US5571192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Prosthetic vertebral implant
Assignee: Ulrich GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1995-07-03
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Granted: 1996-11-05
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Expires: 2015-07-03
Abstract
Abstract A spinal implant for engagement in a space left by ablation of a vertebral body between a pair of adjacent vertebrae has a tubular center element extending along an axis and a pair of end elements. The center element is formed with upper and lower screwthreads of opposite hand and with a plurality of radially throughgoing apertures. The upper and lower tubular end elements are each formed with a plurality of radially throughgoing apertures, each have a circular-section inner end threaded onto a respective one of the screwthreads, and each have an outer end adapted to bear on a respective one of the adjacent vertebrae.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmut Schonhoffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/3023; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30405; A61F2002/30411; A61F2002/30476; A61F2002/30507; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30537; A61F2002/3055; A61F2002/30574; A61F2002/30593; A61F2002/30601; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30774; A61F2002/30777; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30787; A61F2002/30841; A61F2002/30845; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A spinal implant for engagement in a space left by ablation of a vertebral body between a pair of adjacent vertebrae, the implant comprising: a tubular center element extending along an axis, having upper and lower ends formed with respective upper and lower external screwthreads of opposite hand, and formed with a plurality of radially throughgoing apertures; and respective upper and lower tubular end elements each formed with a plurality of radially throughgoing apertures, axially flanking the center element, each having an internally threaded circular-section inner end threaded onto a respective one of the external screwthreads and radially surrounding the respective upper and lower ends of the center element, and each having an outer end adapted to bear on a respective one of the adjacent vertebrae, all the apertures being so positioned and dimensioned that when the end elements are threaded to the center element each center-element aperture in a region of axial overlap between the elements is at least partially radially aligned with one of the respective end-element apertures.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A spinal implant for engagement in a space left by ablation of a vertebral body between a pair of adjacent vertebrae, the implant comprising: a tubular center element extending along an axis, having upper and lower ends formed with respective upper and lower external screwthreads of opposite hand, and formed with a plurality of radially throughgoing apertures; and respective upper and lower tubular end elements each formed with a plurality of radially throughgoing apertures, axially flanking the center element, each having an internally threaded circular-section inner end threaded onto a respective one of the external screwthreads and radially surrounding the respective upper and lower ends of the center element, and each having an outer end adapted to bear on a respective one of the adjacent vertebrae, all the apertures being so positioned and dimensioned that when the end elements are threaded to the center element each center-element aperture in a region of axial overlap between the elements is at least partially radially aligned with one of the respective end-element apertures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein one of the end elements is formed at its inner end with a radially throughgoing threaded bore, the implant further comprising a setscrew threaded in the bore and bearing radially on the center element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 2 wherein the one end element has a thickened region surrounding the bore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 2 wherein the one end element is formed with a circumferential thickened region through which the bore extends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein the center element has between the screwthreads a threadfree portion formed with some of the apertures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 5 wherein the apertures in the thread-free portion are substantially circular.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein the apertures of the end elements are elongated angularly and radially traverse the respective screwthreads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 7 wherein all of the apertures have major axes lying in planes perpendicular to the axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein the apertures of each element are arrayed in rows each centered on a respective plane perpendicular to the axis and the apertures of each row are offset angularly from the apertures of adjacent rows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein each aperture has a major axis lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis and a minor axis parallel to the axis, each major axis being at least twice as long as the respective minor axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 10 wherein all of the apertures are arranged in rows lying in the respective planes and the axial spacing between each row and the adjacent rows is equal to about half the axial length of the respective minor axes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein the outer end of one of the end elements has an edge lying in a plane forming an acute angle with the axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein the outer end of at least one of the end elements is formed with an annular array of teeth adapted to dig into the respective vertebra.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 13 wherein the outer end of the one end element is formed between the teeth with outwardly open notches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 13 wherein the one end element is formed with a radially projecting annular collar adapted to limit penetration of the one end element into the respective vertebra.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the outer ends is formed as a sharp edge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein the elements are made of metal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spinal implant defined in claim 1 wherein the elements form an axially throughgoing passage.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-05 | 2000-05-06 | 2000-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-05 | 2004-05-06 | 2004-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-05 | 2008-05-06 | 2008-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |