Patent US4848901A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5437672A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spinal cord protection device
Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Inc
•
Filing: 1994-08-26
•
Granted: 1995-08-01
•
Expires: 2014-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A biocompatible protection device is disclosed to prevent the postoperative formation of adhesions to the spinal dura of a vertebrate comprising a shield adapted to fit onto at least one lamina of at least one vertebrae and wherein said shield is positioned on the posterior surface of the vertebral column.
Inventors
- 👤 Neville Alleyne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B90/00; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0815; A61B2090/0816
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for minimizing adhesions to the spinal dura following spinal surgery, comprising the steps of: performing a bony dissection on at least a portion of one vertebrae to expose the spinal dura: and positioning a biocompatible protection device to cover said exposed spinal dura, wherein said device comprises a shield adapted to cover at least a portion of one vertebrae having said bony dissection, an elongate concavity on a first side of the shield, said concavity extending axially from a first axial end of the shield to a second axial end of the shield; a first support plane on the shield, spaced laterally apart in a first direction from the longitudinal axis of the shield; and a second support plane on the shield, spaced laterally apart in a second direction from the longitudinal axis of the shield; wherein placement of said first and second support planes on opposite sides of said spinal dura aligns the longitudinal axis of said concavity generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spinal dura, with said first side of the shield spaced apart from the spinal dura, and wherein placement of said device over said dura minimizes adhesions to said dura.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for minimizing adhesions to the spinal dura following spinal surgery, comprising the steps of: performing a bony dissection on at least a portion of one vertebrae to expose the spinal dura: and positioning a biocompatible protection device to cover said exposed spinal dura, wherein said device comprises a shield adapted to cover at least a portion of one vertebrae having said bony dissection, an elongate concavity on a first side of the shield, said concavity extending axially from a first axial end of the shield to a second axial end of the shield; a first support plane on the shield, spaced laterally apart in a first direction from the longitudinal axis of the shield; and a second support plane on the shield, spaced laterally apart in a second direction from the longitudinal axis of the shield; wherein placement of said first and second support planes on opposite sides of said spinal dura aligns the longitudinal axis of said concavity generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spinal dura, with said first side of the shield spaced apart from the spinal dura, and wherein placement of said device over said dura minimizes adhesions to said dura.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of affixing said device to at least one vertebrae.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the device is positioned over more than one vertebrae.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning step additionally includes the step of adding an adhesion minimizing agent between the device and the dura.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the adhesion minimizing agent is incorporated into the device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the method additionally comprises the step of exposing the device in a subsequent surgical procedure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the step of removing said device to reexpose said spinal dura.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1004625A
Cited
US3256877A
Cited
US3693616A
Cited
US4013078A
Cited
US4705031A
Cited
US4794918A
Cited
US4773402A
Cited
US5000166A
Cited
US4973332A
Cited
US5108399A
Cited
US5139498A
Cited
US5366455A
Cited
US5261908A
Cited
US5041113A
Cited
US5108395A
Cited
US5113685A
Cited
US5242443A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |