US6723097B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical trial implant
Assignee: DePuy Spine LLC
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Filing: 2002-07-23
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Granted: 2004-04-20
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Expires: 2022-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A trial implant and trial implant kit for assisting a physician in selecting an appropriately sized prosthesis is provided. In one embodiment, the trial medical implant device includes a body formed from a radio-lucent material and having a size and shape adapted to fit within or adjacent to an interstitial space, and at least one marker associated with the body and formed from a radio-opaque material. The at least one marker is configured to provide an x-ray visible reference to indicate the position and/or alignment of the body with respect to an anatomical structure when the trial medical implant device is positioned within an interstitial space.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Fraser
- 👤 Mark Boomer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/46; A61F2/4684; A61F2/3094; A61F2/30965; A61F2/44; A61F2/442; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30062; A61F2002/3008; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30113; A61F2002/30115; A61F2002/30159; A61F2002/30172; A61F2002/30179; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30242; A61F2002/30261; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30604; A61F2002/30616; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0004; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0006; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/0052; A61F2230/0058; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61F2230/0071; A61F2230/0082; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/0096; A61F2250/0098; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00017; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00029; A61F2310/00035; A61F2310/00047; A61F2310/00179
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A trial medical implant device, comprising: a body formed from a radio-lucent material and having a size and shape adapted to fit within or adjacent to an interstitial space; and a plurality of pairs of markers formed from a radio-opaque material, each pair being selectively positioned along a predetermined axis with respect to the body such that an x-ray visible reference of a pair of markers, taken along the predetermined axis, indicates the position and alignment of the body with respect to an anatomical structure when the trial medical implant device is positioned within an interstitial space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A trial medical implant device, comprising: a body formed from a radio-lucent material and having a size and shape adapted to fit within or adjacent to an interstitial space; and a plurality of pairs of markers formed from a radio-opaque material, each pair being selectively positioned along a predetermined axis with respect to the body such that an x-ray visible reference of a pair of markers, taken along the predetermined axis, indicates the position and alignment of the body with respect to an anatomical structure when the trial medical implant device is positioned within an interstitial space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The trial medical implant device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the markers is selectively distinguishable, on an x-ray image, from another one of the markers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The trial medical implant device of claim 1 , wherein each marker has a shape selected from the group consisting of an elongate strip, a tube, a cross, a sphere, a plate, a ring, a rod, a T-shape, and combinations thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The trial medical implant device of claim 1 , wherein each marker is disposed on an outer surface of the body or embedded in the body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The trial medical implant device of claim 1 , wherein at least one marker is disposed on an outer surface of the body and at least one marker is embedded in the body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The trial medical implant device of claim 1 , wherein the body has a shape and size adapted to fit between adjacent vertebral bodies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The trial medical implant device of claim 6 , wherein the body is a disc-shaped member having a superior, bone-contacting surface and an inferior, bone-contacting surface, and wherein the plurality of pairs of markers are effective to indicate the alignment of the superior and inferior bone-contacting surfaces of the body with respect to superior and inferior endplates of adjacent vertebral bodies when the implant is positioned between adjacent vertebral bodies.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The trial medical implant device of claim 1 , wherein the body is formed from materials selected from the group consisting of polymers, ceramics, composite materials, and combinations thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The trial medical implant device of claim 8 , wherein the polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyether sulfone, polycarbonate, bioabsorbable polymers, carbon fiber reinforced polymers, and combinations thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The trial medical implant device of claim 1 , wherein each marker is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of metals, polymers, filling salts, ceramics, and combinations thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The trial medical implant device of claim 10 , wherein the metals are selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, tantalum, cobalt chromium, aluminum, and combinations thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
A trial spinal implant, comprising: a trial implant member formed from a radio-lucent material and having a size and shape configured to fit between adjacent vertebral bodies, the trial implant member including a superior bone-contacting surface and an inferior bone-contacting surface, each having a shape adapted to conform to an endplate of an adjacent vertebral body; a plurality of markers formed from a radio-opaque material and selectively associated with the trial implant member such that, when the trial implant is positioned between adjacent vertebral bodies, the plurality of markers intersect with one another to provide at least one x-ray visible reference to indicate the alignment of the superior and inferior bone-contacting surfaces of the implant member with respect to the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
A trial spinal implant, comprising: a trial implant member formed from a radio-lucent material and having a size and shape configured to fit between adjacent vertebral bodies, the trial implant member including a superior bone-contacting surface and an inferior bone-contacting surface, each having a shape adapted to conform to an endplate of an adjacent vertebral body; a plurality of markers formed from a radio-opaque material and selectively associated with the trial implant member such that, when the trial implant is positioned between adjacent vertebral bodies, the plurality of markers intersect with one another to provide at least one x-ray visible reference to indicate the alignment of the superior and inferior bone-contacting surfaces of the implant member with respect to the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The trial spinal implant of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of markers are disposed on an outer surface of the trial implant member or are embedded in the trial implant member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The trial spinal implant of claim 12 , wherein at least one marker is disposed on an outer surface of the trial implant member and at least one marker is embedded in the trial implant member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The trial spinal implant of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of markers have a shape selected from the group consisting of an elongate strip, a tube, a cross, a sphere, a plate, a ring, a rod, a T-shape, and combinations thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The trial spinal implant of claim 12 , wherein the trial implant member is formed from materials selected from the group consisting of polymers, ceramics, composite materials, and combinations thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The trial spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein the polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyether sulfone, polycarbonate, bioabsorbable polymers, carbon fiber reinforced polymers, and combinations thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The trial spinal implant of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of markers are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of metals, polymers, filling salts, ceramics, and combinations thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The trial spinal implant of claim 18 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, tantalum, cobalt chromium, aluminum, and combinations thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The trial spinal implant of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of markers comprises at least one pair of markers positioned along a predetermined axis and configured such that an x-ray image of the markers, taken along the predetermined axis indicates the alignment of the implant.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
101 words
A trial implant system, comprising: a plurality of implantable trial prostheses, each implantable prosthesis having a different size and comprising a body formed from a radio-lucent material and having a size and shape adapted to fit within or adjacent to an anatomical structure, and a plurality of markers selectively associated with the body and formed from a radio-opaque material, the plurality of markers intersecting one another to provide at least one x-ray visible reference point to indicate the position and alignment of the body with respect to the anatomical structure when the implantable trial prosthesis is positioned within an anatomical structure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
101 words
A trial implant system, comprising: a plurality of implantable trial prostheses, each implantable prosthesis having a different size and comprising a body formed from a radio-lucent material and having a size and shape adapted to fit within or adjacent to an anatomical structure, and a plurality of markers selectively associated with the body and formed from a radio-opaque material, the plurality of markers intersecting one another to provide at least one x-ray visible reference point to indicate the position and alignment of the body with respect to the anatomical structure when the implantable trial prosthesis is positioned within an anatomical structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
79 words
The trial implant system of claim 21 , wherein the body of each implantable trial prosthesis includes superior and inferior bone-contacting surfaces, each having a shape adapted to conform to an endplate of a vertebral body, and wherein the plurality of markers indicate, on an x-ray image, the alignment of the superior and inferior bone-contacting surfaces of the body with respect to the endplates of adjacent vertebral bodies when the implantable trial prosthesis is positioned within an anatomical structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The trial implant system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of markers are disposed on an outer surface of the body or is embedded in the body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The trial implant system of claim 21 , wherein at least one marker is disposed on an outer surface of the body and at least one marker is embedded in the body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The trial implant system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of markers have a shape selected from the group consisting of an elongate strip, a tube, a cross, a sphere, a plate, a ring, a rod, a T-shape, and combinations thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The trial implant system of claim 21 , wherein the body is formed from materials selected from the group consisting of polymers, ceramics, composite materials, and combinations thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The trial implant system of claim 26 , wherein the polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyether sulfone, polycarbonate, bioabsorbable polymers, carbon fiber reinforced polymers, and combinations thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The trial implant system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of markers are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of metals, polymers, filling salts, ceramics, and combinations thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The trial implant system of claim 28 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, tantalum, cobalt chromium, aluminum, and combinations thereof.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for manufacturing a trial spinal implant, comprising: providing a plurality of markers formed from a radio-opaque material; providing a mold for a substantially disc-shaped spinal implant having superior and inferior bone-contacting surfaces, each having a shape adapted to conform to an endplate of an adjacent vertebral body; strategically placing each of the plurality of markers in the mold such that the markers are configured to intersect one another to provide at least one x-ray visible reference point to indicate the alignment of the superior and inferior bone-contacting surfaces of the spinal implant with respect to the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies; and injecting a radio-lucent material into the mold to form a trial implant.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for manufacturing a trial spinal implant, comprising: providing a plurality of markers formed from a radio-opaque material; providing a mold for a substantially disc-shaped spinal implant having superior and inferior bone-contacting surfaces, each having a shape adapted to conform to an endplate of an adjacent vertebral body; strategically placing each of the plurality of markers in the mold such that the markers are configured to intersect one another to provide at least one x-ray visible reference point to indicate the alignment of the superior and inferior bone-contacting surfaces of the spinal implant with respect to the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies; and injecting a radio-lucent material into the mold to form a trial implant.
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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) | 2007-04-20 | 2007-10-20 | 2008-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-20 | 2011-10-20 | 2012-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-20 | 2015-10-20 | 2016-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |