Patent US6572654B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6572654B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Intervertebral spacer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2000-10-04
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2020-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A porous intervertebral spacer comprises a plurality of strands of fused, tortuous wire of a biologically inert material, the porosity of the spacer being sufficient to facilitate tissue ingrowth and bony fusion. The spacer also can comprise a mixture of such strands and biologically inert beads. 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 the graft bed at least one porous intervertebral spacer according to the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert N. Santilli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/1604; A61B17/1662; A61B17/1671; A61F2/442; A61F2/446; A61F2/4465; A61F2/447; A61F2/46; A61F2/4644; A61F2/28; A61F2002/2835; 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; A61F2002/30146; A61F2002/30151; A61F2002/30153; A61F2002/30154; A61F2002/30156; A61F2002/30158; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30261; A61F2002/3028; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30604; A61F2002/30616; A61F2/30767; A61F2002/30769; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30785; A61F2002/30789; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30879; A61F2002/30891; A61F2002/30892; A61F2002/30896; A61F2002/3092; A61F2/3094; A61F2/30942; A61F2002/30957; A61F2002/30968; A61F2002/448; A61F2002/4485; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0008; A61F2230/0013; A61F2230/0015; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0019; A61F2230/0021; A61F2230/0023; A61F2230/0026; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61F2230/0082; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0023; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00017; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00029; A61F2310/00035; A61F2310/00095; A61F2310/00131
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A porous, intervertebral spacer, consisting of: a fused mixture of a plurality of strands of tortuous wire mesh and beads of a biologically inert material, the strands and the beads being selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, cobalt-chromium alloys, tantalum, tantalum alloys, niobium, niobium alloys, and stainless steel; the strands and the beads occupying a range of generally 45 to 58 percent of the volume of the spacer, the porosity of the spacer being sufficient to facilitate tissue ingrowth and bony fusion; and the strands and the beads are fused by sintering.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A porous, intervertebral spacer, consisting of: a fused mixture of a plurality of strands of tortuous wire mesh and beads of a biologically inert material, the strands and the beads being selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, cobalt-chromium alloys, tantalum, tantalum alloys, niobium, niobium alloys, and stainless steel; the strands and the beads occupying a range of generally 45 to 58 percent of the volume of the spacer, the porosity of the spacer being sufficient to facilitate tissue ingrowth and bony fusion; and the strands and the beads are fused by sintering.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spacer of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is in the form of a prism having end faces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The spacer of claim 2 , 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 5
Dependent Claim
28 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 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spacer of claim 4 , further comprising at least one aperture extending through the spacer and opening through the top and bottom faces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spacer of claim 5 , wherein three apertures are provided, the apertures being spaced equidistantly from each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The spacer of claim 5 , further comprising a second aperture extending through the spacer, the second aperture opening through the end faces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The spacer of claim 4 , 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 10
Dependent Claim
28 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 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The spacer of claim 9 , further comprising at least one aperture extending through the spacer parallel to the end faces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spacer of claim 10 , wherein three apertures are provided, the apertures being spaced equidistantly from each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The spacer of claim 9 , further comprising a large round aperture extending through the spacer parallel to, and concentric with, the longitudinal axis, the large round aperture defining a wall thickness of the spacer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The spacer of claim 12 , wherein the wall thickness of the spacer is approximately 3 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spacer of claim 13 , herein three apertures are provided, the apertures being spaced equidistantly from each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The spacer of claim 12 , further comprising at least one aperture extending through the spacer parallel to the end faces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 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 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spacer of claim 16 , further comprising at least one aperture extending through the spacer and opening through the top and bottom faces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spacer of claim 17 , wherein three apertures are provided, the apertures being spaced equidistantly from each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The spacer of claim 17 , further comprising a second aperture extending through the spacer, the second aperture opening through the end faces.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The spacer of claim 16 , 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 22
Dependent Claim
24 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 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The spacer of claim 21 , wherein the spacer, when viewed from above, is generally C-shaped.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The spacer of claim 21 , wherein the spacer, when viewed from above, is elliptical with an elliptical opening at its center.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spacer of claim 21 , wherein the spacer, when viewed from above, is kidney-shaped.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The spacer of claim 21 , further comprising ribs formed on the upper and lower faces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The spacer of claim 25 , wherein the ribs, in cross-section, are generally triangular.
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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) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |