US6371986B1 — Spinal fusion device, bone joining implant, and v…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 91 words

A monolithic spinal fusion device, comprising; a one-piece fusion body including a tubular, axially extending leading end insertion portion having an open leading end and an inner surface the open leading end and the inner surface cooperating to define an axially extending bore of substantially uniform cross-sectional dimension and extending along the entire length of the fusion body; wherein the inner surface is configured to telescopically receive conformably shaped living bone projections from each of a pair of adjacent bone bodies being joined together by the fusion device to facilitate arthrodesis.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 91 words

A monolithic spinal fusion device, comprising; a one-piece fusion body including a tubular, axially extending leading end insertion portion having an open leading end and an inner surface the open leading end and the inner surface cooperating to define an axially extending bore of substantially uniform cross-sectional dimension and extending along the entire length of the fusion body; wherein the inner surface is configured to telescopically receive conformably shaped living bone projections from each of a pair of adjacent bone bodies being joined together by the fusion device to facilitate arthrodesis.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 48 words

The spinal fusion device of claim 1 wherein the fusion body comprises a tubular fusion body including the open leading end, an open trailing end, an outer surface, and a cylindrical inner surface defining the bore and extending between the open leading end and the open trailing end.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The spinal fusion device of claim 2 wherein the outer surface comprises an oblique outer surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The spinal fusion device of claim 2 wherein the outer surface comprises a cylindrical outer surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The spinal fusion device of claim 4 wherein the outer surface comprises at least one helical thread extending about the cylindrical outer surface.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The spinal fusion device of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of fenestrations provided in the tubular fusion body, extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 78 words

The spinal fusion device of claim 1 wherein the fusion body comprises a tubular, axially extending trailing end portion having an open trailing end, the inner surface extending between the open leading end and the open trailing end, and wherein the bore comprises a cylindrical bore extending between the open leading end and the open trailing end and configured to facilitate axial x-ray analysis of arthrodesis following implantation of the implant between a pair of adjacent bone bodies.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

The spinal fusion device of claim 1 wherein the fusion body includes an open trailing end and the bore extends between the open leading end and the open trailing end.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

The spinal fusion device of claim 8 further comprising a pair of tool fenestrations provided adjacent the open trailing end and configured to enable mating of the implant with a tool during insertion.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 52 words

The spinal fusion device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from an outer surface of the fusion body and configured to forcibly engage with an adjacent bone bed of an adjacent vertebra, each tab operative to retain the tubular body in securement with the adjacent bone bed.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 80 words

A unitary bone joining implant, comprising; a tubular fusion body having an open leading end and an axially extending inner surface; wherein the open leading end communicates with the inner surface to define a bore of axially extending and substantially uniform cross-sectional dimension which extends an entire length of, the bore and wherein the inner surface is configured to telescopically receive and entrap living bone upon implantation of the implant within a pair of adjacent bone bodies to facilitate arthrodesis.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 80 words

A unitary bone joining implant, comprising; a tubular fusion body having an open leading end and an axially extending inner surface; wherein the open leading end communicates with the inner surface to define a bore of axially extending and substantially uniform cross-sectional dimension which extends an entire length of, the bore and wherein the inner surface is configured to telescopically receive and entrap living bone upon implantation of the implant within a pair of adjacent bone bodies to facilitate arthrodesis.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The implant of claim 11 wherein the bore comprises a cylindrical bore and the tubular fusion body comprises a cylinder having a substantially uniform wall thickness.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The implant of claim 11 wherein the tubular fusion body further comprises an open trailing end, wherein a cylindrical aperture extends between the open leading end and the open trailing end so as to define a through-bore.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

The implant of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of fenestrations provided in the tubular fusion body, extending from the inner surface to an outer surface of the tubular fusion body.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 48 words

The implant of claim 11 further comprising at least one tab extending above an outer surface of the tubular fusion body and configured to forcibly engage with a bone bed of an adjacent vertebra, the tab operative to retain the tubular body in securement with the bone bed.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The implant of claim 13 further comprising at least one guide slot provided along the trailing end of the tubular fusion body.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The implant of claim 11 wherein the implant comprises a cylindrical vertebral interbody fusing device.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

The implant of claim 11 wherein the tubular fusion body further comprises a thin-walled axially extending leading end insertion portion extending about the bore.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The implant of claim 18 wherein the leading end insertion portion comprises a hollow cylinder extending from the leading end to an open, trailing end of the tubular fusion body.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 77 words

A one-piece bone joining implant, comprising: a tubular body with an open leading entrance end and an inner surface defining a longitudinal constant dimension bore which axially extends along an entire length of the tubular body, a substantially uniform cross-section extending from the open leading end into the tubular body; the bore configured to telescopically receive and entrap living bone projections from each of a pair of adjacent bone bodies in sufficient proximity to initiate arthrodesis therebetween.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 77 words

A one-piece bone joining implant, comprising: a tubular body with an open leading entrance end and an inner surface defining a longitudinal constant dimension bore which axially extends along an entire length of the tubular body, a substantially uniform cross-section extending from the open leading end into the tubular body; the bore configured to telescopically receive and entrap living bone projections from each of a pair of adjacent bone bodies in sufficient proximity to initiate arthrodesis therebetween.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 14 words

The implant of claim 20 wherein the tubular body comprises an oblique outer surface.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

The implant of claim 20 wherein the tubular body comprises a relatively thin walled leading end insertion portion having a cylindrical bone-engaging inner surface.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 27 words

The implant of claim 20 wherein the tubular body has a tapered portion extending from the cylindrical leading end between the inner surface and the outer surface.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

The implant of claim 21 wherein the cross-sectional area of the leading end of the tubular body is less than 20% of the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical bore provided therein.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 40 words

The implant of claim 21 wherein an entrance portion of the inner surface is presented, upon implantation between a pair of bone bodies, in surface conforming, bone engaging relation with bone projections from each of the pair of bone bodies.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 61 words

A vertebral arthrodesis implant, comprising: a one-piece, elongate, and axially extending fusion body including an open leading end, an open trailing end, and a substantially uniform diameter bore which extends the entire length of the fusion body; the bore configured to telescopically receive and entrap first and second living bone projections respectively extending from each of first and second adjacent vertebrae.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 61 words

A vertebral arthrodesis implant, comprising: a one-piece, elongate, and axially extending fusion body including an open leading end, an open trailing end, and a substantially uniform diameter bore which extends the entire length of the fusion body; the bore configured to telescopically receive and entrap first and second living bone projections respectively extending from each of first and second adjacent vertebrae.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 58 words

The vertebral fusion implant of claim 26 wherein the elongate, axially extending fusion body comprises a cylindrical fusion body including a plurality of fenestrations extending between the inner surface and an outer, cylindrical surface, wherein the cylindrical fusion body has a wall thickness less than 25% of the radius of the outer surface of the cylindrical fusion body.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 25 words

The vertebral fusion implant of claim 26 wherein the first and second living bone projections are contiguous with the first and second adjacent vertebrae, respectively.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 90 words

A surgical bone arthrodesis assembly, comprising: p 1 a first bone body having a living bone projection; a second bone body spaced from the first bone body and having a living bone projection; and a one-piece fusion body having an open leading end and an axially extending inner surface extending from the open leading end, wherein the inner surface is configured to telescopically receive the respective living bone projections of the first bone body and the second bone body within the fusion body to promote fusion and subsequent arthrodesis therebetween.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 90 words

A surgical bone arthrodesis assembly, comprising: p 1 a first bone body having a living bone projection; a second bone body spaced from the first bone body and having a living bone projection; and a one-piece fusion body having an open leading end and an axially extending inner surface extending from the open leading end, wherein the inner surface is configured to telescopically receive the respective living bone projections of the first bone body and the second bone body within the fusion body to promote fusion and subsequent arthrodesis therebetween.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-04-15	2005-10-15	2006-04-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-04-15	2009-10-15	2010-04-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-04-15	2013-10-15	2014-04-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Spinal fusion device, bone joining implant, and vertebral fusion implant

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag