US6936071B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Intervertebral implant
Assignee: DePuy Spine LLC
•
Filing: 1999-07-02
•
Granted: 2005-08-30
•
Expires: 2019-07-02
Abstract
Abstract In an intervertebral implant, having an upper part that has a support face for a vertebra and a lower part that has a support face for an adjacent vertebra, on each of which parts engagement elements, which are accessible from one side of the intervertebral implant, for a manipulation instrument are disposed, in order to minimize the structural height of the intervertebral implant upon insertion into an intervertebral space, it is proposed that the upper part and lower part each have protrusions and recesses aimed at the respectively other part, which are offset laterally from one another in such a way that when the upper part has been brought close to the lower part they mesh with one another; and that the engagement elements on the upper part and on the lower part are each disposed in protrusions of these parts in such a way that the engagement elements of the upper part and lower part are located side by side and at least partly overlap in the direction of the height of the intervertebral implant.
Inventors
- 👤 Thierry Marnay
- 👤 Boris Beyersdorff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/442; A61F2/4425; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30749; A61F2/30767; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/025; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30131; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30317; A61F2002/30324; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30331; A61F2002/30383; A61F2002/30476; A61F2002/305; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30604; A61F2002/30621; A61F2002/30649; A61F2002/3065; A61F2002/30662; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30795; A61F2002/30807; A61F2002/30808; A61F2002/30841; A61F2002/30845; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30879; A61F2002/30884; A61F2002/30891; A61F2002/30892; A61F2002/30904; A61F2002/3093; A61F2002/443; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0013; A61F2230/0017; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0036; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
An intervertebral implant insertable between adjacent vertebrae, comprising, an upper part having an upper surface for engaging a vertebrae and a lower surface which includes a rounded portion, a lower part having a lower surface for engaging a vertebrae and an upper surface portion in operative engagement with the rounded portion of the upper part, said implant being constructed to be the sole implant in its intervertebral space, the implant having a lead end which leads as the implant is inserted along a path into the intervertebral space and a trailing end opposite the lead end, and lateral planes which pass through the outermost boundaries of the implant and parallel to the said path, and a single anchor on each of the upper surface of the upper part and the lower surface of the lower part, each said anchor being elongated, having a height greater than its width, and located along a line parallel to said path, the two anchors lying essentially in the same vertical plane, which plane is essentially midway between said lateral planes, each said anchor being adapted to enter a groove in the adjacent vertebrae as the implant moves along said path into the intervertebral space, to anchor its respective part to the vertebrae which its surface engages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
An intervertebral implant insertable between adjacent vertebrae, comprising, an upper part having an upper surface for engaging a vertebrae and a lower surface which includes a rounded portion, a lower part having a lower surface for engaging a vertebrae and an upper surface portion in operative engagement with the rounded portion of the upper part, said implant being constructed to be the sole implant in its intervertebral space, the implant having a lead end which leads as the implant is inserted along a path into the intervertebral space and a trailing end opposite the lead end, and lateral planes which pass through the outermost boundaries of the implant and parallel to the said path, and a single anchor on each of the upper surface of the upper part and the lower surface of the lower part, each said anchor being elongated, having a height greater than its width, and located along a line parallel to said path, the two anchors lying essentially in the same vertical plane, which plane is essentially midway between said lateral planes, each said anchor being adapted to enter a groove in the adjacent vertebrae as the implant moves along said path into the intervertebral space, to anchor its respective part to the vertebrae which its surface engages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 1 , wherein the rounded portion of the upper part is concave and the upper surface portion of the lower part is convex.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 2 , wherein the lower part is formed in two pieces including a lower piece which has the said lower surface and an upper piece which has the upper surface portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 1 , wherein the height of at least one anchor is greater than the height of the remainder of its respective part.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 4 , wherein each anchor is greater in height than the remainder of its respective part.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 1 , the length of at least one anchor in the direction along the midline being greater than one half of the entire front to rear dimension of its respective part.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 6 , wherein the length of both anchors in the direction along the midline are greater than one half of the entire front to rear dimension of their respective upper or lower part.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 1 , wherein the rounded portion of the upper part and the upper surface portion of the lower part are spherical.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 1 , the upper and lower parts, in plan view, being generally rectangular.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 9 , wherein the single anchors are substantially parallel to the shorter sides of the generally rectangular shape of the upper and lower parts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 1 , including apertures in the trailing ends of the upper and lower parts for receiving inserting instruments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 1 , said anchors having teeth to prevent removal from their respective grooves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 1 , wherein the rounded portion of the upper part is partially spherical and concave, and the upper surface portion of the lower part is partially spherical and convex.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 13 , wherein the lower part is formed in two pieces, including a lower piece which has the lower surface thereon and an upper piece which fits into a recess in the lower piece and has the said partially spherical and convex portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 14 , wherein, in the absence of the upper piece of the lower part, the rounded portion of the upper part can nest into the recess in the lower piece.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 15 , wherein, in the nested condition, the overall height of the upper and lower parts is less than the additive total height of the upper and lower parts, taken separately.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 14 , wherein the recess in the lower part is a generally flat surface with three walls including two opposite side walls and an end wall and including an opening opposite the end wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 17 , wherein the upper piece of the lower part includes a means for snap fitting into the lower piece of the lower part.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
235 words
An intervertebral implant insertable between adjacent vertebrae, comprising, a generally rectangular upper part having an upper surface for engaging a vertebrae and a lower surface which includes a rounded portion, a generally rectangular lower part having a lower surface for engaging a vertebrae and having an upper surface portion in operative engagement with the rounded portion of the upper part, said implant being constructed to be the sole implant in its intervertebral space, one of the longer sides of the generally rectangular upper and lower parts comprising a leading end and the other of the longer sides of the generally rectangular upper and lower parts being a trailing end as the implant is moved in an insertion direction to be inserted into the intervertebral space, and a single anchor on each of the upper surface of the upper part and the lower surface of the lower part, the two single anchors being elongated, each having a height greater than its width, and the two single anchors lying in essentially the same vertical plane, which plane is located essentially midway between the short sides of the generally rectangular upper and lower parts and thus parallel to the insertion direction, and each anchor being adapted to enter a groove in the adjacent vertebrae as the implant moves in said insertion direction into the intervertebral space, to anchor its respective part to the vertebrae which its surface engages.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
235 words
An intervertebral implant insertable between adjacent vertebrae, comprising, a generally rectangular upper part having an upper surface for engaging a vertebrae and a lower surface which includes a rounded portion, a generally rectangular lower part having a lower surface for engaging a vertebrae and having an upper surface portion in operative engagement with the rounded portion of the upper part, said implant being constructed to be the sole implant in its intervertebral space, one of the longer sides of the generally rectangular upper and lower parts comprising a leading end and the other of the longer sides of the generally rectangular upper and lower parts being a trailing end as the implant is moved in an insertion direction to be inserted into the intervertebral space, and a single anchor on each of the upper surface of the upper part and the lower surface of the lower part, the two single anchors being elongated, each having a height greater than its width, and the two single anchors lying in essentially the same vertical plane, which plane is located essentially midway between the short sides of the generally rectangular upper and lower parts and thus parallel to the insertion direction, and each anchor being adapted to enter a groove in the adjacent vertebrae as the implant moves in said insertion direction into the intervertebral space, to anchor its respective part to the vertebrae which its surface engages.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 19 , wherein the rounded portion of the upper part is concave and the upper surface portion of the lower part is convex.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 20 , wherein the lower part is formed in two pieces including a lower piece which has the said lower surface and an upper piece which has the upper surface portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 19 , wherein the height of at least one anchor is greater than the height of the remainder of its respective part.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 22 , wherein each anchor is greater in height than the remainder of its respective part.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 19 , the length of at least one anchor in the insertion direction being greater than one half of the entire dimension of its respective part in the insertion direction from said leading end to said trailing end.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 24 , wherein the length of both anchors in the insertion direction are greater than one half of the entire dimension of their respective upper or lower part in the insertion direction from said leading end to said trailing end.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 19 , wherein the rounded portion of the upper part and the upper surface portion of the lower part are spherical.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 19 , wherein the rounded portion of the upper part is partially spherical and concave, and the upper surface portion of the lower part is partially spherical and convex.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 27 , wherein the lower part is formed in two pieces, including a lower piece which has the lower surface thereon and an upper piece which fits into a recess in the lower piece and has the said partially spherical convex portion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 28 , wherein, in the absence of the upper piece of the lower part, the rounded portion of the upper part can nest into the recess in the lower part.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 29 , wherein, in the nested condition, the overall height of the upper and lower parts is less than the additive total height of the upper and lower parts, taken separately.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 28 , wherein the recess in the lower part is a generally flat surface with three walls including two opposite side walls and an end wall and including an opening opposite the end wall.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
An intervertebral implant according to claim 31 , wherein the second upper piece of the lower part includes a means for snap fitting into the first lower piece of the lower part.
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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) | 2008-08-29 | 2009-02-28 | 2009-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-08-29 | 2013-02-28 | 2013-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-08-29 | 2017-02-28 | 2017-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |