with the central axis of said plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 84 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said plate is elongate and the opening in said plate is elongate and extends in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of said plate and further including surface means defining a plurality of recesses in said second major side surface of said plate spaced along the length of the opening, one of said plurality of recesses for receiving a portion of the fastener to block sliding movement of said plate relative to the fastener.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 72 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further including a second rod fixedly connected to and extending from another minor side surface of said plate in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of said plate and opposite to said first rod, said second rod being connectable with a third spinal body and being deformable for the purpose of conforming to a desired curvature of another portion of the spinal column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 66 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further including clamp means for connecting said first rod with the second spinal body, said clamp means comprising a member having surfaces circumscribing a portion of said first rod and a leg extending from said member, said leg having an opening offset from said member for receiving another fastener to connect said clamp means to the second spinal body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 47 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first rod has a longitudinal central axis which is spaced apart from and extends parallel with the central axis of said plate, and wherein each of said major side surfaces is for facing the first spinal body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 131 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said major side surfaces is for facing the first spinal body, and wherein said plate is elongate and the opening in said plate is elongate and extends in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of said plate and further includes first surface means defining a plurality of recesses in said first major side surface of said plate spaced along the length of the opening and second surface means defining a second plurality of recesses in said second major side surface of said plate spaced along the length of the opening, one recess of said first and second plurality of recesses for receiving a portion of the fastener to block sliding movement of said plate relative to the fastener.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2494229A Cited
US3242922A Cited
FR2289164A1 Cited
US4382438A Cited
US4655199A Cited
US4653481A Cited
US4773402A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-12-18 1993-06-19 1993-12-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-12-18 1997-06-19 1997-12-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-12-18 2001-06-19 2001-12-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag