US5961554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intervertebral spacer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-12-31
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Granted: 1999-10-05
•
Expires: 2016-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A porous intervertebral spacer includes a plurality of fused, generally spherical beads of a biologically inert material, preferably titanium or a titanium alloy. The spacer can include elongate, tortuous strands of titanium wire mesh intermixed with the beads. The spacer also can be made entirely of strands of elongate, fused, tortuous titanium wire mesh. A method of fusing adjacent vertebrae of the spine includes the steps of excising a portion of an intervertebral disc separating adjacent vertebrae and portions of the adjacent vertebrae to define a graft bed, and inserting into she graft bed at least one porous intervertebral spacer according to the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank S Janson
- 👤 Albert N. Santilli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61F2/442; A61F2/446; A61F2/4465; A61F2/447; A61F2/28; A61F2002/2835; A61F2002/2839; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/30004; A61F2002/30011; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30125; A61F2002/30126; A61F2002/30131; A61F2002/30133; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30143; A61F2002/30153; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/302; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/3028; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30785; A61F2002/30789; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30879; A61F2002/30891; A61F2002/30892; A61F2002/30896; A61F2/3094; A61F2/30942; A61F2002/30957; A61F2002/30968; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0008; A61F2230/0013; A61F2230/0015; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0019; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0065; A61F2230/0069; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0023; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
An intervertebral spacer that is porous throughtout consisting essentially of a plurality of fused, generally spherical beads of a biologically inert material selected from the group consisting of substantially pure titanium and a titanium alloy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
An intervertebral spacer that is porous throughtout consisting essentially of a plurality of fused, generally spherical beads of a biologically inert material selected from the group consisting of substantially pure titanium and a titanium alloy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The spacer of claim 1, wherein the beads occupy a range of generally 45 to 58 percent of the volume of the spacer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The spacer of claim 1, wherein the beads are fused by sintering.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The spacer of claim 1, wherein the porosity of the spacer is sufficient to facilitate tissue ingrowth and bony fusion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spacer of claim 1, wherein the spacer is in the form of a prism having end faces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The spacer of claim 5, wherein the end faces of the prism are selected from the group consisting of a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a hexagon, an octagon, a rhombus, a rhomboid, and a trapezoid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The spacer of claim 1, wherein the spacer is of a generally rectangular shape having opposed, substantially parallel end faces, side faces, and top and bottom faces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The spacer of claim 7, further comprising at least one aperture extending through the spacer and opening through the top and bottom faces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spacer of claim 8, wherein three apertures are provided, the apertures being spaced equidistantly from each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The spacer of claim 7, further comprising a second aperture extending through the spacer, the second aperture opening through the end faces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The spacer of claim 7, further comprising ribs formed on the top and bottom faces, the ribs, in cross-section, being generally triangular and extending generally parallel to the end faces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The spacer of claim 1, wherein the spacer is of a generally cylindrical shape having a longitudinal axis and end faces that are parallel to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The spacer of claim 12, further comprising at least one aperture extending through the spacer parallel to the end faces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spacer of claim 13, wherein three apertures are provided, the apertures being spaced equidistantly from each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The spacer of claim 12, further comprising a large round aperture extending through the spacer parallel to, and concentric with, the longitudinal access, the large round aperture defining a wall thickness of the spacer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The spacer of claim 15, wherein the wall thickness of the spacer is approximately 3 mm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The spacer of claim 15, further comprising at least one aperture extending through the spacer parallel to the end faces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spacer of claim 16, wherein three apertures are provided, the apertures being spaced equidistantly from each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The spacer of claim 1, wherein the spacer is of a combined rectangular-cylindrical shape, with opposed, flat end faces that are parallel to each other, opposed, flat side faces that are parallel to each other, and opposed, rounded top and bottom faces.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The spacer of claim 19, further comprising at least one aperture extending through the spacer and opening through the top and bottom faces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spacer of claim 20, wherein three apertures are provided, the apertures being spaced equidistantly from each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The spacer of claim 19, further comprising a second aperture extending through the spacer, the second aperture opening through the end faces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The spacer of claim 19, further comprising ribs formed on the top and bottom faces, the ribs, in cross-section, being generally triangular and extending generally parallel to the end faces.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The spacer of claim 1, wherein the spacer is in the form of a plate having flat, generally parallel upper and lower faces.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spacer of claim 24, wherein the spacer, when viewed from above, is generally C-shaped.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The spacer of claim 24, wherein the spacer, when viewed from above, is elliptical with an elliptical opening at its center.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The spacer of claim 24, wherein the spacer, when viewed from above, is kidney-shaped.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spacer of claim 24, further comprising ribs formed on the upper and lower faces.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The spacer of claim 28, wherein the ribs, in cross-section, are generally triangular.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of fusing adjacent vertebrae of the spine comprising the steps of: excising a portion of an intervertebral disc separating adjacent vertebra and portions of the adjacent vertebrae to define a graft bed, and inserting into the graft bed at least one porous intervertebral spacer that is porous throughtout consisting essentially of a plurality of fused, generally spherical beads of a biologically inert material selected from the group consisting of substantially pure titanium and a titanium alloy.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of fusing adjacent vertebrae of the spine comprising the steps of: excising a portion of an intervertebral disc separating adjacent vertebra and portions of the adjacent vertebrae to define a graft bed, and inserting into the graft bed at least one porous intervertebral spacer that is porous throughtout consisting essentially of a plurality of fused, generally spherical beads of a biologically inert material selected from the group consisting of substantially pure titanium and a titanium alloy.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the beads occupy a range of generally 45 to 58 percent of the volume of the spacer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the beads are fused by sintering.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the graft bed is formed by an excision from the posterior of the spine.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the graft bed is formed by an excision from the anterior of the spine.
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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) | 2002-10-04 | 2003-04-05 | 2003-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-04 | 2007-04-05 | 2007-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-04 | 2011-04-05 | 2011-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |