US6899734B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular implant for fusing adjacent bone structure
Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp
•
Filing: 2001-03-23
•
Granted: 2005-05-31
•
Expires: 2021-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of bone structures includes an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures having a first ring-like segment and a second ring-like segment which engage one another in an end-to-end manner. Each ring-like segment includes an outer wall which defines an internal cavity for the reception of bone growth inducing substances. Each ring-like segment also includes a plurality of apertures which extend through the outer wall of the ring-like segments in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue. The first ring-like segment includes first and second mechanical interfaces. The first mechanical interface is dimensioned to engage a corresponding mechanical interface disposed on the second ring-like segment and the second mechanical interface is dimensioned to mechanically engage an end cap.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Castro
- 👤 Herb Cohen
- 👤 David Nichols
- 👤 Scott R. Graham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61F2/4465; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30744; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30125; A61F2002/30126; A61F2002/30131; A61F2002/30133; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30331; A61F2002/30354; A61F2002/30357; A61F2002/30476; A61F2002/30492; A61F2002/305; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30537; A61F2002/3055; A61F2002/30593; A61F2002/30599; A61F2002/30604; A61F2002/30616; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30785; A61F2002/30787; A61F2002/30841; A61F2002/30845; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0033; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0008; A61F2230/0013; A61F2230/0015; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/006; A61F2250/0063; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00017; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00179
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of bone structures, comprising: an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures, the implant member having a segmentable portion having an outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances, the outer wall having at least one groove which extends substantially continuously about the outer wall forming a juncture between discrete ring-like segments on either side of the groove, wherein the outer wall of the implant member does not outwardly protrude between the adjacent ring-like segments, each ring-like segment including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of the vertebral bone tissue, wherein none of the apertures and none of the at least one groove intersect each other; and the first end and/or the second end being dimensioned to engage an end cap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of bone structures, comprising: an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures, the implant member having a segmentable portion having an outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances, the outer wall having at least one groove which extends substantially continuously about the outer wall forming a juncture between discrete ring-like segments on either side of the groove, wherein the outer wall of the implant member does not outwardly protrude between the adjacent ring-like segments, each ring-like segment including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of the vertebral bone tissue, wherein none of the apertures and none of the at least one groove intersect each other; and the first end and/or the second end being dimensioned to engage an end cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the groove acts as a cutting guide to determine the desired length of the fusion implant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the groove acts as a measurement guide to determine the desired length of the fusion implant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall includes a plurality of grooves that segment the body into discrete ring-like segments and do not intersect the apertures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the height of at least two of the ring-like segments are varied.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the grooves are oriented parallel to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 1 , further including an end cap which is mountable to the first or second end of the implant member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the end cap includes a face having at least one aperture disposed therethrough which communicates with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the face of the end cap includes a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough which are arranged in an array-like manner about the face.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the end cap includes a face having a plurality of detents which extend outwardly therefrom, which serve to anchor the fusion apparatus to the bone structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the detents are arranged radially about the face of the end cap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the detents are a spike-like configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the detents are arcuately-shaped and have a triangular cross section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the end cap includes at least one mechanical interface which engages the corresponding first or second end of the implant member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the mechanical interface of the end cap includes a plurality of locking pins which engage the first or second end of the implant member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the mechanical interface of the end cap includes a diametrically tapered inner diameter, which is dimensioned for friction-fit engagement within the first or second end of the implant member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the mechanical interface of the end cap is generally C-shaped and includes: two opposing ends which define a slit therebetween; and a flange which is dimensioned to engage an annular recess disposed within the first or second end of the implant member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The fusion implant apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the mechanical interface of the end cap includes two opposing arcuately-shaped retaining sleeves which extend concentrically within an inner periphery of the end cap and are dimensioned to engage an annular recess within the first or second end of the implant member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fusion implant apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the arcuately-shaped retaining sleeves include an outer rim which is dimensioned to engage the annular recess disposed within the first or second end of the implant member.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for fusing vertebrae, comprising the steps of; providing an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures, the implant member having a first end and a second end dimensioned to engage an end cap, and a segmentable portion having an outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances, the outer wall having at least one groove which extends substantially continuously about the outer wall to define a plurality of discrete ring-like segments, each ring-like segment including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of the vertebral bone tissue, wherein none of the apertures and none of the at least one groove intersect each other; accessing the vertebral space defined between adjacent vertebral bodies; determining the desired implant member length for insertion into the space between the adjacent vertebral bodies by using one of the grooves as a cutting and/or measurement guide; sizing the implant member; and advancing the implant member within the vertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bodies.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for fusing vertebrae, comprising the steps of; providing an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures, the implant member having a first end and a second end dimensioned to engage an end cap, and a segmentable portion having an outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances, the outer wall having at least one groove which extends substantially continuously about the outer wall to define a plurality of discrete ring-like segments, each ring-like segment including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of the vertebral bone tissue, wherein none of the apertures and none of the at least one groove intersect each other; accessing the vertebral space defined between adjacent vertebral bodies; determining the desired implant member length for insertion into the space between the adjacent vertebral bodies by using one of the grooves as a cutting and/or measurement guide; sizing the implant member; and advancing the implant member within the vertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bodies.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method for fusing vertebrae of claim 20 , further including packing the implant member with bone growth inducing substances.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of fusing vertebrae of claim 20 , further including mounting an end cap to the first or second end of the implant member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
121 words
A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of bone structures, comprising: an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures, the implant member having a first end and a second end, and a segmentable portion having an outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances, the outer wall having a plurality of grooves which extend substantially continuously about the outer wall to define a plurality of discrete ring-like segments, each ring-like segment including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of the vertebral bone tissue, wherein none of the apertures intersect the grooves; and the first end and/or the second end being dimensioned to engage an end cap.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
121 words
A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of bone structures, comprising: an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures, the implant member having a first end and a second end, and a segmentable portion having an outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances, the outer wall having a plurality of grooves which extend substantially continuously about the outer wall to define a plurality of discrete ring-like segments, each ring-like segment including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of the vertebral bone tissue, wherein none of the apertures intersect the grooves; and the first end and/or the second end being dimensioned to engage an end cap.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fusion implant apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the grooves act as cutting guides to determine the desired length of the fusion implant.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fusion implant apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the grooves act as measurement guides to determine the desired length of the fusion implant.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fusion implant apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the height of at least two of the ring-like segments are varied.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A fusion implant apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the grooves are oriented parallel to each other.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fusion implant apparatus of claim 23 , further including an end cap which is mountable to the first or second end of the implant member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fusion implant apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the end cap includes a phase having at least one aperture disposed therethrough which communicates with the internal cavity to permit fusion of the vertebral bone tissue.
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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) | 2008-05-30 | 2008-11-29 | 2009-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-05-30 | 2012-11-29 | 2013-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-05-30 | 2016-11-29 | 2017-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |