US6019793A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical prosthetic device
Assignee: GE Healthcare AS
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Filing: 1996-10-21
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Granted: 2000-02-01
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Expires: 2016-10-21
Abstract
Abstract The surgical prosthetic device according to the present invention is adapted for placement between two adjoining vertebrae for total or partial replacement of the disk from therebetween. The device has two plates with interior surfaces facing each other and being held at a distance by connecting means and exterior surfaces for contacting the end plates of the two adjoining vertebrae. The connecting means is made of a shape-memory alloy.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephan M. Perren
- 👤 Tom Higgins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2/44; A61F2/442; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00087; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30724; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30153; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30462; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30593; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30841; A61F2002/30843; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30891; A61F2002/30892; A61F2/3094; A61F2002/30975; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0019; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0075; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0019; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A surgical prosthetic device adapted for placement between two adjoining vertebrae for total or partial replacement of a disk from between the vertebrae, said device having two plates with interior surfaces facing each other and being held at a distance by connecting means, the distance being substantially equivalent to a height of the replaced disk; and exterior surfaces configured and dimensioned for contacting end plates of the two adjoining vertebrae, wherein the connecting means are made of a shape-memory alloy that has a transition temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A surgical prosthetic device adapted for placement between two adjoining vertebrae for total or partial replacement of a disk from between the vertebrae, said device having two plates with interior surfaces facing each other and being held at a distance by connecting means, the distance being substantially equivalent to a height of the replaced disk; and exterior surfaces configured and dimensioned for contacting end plates of the two adjoining vertebrae, wherein the connecting means are made of a shape-memory alloy that has a transition temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
Device according to claim 1 wherein the connecting means are wires.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Device according to claim 1 wherein the two plates are made of a shape-memory alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Device according to claim 1 wherein the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy is in the range of 5° C. to 30° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
Device according to claim 1 wherein the shape-memory alloy is nitinol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
113 words
A surgical prosthetic device adapted for placement between two adjoining vertebrae for total or partial replacement of a disk from between the vertebrae, said device having two plates with interior surfaces facing each other and being held at a distance by connecting means; and exterior surfaces configured and dimensioned for contacting end plates of the two adjoining vertebrae, wherein the connecting means are made of a shape-memory alloy that has a transition temperature, the two plates are made of the shape-memory alloy, and, at temperatures below the transition temperature of the shape memory alloy, the two plates of the device have a hollow cylindrical configuration with concave sides connected by said connecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
A surgical prosthetic device adapted for placement between two adjoining vertebrae for total or partial replacement of a disk from between the vertebrae, said device having two plates with interior surfaces facing each other and being held at a distance by connecting means; and exterior surfaces configured and dimensioned for contacting end plates of the two adjoining vertebrae, wherein the connecting means are made of a shape-memory alloy that has a transition temperature, the two plates are made of the shape-memory alloy, and, at temperatures below the transition temperature of the shape memory alloy, the two plates of the device have a hollow cylindrical configuration with concave sides connected by said connecting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Device according to claim 6 wherein an exterior profile of the device is generally circular when the device is at a temperature below the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy and generally rectangular when the device is at a temperature above the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
Device according to claim 1 wherein the two plates are provided with perforations for allowing bony ingrowth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Device according to claim 1 wherein exterior surfaces of said plates are provided with teeth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
A surgical prosthetic device adapted for placement between two adjoining vertebrae for total or partial replacement of a disk from between the vertebrae, said device having two plates with interior surfaces facing each other and being held at a distance by connecting means; and exterior surfaces configured and dimensioned for contacting end plates of the two adjoining vertebrae, wherein the connecting means are made of a shape-memory alloy that has a transition temperature and the two plates are closer to each other when the device is below the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy than when the device is above the transition temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
A surgical prosthetic device adapted for placement between two adjoining vertebrae for total or partial replacement of a disk from between the vertebrae, said device having two plates with interior surfaces facing each other and being held at a distance by connecting means; and exterior surfaces configured and dimensioned for contacting end plates of the two adjoining vertebrae, wherein the connecting means are made of a shape-memory alloy that has a transition temperature and the two plates are closer to each other when the device is below the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy than when the device is above the transition temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
Device according to claim 10 wherein, at a temperature below the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy, the device has a shape which is configured and dimensioned so that the device is introducible between the two adjoining vertebrae endoscopically.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of maintaining a space between two adjacent vertebrae of a patient after removal of a disk from between the vertebrae comprising the steps of: inserting a spacing device made at least partially from a shape-memory alloy having a transition temperature into the space between the two adjacent vertebrae after removal of the disk from between the two vertebrae at a temperature below the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy; and allowing the spacing device to reach the transition temperature and a predetermined configuration suitable to its spacing function, the predetermined configuration having a height substantially equivalent to the space between the two adjacent vertebrae so that the space between the vertebrae is maintained.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of maintaining a space between two adjacent vertebrae of a patient after removal of a disk from between the vertebrae comprising the steps of: inserting a spacing device made at least partially from a shape-memory alloy having a transition temperature into the space between the two adjacent vertebrae after removal of the disk from between the two vertebrae at a temperature below the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy; and allowing the spacing device to reach the transition temperature and a predetermined configuration suitable to its spacing function, the predetermined configuration having a height substantially equivalent to the space between the two adjacent vertebrae so that the space between the vertebrae is maintained.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of maintaining a space between two adjacent vertebrae of a patient after removal of a disk from between the vertebrae comprising the steps of: inserting a spacing device made at least partially from a shape-memory alloy having a transition temperature into the space between the two adjacent vertebrae after removal of the disk from between the two vertebrae at a temperature below the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy; allowing the spacing device to reach the transition temperature and a predetermined configuration suitable to its spacing function; and configuring the spacing device to have a generally circular exterior profile when the spacing device is below the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy and to have a generally rectangular profile when the spacing device is above the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of maintaining a space between two adjacent vertebrae of a patient after removal of a disk from between the vertebrae comprising the steps of: inserting a spacing device made at least partially from a shape-memory alloy having a transition temperature into the space between the two adjacent vertebrae after removal of the disk from between the two vertebrae at a temperature below the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy; allowing the spacing device to reach the transition temperature and a predetermined configuration suitable to its spacing function; and configuring the spacing device to have a generally circular exterior profile when the spacing device is below the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy and to have a generally rectangular profile when the spacing device is above the transition temperature of the shape-memory alloy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
Method of claim 13 further comprising the step of endoscopically introducing the spacing device into the space between the two adjacent vertebrae.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
Method of claim 12 further comprising the step of providing the spacing device with teeth on an exterior surface of the spacing device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method of claim 12 further comprising the step of providing the spacing device with perforations to allow bony ingrowth.
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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) | 2003-01-31 | 2003-08-02 | 2004-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-31 | 2007-08-02 | 2008-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-31 | 2011-08-02 | 2012-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |