Patent US6881228B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6881228B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Artificial disc implant
Assignee: SDGI Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 2002-02-28
•
Granted: 2005-04-19
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Expires: 2022-02-28
Abstract
Abstract An artificial disc implant includes an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer therebetween. The spacer preferably has properties similar to that of a natural spinal disc, while the upper and lower shells form a rigid interface between the implant and the adjacent vertebral bodies. The upper and lower shells can be configured to prevent expulsion of the spacer from the disc space. The implant upper and lower shells may further be configured into partially cylindrical shapes for ease of insertion through an insertion tube as presently known for interbody fusion devices. The devices may further be configured for insertion through a double-barreled insertion tube. Methods and instruments for inserting an artificial disc implant are also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Zdeblick
- 👤 William F. McKay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/17; A61B17/1739; A61B17/1757; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/441; A61F2/442; A61F2/4425; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30742; A61F2/3094; A61F2/30965; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30113; A61F2002/30121; A61F2002/30123; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30153; A61F2002/30154; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30225; A61F2002/30228; A61F2002/3023; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30237; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30331; A61F2002/30362; A61F2002/3037; A61F2002/30372; A61F2002/30383; A61F2002/3039; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30563; A61F2002/30576; A61F2002/30578; A61F2002/30593; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30774; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30785; A61F2002/30795; A61F2002/30807; A61F2002/30808; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30879; A61F2002/30891; A61F2002/30892; A61F2002/30975; A61F2002/443; A61F2002/448; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0033; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0019; A61F2230/0021; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/00976
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for inserting an artificial disc implant into a spinal disc space, comprising: accessing the disc space; preparing an implant insertion location in the disc space; providing an implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and an elastic spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell, the elastic spacer having a dehydratable hydrogel core; dehydrating the hydrogel core to reduce the spacer height between the upper and lower shells; inserting the implant into the disc space; and rehydrating the hydrogel core to expand the spacer in the disc space and position the upper and lower shells in rigid engagement with an adjacent vertebral endplate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for inserting an artificial disc implant into a spinal disc space, comprising: accessing the disc space; preparing an implant insertion location in the disc space; providing an implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and an elastic spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell, the elastic spacer having a dehydratable hydrogel core; dehydrating the hydrogel core to reduce the spacer height between the upper and lower shells; inserting the implant into the disc space; and rehydrating the hydrogel core to expand the spacer in the disc space and position the upper and lower shells in rigid engagement with an adjacent vertebral endplate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: inserting a sleeve adjacent the disc space, the sleeve having a working channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end; and inserting the implant includes inserting the implant through the working channel of the sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is a double barrel sleeve having a pair of adjacent working channels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein providing an implant includes providing the implant with the upper shell and the lower shell, each shell including a pair of partially cylindrical lobes interconnected by an intermediate portion, the implant being configured for insertion through the adjacent working channels of the double barrel sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower shells are separate from one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower shells are rigid.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for inserting an artificial disc implant into a spinal disc space, comprising: accessing the disc space; inserting a sleeve adjacent the disc space, the sleeve having a working channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end; preparing an implant insertion location in the disc space through the sleeve; providing an implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell, wherein said upper and lower shells are separate from one another; reducing the height of the implant between the upper and lower shells; inserting the reduced height implant through the working channel of the sleeve to the implant insertion location in the disc space; and expanding the reduced height implant in the disc space so that the upper shell and the lower shell rigidly engage adjacent vertebral endplates.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for inserting an artificial disc implant into a spinal disc space, comprising: accessing the disc space; inserting a sleeve adjacent the disc space, the sleeve having a working channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end; preparing an implant insertion location in the disc space through the sleeve; providing an implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell, wherein said upper and lower shells are separate from one another; reducing the height of the implant between the upper and lower shells; inserting the reduced height implant through the working channel of the sleeve to the implant insertion location in the disc space; and expanding the reduced height implant in the disc space so that the upper shell and the lower shell rigidly engage adjacent vertebral endplates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein providing an implant includes providing the implant with a substantially cylindrical shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein: accessing the disc space includes accessing the disc space from a posterior approach; and the sleeve includes a cylindrical working channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
115 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising: accessing the disc space at a second location; inserting a sleeve adjacent the disc space at the second location, the sleeve having a cylindrical working channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end; preparing a second implant insertion location in the disc space through the sleeve; providing a second implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell; reducing the height of the second implant between the upper and lower shells; and inserting the reduced height second implant through the working channel of the sleeve to the second implant insertion location in the disc space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is a double barrel sleeve having a pair of adjacent working channels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein providing an implant includes providing the implant with the upper shell and the lower shell, each shell including a pair of partially cylindrical lobes interconnected by an intermediate portion, the implant being configured for insertion through the adjacent working channels of the double barrel sleeve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein reducing the height of the implant includes dehydrating the spacer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein reducing the height of the implant includes compressing the spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the spacer is elastic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said upper and lower shells are rigid.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for inserting an artificial disc implant into a spinal disc space, comprising: accessing the disc space; preparing an implant insertion location in the disc space; providing an implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell, the spacer having a hydratable hydrogel core; inserting the implant into the disc space; and hydrating the hydrogel core to expand the spacer in the disc space and rigidly engage the upper and lower shells with an adjacent vertebral endplate.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for inserting an artificial disc implant into a spinal disc space, comprising: accessing the disc space; preparing an implant insertion location in the disc space; providing an implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell, the spacer having a hydratable hydrogel core; inserting the implant into the disc space; and hydrating the hydrogel core to expand the spacer in the disc space and rigidly engage the upper and lower shells with an adjacent vertebral endplate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising: inserting a sleeve adjacent the disc space, the sleeve having a working channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end; and inserting the implant includes inserting the implant through the working channel of the sleeve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the sleeve is a double barrel sleeve having a pair of adjacent working channels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein providing an implant includes providing the implant with the upper shell and the lower shell, each shell including a pair of partially cylindrical lobes interconnected by an intermediate portion, the implant being configured for insertion through the adjacent working channels of the double barrel sleeve.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein hydrating the hydrogel core includes expanding the spacer in the disc space to position the upper shell and lower shell in contact with an adjacent vertebral endplate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising: dehydrating the hydrogel core to reduce the spacer height between the upper and lower shells before inserting the implant into the disc space; and rehydrating the hydrogel core to expand the spacer in the disc space after inserting the implant into the disc space.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein accessing the disc space includes accessing the disc space from an anterior approach.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said upper and lower shells are separate from one another.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said upper and lower shells are rigid.
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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) | 2008-04-18 | 2008-10-18 | 2009-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-18 | 2012-10-18 | 2013-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-18 | 2016-10-18 | 2017-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |