US6579318B2 — Intervertebral spacer

Claim 1

Independent Claim 253 words

An intervertebral spacing implant comprising: a spacing member adapted for implanting between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine as a load-bearing replacement for a spinal disc, said spacing member further comprising an external, concavo-convex contour with respect to one dimension of said spacing member; wherein the spacing member is solid and is either inherently non-porous or is otherwise rendered non-porous, and is constructed from a rigid, non-resilient load-bearing material; wherein the spacing member defines an imaginary arcuate centerline residing between opposing sides of the external concavo-convex contour of said spacing member, said arcuate centerline forming less than half a circle such that said spacing member has a cashew shape having a uniform width along a majority length of the spacing member; and wherein the spacing member comprises an upper surface and a lower surface and a free insertion end, and wherein at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface comprises a male corner line, and wherein said spacing member includes a tapered portion between said male corner line and said free insertion end of said spacing member such that said spacing member becomes progressively thinner from said male corner line toward said free insertion end of said spacing member, wherein said tapered portion is characterized by at least one smooth surface that is a part of either said upper surface or said lower surface and extends from said male corner line to said free insertion end, said smooth surface having an absence of corners, points or other abrupt edges.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 253 words

An intervertebral spacing implant comprising: a spacing member adapted for implanting between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine as a load-bearing replacement for a spinal disc, said spacing member further comprising an external, concavo-convex contour with respect to one dimension of said spacing member; wherein the spacing member is solid and is either inherently non-porous or is otherwise rendered non-porous, and is constructed from a rigid, non-resilient load-bearing material; wherein the spacing member defines an imaginary arcuate centerline residing between opposing sides of the external concavo-convex contour of said spacing member, said arcuate centerline forming less than half a circle such that said spacing member has a cashew shape having a uniform width along a majority length of the spacing member; and wherein the spacing member comprises an upper surface and a lower surface and a free insertion end, and wherein at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface comprises a male corner line, and wherein said spacing member includes a tapered portion between said male corner line and said free insertion end of said spacing member such that said spacing member becomes progressively thinner from said male corner line toward said free insertion end of said spacing member, wherein said tapered portion is characterized by at least one smooth surface that is a part of either said upper surface or said lower surface and extends from said male corner line to said free insertion end, said smooth surface having an absence of corners, points or other abrupt edges.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein the spacing member comprises metal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 2 , wherein the spacing member comprises titanium.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein the spacing member comprises ceramic.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 53 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein the spacing member includes an anterior wall and a posterior wall, and wherein the external concavo-convex contour of the spacing member is defined by the posterior wall being concave in a horizontal dimension and by the anterior wall being convex in a horizontal dimension.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 5 , wherein the anterior wall and the posterior wall of the spacing member are each linear in a vertical dimension.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 6 , wherein the concavo-convex contour comprises a concave posterior side, and a convex anterior side disposed in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the concave posterior side.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein the imaginary arcuate centerline enables said spacing member to be inserted through an incision along an arcuate insertion path.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 43 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 8 , wherein the spacing member is configured and adapted to be inserted along said arcuate insertion path in a manner such that said arcuate insertion path coincides with the imaginary arcuate centerline of said spacing member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 58 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein the spacing member further comprises a disc-like member having a thickness at a thickest part of the spacing member, and a length that is greater in length than said thickness at said thickest part, and a width that is greater in width than said thickness at said thickest part.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 39 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 10 , wherein the width of the spacing member is defined by a perimeter wall that constitutes the concave side and the convex side of the external concavo-convex contour of said spacing member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein the spacing member further comprises an upper side having a plurality of spaced-apart recesses formed therein.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 12 , wherein the recesses are elongate and are disposed in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to each other.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 13 , wherein the recesses extend in an anterior-to-posterior direction.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , said upper surface is discontinuous.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein said spacing member comprises a tapered external shape such that said spacing member narrows in thickness in a first direction.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 16 , wherein the tapered external shape of said spacing member narrows in thickness in a continuous manner along a majority width of said spacing member in an anterior-to-posterior direction.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 50 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 17 , wherein the upper surface of said spacing member defines a first acute angle with respect to a plane that is orthogonal to a convex side of the spacing member, said first acute angle being in a range of two to six degrees.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 17 , wherein the upper surface is discontinuous.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 27 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 19 , wherein the upper surface includes a plurality of elongate recesses formed therein, said recesses extending in an anterior-to-posterior direction.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 48 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 18 , wherein the lower surface forms a second acute angle with respect to said plane that is orthogonal to a convex side of the spacing member, said second acute angle being in a range of approximately two degrees to eight degrees.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 47 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 21 , wherein the first acute angle and the second acute angle are approximately four degrees with respect to said plane that is orthogonal to the convex side of the spacing member, for a total continuous taper of approximately eight degrees.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 16 , wherein said spacing member further comprises a convex side, and wherein the tapered external shape of said spacing member is adapted such that said spacing member narrows in thickness in an anterior-to-posterior direction when implanted with said convex side facing an anterior direction.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 48 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 23 , wherein the tapered external shape of the spacing member is such that the upper surface of said spacing member defines a first acute angle with respect to a plane that is orthogonal to the convex side of the spacing member.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 42 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 16 , wherein the tapered external shape of said spacing member comprises a taper sufficient in degree to permit a lordosis spinal configuration to be restored when said spacing member is sandwiched between adjacent intervertebral bodies.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 24 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said upper surface and said lower surface are substantially non-parallel.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 49 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein the imaginary arcuate centerline extends between opposing free ends, said spacing member tapering in thickness in a direction toward one of said free ends such that the thickness at one end is greater than the thickness at the other end.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 28 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface is multi-planar including at least two nonparallel planes.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 37 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein said spacing member further comprises an upper side having a plurality of spaced-apart ridges and valleys formed therein, wherein the ridges and valleys extend in an anterior-to-posterior direction.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 25 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein said spacing member further comprises attachment means for releasably attaching positioning means to said spacing member.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 28 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 30 , wherein said attachment means for releasably attaching positioning means to said spacing member comprises a recess in said spacing member.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 25 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 30 , wherein said attachment means for releasably attaching positioning means to said spacing member comprises a threaded bore.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 13 words

The intervertebral spacing implant of claim 1 , wherein said implant is inert.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 544 words

An intervertebral spacing implant comprising: a spacing member adapted for implanting between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine as a load-bearing replacement for a spinal disc, said spacing member further comprising an external, concavo-convex contour with respect to one dimension of said spacing member; wherein the spacing member is solid and is either inherently non-porous or is otherwise rendered non-porous, and is constructed from a rigid, non-resilient load-bearing material; and wherein the spacing member includes a free insertion end and an opposing free end, and defines an imaginary arcuate centerline residing between opposing sides of the external concavo-convex contour of said spacing member, said arcuate centerline forming less than half a circle and wherein said spacing member has a cashew shape having a uniform width along a majority length of the spacing member, said spacing member further comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a sidewall extending around a perimeter of said spacing member between said upper surface and said lower surface, and wherein said sidewall has a smooth contour characterized by an absence of corners, points or other abrupt edges at the free insertion end of the spacing member; wherein the spacing member comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface comprises a male corner line, and wherein said spacing member includes a tapered portion between said male corner line and said free insertion end of said spacing member such that said spacing member becomes progressively thinner from said male corner line toward said free insertion end of said spacing member, such that a thickness of said spacing member is greater at its opposing free end than at its insertion end, and wherein said tapered portion is characterized by at least one smooth surface that is a part of either said upper surface or said lower surface and extends from said male corner line to said free insertion end, said smooth surface having an absence of corners, points or other abrupt edges; wherein the spacing member includes an anterior wall and a posterior wall, and wherein the external concavo-convex contour of the spacer is defined by the posterior wall being concave in a horizontal dimension and by the anterior wall being convex in a horizontal dimension; wherein the anterior wall and the posterior wall of the spacing member are each linear in a vertical dimension; wherein the concavo-convex contour comprises a concave posterior side, and a convex anterior side disposed in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the concave posterior side; wherein the spacing member is configured and adapted to be inserted along an arcuate insertion path in a manner such that said arcuate insertion path coincides with the imaginary arcuate centerline of said spacing member; wherein the spacing member further comprises a disc-like member having a thickness at a thickest part of the spacing member, and a length that is greater in length than said thickness at said thickest part, and a width that is greater in width than said thickness at said thickest part; wherein the width of the spacing member is defined by a perimeter wall that constitutes the concave side and the convex side of the external concavo-convex contour of said spacing member.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 544 words

An intervertebral spacing implant comprising: a spacing member adapted for implanting between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine as a load-bearing replacement for a spinal disc, said spacing member further comprising an external, concavo-convex contour with respect to one dimension of said spacing member; wherein the spacing member is solid and is either inherently non-porous or is otherwise rendered non-porous, and is constructed from a rigid, non-resilient load-bearing material; and wherein the spacing member includes a free insertion end and an opposing free end, and defines an imaginary arcuate centerline residing between opposing sides of the external concavo-convex contour of said spacing member, said arcuate centerline forming less than half a circle and wherein said spacing member has a cashew shape having a uniform width along a majority length of the spacing member, said spacing member further comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a sidewall extending around a perimeter of said spacing member between said upper surface and said lower surface, and wherein said sidewall has a smooth contour characterized by an absence of corners, points or other abrupt edges at the free insertion end of the spacing member; wherein the spacing member comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface comprises a male corner line, and wherein said spacing member includes a tapered portion between said male corner line and said free insertion end of said spacing member such that said spacing member becomes progressively thinner from said male corner line toward said free insertion end of said spacing member, such that a thickness of said spacing member is greater at its opposing free end than at its insertion end, and wherein said tapered portion is characterized by at least one smooth surface that is a part of either said upper surface or said lower surface and extends from said male corner line to said free insertion end, said smooth surface having an absence of corners, points or other abrupt edges; wherein the spacing member includes an anterior wall and a posterior wall, and wherein the external concavo-convex contour of the spacer is defined by the posterior wall being concave in a horizontal dimension and by the anterior wall being convex in a horizontal dimension; wherein the anterior wall and the posterior wall of the spacing member are each linear in a vertical dimension; wherein the concavo-convex contour comprises a concave posterior side, and a convex anterior side disposed in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the concave posterior side; wherein the spacing member is configured and adapted to be inserted along an arcuate insertion path in a manner such that said arcuate insertion path coincides with the imaginary arcuate centerline of said spacing member; wherein the spacing member further comprises a disc-like member having a thickness at a thickest part of the spacing member, and a length that is greater in length than said thickness at said thickest part, and a width that is greater in width than said thickness at said thickest part; wherein the width of the spacing member is defined by a perimeter wall that constitutes the concave side and the convex side of the external concavo-convex contour of said spacing member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-06-16	2006-12-16	2007-06-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-06-16	2010-12-16	2011-06-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-06-16	2014-12-16	2015-06-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Intervertebral spacer

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag