US6883520B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for dynamically stable spinal implant
Assignee: Intrinsic Therapeutics Inc
•
Filing: 2002-09-05
•
Granted: 2005-04-26
•
Expires: 2022-09-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods are directed at stabilizing somatic implants. A site within a body is selected that has a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature. An apparatus that has a flexible portion and one or more relatively rigid portions may then be implanted such that the flexible portion is situated in the first region and the rigid portion lies in the second region whereby the implant will remain dynamically stable and resist migration.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory H. Lambrecht
- 👤 Robert Kevin Moore
- 👤 Thomas Banks
- 👤 Russel J. Redmond
- 👤 Claude A. Vidal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/107; A61B5/1076; A61B17/00; A61B17/0057; A61B17/04; A61B17/0401; A61B17/068; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320708; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/441; A61F2/442; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2/4657; A61B17/0469; A61B17/0487; A61B17/064; A61B17/34; A61B17/3468; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7094; A61B17/7095; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B2017/00637; A61B2017/00646; A61B2017/00654; A61B2017/00659; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B2017/044; A61B2017/0446; A61B2017/0458; A61B2017/0488; A61B2017/0496; A61B2017/0647; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22074; A61B2017/22077; A61B2017/320044; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B2017/3445; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/061; A61B2090/062; A61B5/45; A61B5/4514; A61F2/28; A61F2/2846; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30723; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30907; A61F2/4601; A61F2002/2817; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30062; A61F2002/30075; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30131; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30228; A61F2002/30291; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30462; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30565; A61F2002/30571; A61F2002/30581; A61F2002/30583; A61F2002/30589; A61F2002/30667; A61F2002/30677; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30777; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30785; A61F2002/4435; A61F2002/444; A61F2002/448; A61F2002/4635; A61F2002/4658; A61F2002/4661; A61F2002/4662; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0004; A61F2210/0061; A61F2210/0085; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0075; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0013; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61F2230/0091; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00017; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00029; A61F2310/00179; A61F2310/00293; A61F2310/00365; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/0097; A61F2310/00976
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising: placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region; placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region; wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc; affixing the barrier to tissue in or surrounding the intervertebral disc; and deploying the barrier between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising: placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region; placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region; wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc; affixing the barrier to tissue in or surrounding the intervertebral disc; and deploying the barrier between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said first implantation region is the annulus fibrosis and said second implantation region is a vertebral endplate or endplate cartilage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said first implantation region is the posterior lateral corner of the annulus fibrosis and said second region is the posterior or lateral annulus fibrosis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding the barrier to an expanded state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier further comprises a frame operable to enlarge or expand at least one dimension of the barrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the frame comprises an alloy of nickel and titanium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the frame comprises a longitudinal strut and a plurality of radial elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5 , comprising providing a frame with a first end and a second end that extend at oblique angles relative to a longitudinal axis of the frame.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising: placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region; placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region; wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc; and inserting an insertion device into the intervertebral disc at a point located a distance away from a defect in the annular fibrosis of the intervertebral disc and advancing the barrier across the defect.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising: placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region; placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region; wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc; and inserting an insertion device into the intervertebral disc at a point located a distance away from a defect in the annular fibrosis of the intervertebral disc and advancing the barrier across the defect.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein said first implantation region is the annulus fibrosis and said second implantation region is a vertebral endplate or endplate cartilage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein said first implantation region is the posterior lateral corner of the annulus fibrosis and said second region is the posterior or lateral annulus fibrosis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising expanding the barrier to an expanded state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the implant further comprises a frame operable to mount the barrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the frame comprises an alloy of nickel and titanium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the frame comprises a longitudinal strut and a plurality of radial elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing a frame with a first end and a second end that extend at oblique angles relative to a longitudinal axis of the frame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising affixing at least a portion of the barrier to tissue in or surrounding the intervertebral disc.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising resisting or promoting tissue ingrowth.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising: placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region; placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region; wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc; and deploying the barrier between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising: placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region; placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region; wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc; and deploying the barrier between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising affixing at least a portion of the implant to tissue in or surrounding the intervertebral disc.
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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) | 2008-04-25 | 2008-10-25 | 2009-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-25 | 2012-10-25 | 2013-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-25 | 2016-10-25 | 2017-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |