US5776199A — Artificial spinal fusion implants

Claim 1

Independent Claim 135 words

An implant for fusion of two adjacent vertebrae in the human spine after removal of disc material between endplates of the adjacent vertebrae, said implant comprising: upper and lower walls and opposite side walls between said upper and lower walls, said upper and lower walls having opposite surfaces configured to bear against and support a substantial portion of the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae, said implant having a plurality of openings therethrough defined in at least said upper and lower walls, said openings being sized to permit fusion bone growth in continuity through said implant between the vertebral endplates, said implant having a height substantially equal to the height of the space created by the removal of disc material from between the adjacent vertebrae and sized and shaped to be wholly contained within the space.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 135 words

An implant for fusion of two adjacent vertebrae in the human spine after removal of disc material between endplates of the adjacent vertebrae, said implant comprising: upper and lower walls and opposite side walls between said upper and lower walls, said upper and lower walls having opposite surfaces configured to bear against and support a substantial portion of the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae, said implant having a plurality of openings therethrough defined in at least said upper and lower walls, said openings being sized to permit fusion bone growth in continuity through said implant between the vertebral endplates, said implant having a height substantially equal to the height of the space created by the removal of disc material from between the adjacent vertebrae and sized and shaped to be wholly contained within the space.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The implant of claim 1 further comprising: a front wall and an opposite rear wall disposed between said upper and lower walls and said side walls.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The implant of claim 2, wherein said implant has a depth between said from wall and said rear wall, said depth being substantially the same as the depth between the adjacent vertebrae of the space created by removal of disc material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The implant of claim 2, wherein said front wall is curved from one of said side walls to the other.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 12 words

The implant of claim 4, wherein said front wall is convexly curved.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The implant of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said rear wall is tapered to facilitate insertion of said implants to the disc space.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The implant of claim 2, wherein said rear wall is curved from one of said side walls to the other.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

The implant of claim 2, wherein said front wall includes driving engaging means for engaging a driving instrument for placing said implant within the disc space between the adjacent vertebrae.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The implant of claim 8, wherein said driving engaging means includes a depression defined in said rear wall.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The implant of claim 2 wherein at least one of said front wall and said rear wall includes a plurality of openings therethrough.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The implant of claim 2, wherein said side walls are rounded adjacent said front wall for facilitating insertion of said implant.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The implant of claim 2, wherein said walls define an interior chamber for containing fusion bone growth material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

The implant of claim 12, wherein said upper wall defines an access opening therethrough communicating with said interior chamber, said access opening being substantially larger than any of said plurality of openings.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

The implant of claim 13, further comprising a cap sized to engage and close said access opening.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The implant of claim 14, wherein said cap defines a number of openings therethrough in communication with said interior chamber when said cap closes said access opening.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

The implant of claim 12, wherein at least one of said plurality of openings in each of said upper and lower walls communicates with said interior chamber.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 12 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein said rear wall is convexly curved.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein said implant has a width between said side wall, said width being substantially equal to the transverse width of the space created by the removed disc material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein said implant has a width between said side walls, said width being greater than said height of said implant.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 25 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein said implant has a width between said side walls, said width being less than said height of said implant.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein said side walls are flat and are substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 13 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein said side walls include openings defined therethrough.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of openings in said upper and lower walls form a number of channels through said implant.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 11 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein said implant is substantially rectangular.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein said implant is made at least in part of a metal suitable for surgical implantation.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of openings have a diameter of approximately 1 mm-3 mm.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said walls is treated to promote bone ingrowth.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 34 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein at least one of said upper and lower walls includes bone engaging means for engaging said implant to at least one of the adjacent vertebrae while fusion occurs.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 14 words

The implant of claim 28, wherein said bone engaging means includes an irregular surface.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 14 words

The implant of claim 29, wherein said irregular surface includes a plurality of ridges.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 24 words

The implant of claim 30, wherein said ridges are ratchetings facing the same direction to prevent expulsion of said implant in said same direction.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 21 words

The implant of claim 30, wherein said bone engaging means includes ridges defined on both said top and said bottom walls.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 33 words

The implant of claim 33, wherein said ridges on at least one of said top and bottom surfaces are ratchetings facing one direction to prevent expulsion of said implant in said one direction.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 34 words

The implant of claim 33, wherein said ridges on said top surface are ratchetings facing said one direction and said ridges on said bottom surface are ratchetings facing a direction opposite said one direction.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 28 words

The implant of claim 1, wherein said implant includes a rounded end between said upper and lower walls to facilitate insertion of said implant between the adjacent vertebrae.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 214 words

A spinal implant for fusion of two adjacent vertebrae in a human after removal of disc material between vertebral endplates of the adjacent vertebrae, said implant comprising: upper and lower walls a front wall and an opposite rear wall between said upper and lower walls and side walls between said upper and lower walls and said front and rear walls, said implant having a height between said upper and lower walls substantially equal to the height of the space created by removal of disc material between the adjacent vertebrae and sized and shaped to be wholly contained within the space, a plurality of openings defined in each of at least said upper and lower walls, said upper and lower walls defining substantially planar surfaces configured to bear against the vertebral endplates, and a hollow interior chamber enclosed by said walls in communication with said plurality of openings and accessible through an access opening defined in one of said walls, said interior chamber being larger than any of said plurality of openings and sized to contain fusion promoting material, said plurality of openings sized to permit fusion bone growth in continuity through said implant between the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae and with the fusion promoting material that may be contained within said interior chamber.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 214 words

A spinal implant for fusion of two adjacent vertebrae in a human after removal of disc material between vertebral endplates of the adjacent vertebrae, said implant comprising: upper and lower walls a front wall and an opposite rear wall between said upper and lower walls and side walls between said upper and lower walls and said front and rear walls, said implant having a height between said upper and lower walls substantially equal to the height of the space created by removal of disc material between the adjacent vertebrae and sized and shaped to be wholly contained within the space, a plurality of openings defined in each of at least said upper and lower walls, said upper and lower walls defining substantially planar surfaces configured to bear against the vertebral endplates, and a hollow interior chamber enclosed by said walls in communication with said plurality of openings and accessible through an access opening defined in one of said walls, said interior chamber being larger than any of said plurality of openings and sized to contain fusion promoting material, said plurality of openings sized to permit fusion bone growth in continuity through said implant between the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae and with the fusion promoting material that may be contained within said interior chamber.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 19 words

The spinal implant of claim 36, wherein said access opening is larger than any of said plurality of openings.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 17 words

The implant of claim 10 in which said plurality of openings are smaller than said access opening.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 18 words

The spinal implant of claim 36, further comprising a cap sized to engage and close said access opening.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 28 words

The spinal implant of claim 39 wherein said cap defines a number of openings therethrough in communication with said interior chamber when said cap closes said access opening.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 18 words

The spinal implant of claim 39 further comprising a threaded engagement between said cap and said access opening.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 25 words

The spinal implant of claim 41 wherein said cap defines a tool opening for receiving a tool to thread said cap into said access opening.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 170 words

An interspace fusion implant for fusion of two adjacent vertebrae in the human spine after removal of disc material between endplates of the adjacent vertebrae said implant comprising: a load bearing structure formed of a material that is stronger than bone, said structure sized and shaped to be wholly contained within the space left after removal of the disc material and including opposite upper and lower walls having opposite surfaces configured to bear against a substantial portion of the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae, said load bearing structure having a height between said upper and lower walls that is substantially equal to the height of the space created by the removal of the disc material; and a plurality of openings defined in each of said upper and lower walls, said plurality of openings being sized and arranged to permit fusion bone growth in continuity between at least several of said plurality of openings in said upper wall and at least several of said plurality of openings in said lower wall.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 170 words

An interspace fusion implant for fusion of two adjacent vertebrae in the human spine after removal of disc material between endplates of the adjacent vertebrae said implant comprising: a load bearing structure formed of a material that is stronger than bone, said structure sized and shaped to be wholly contained within the space left after removal of the disc material and including opposite upper and lower walls having opposite surfaces configured to bear against a substantial portion of the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae, said load bearing structure having a height between said upper and lower walls that is substantially equal to the height of the space created by the removal of the disc material; and a plurality of openings defined in each of said upper and lower walls, said plurality of openings being sized and arranged to permit fusion bone growth in continuity between at least several of said plurality of openings in said upper wall and at least several of said plurality of openings in said lower wall.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 34 words

The interspace fusion implant of claim 43, wherein said load bearing structure further defines an interior chamber in communication with each of said plurality of openings in each of said upper and lower walls.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 36 words

The interspace fusion implant of claim 44, wherein: said upper wall defines an access opening therethrough in communication with said interior chamber; and said implant further comprises a cap for engaging and closing said access opening.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 29 words

The interspace fusion implant of claim 45, wherein said cap defines at least one opening therethrough in communication with said interior chamber when said cap closes said access opening.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 32 words

The interspace fusion implant of claim 43, wherein at least said opposite surfaces of said upper and lower walls are treated with a material to promote bone ingrowth into said opposite surfaces.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 33 words

The interspace fusion implant of claim 43, wherein said load bearing structure includes opposite side walls between said upper and lower walls, each of said side walls defining a number of openings therethrough.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 32 words

The interspace fusion implant of claim 43, wherein said load bearing structure includes opposite end walls between said upper and lower walls, at least one of said end walls being convexly curved.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 41 words

The interspace fusion implant of claim 43, wherein said load bearing structure includes opposite end walls between said upper and lower walls, at least one of said end walls being rounded to facilitate insertion of the implant between the adjacent vertebrae.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-07-06	2002-01-05	2002-07-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-07-06	2006-01-05	2006-07-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-07-06	2010-01-05	2010-07-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Artificial spinal fusion implants

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