Intervertebral prosthetic disc
AssigneeSimplify Medical Pty Ltd
InventorsMalan de Villiers, Ulrich Hahnle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower plates, a core disposed between the plates, and at least one projection extending from at least one of the upper and lower curved surfaces of the core into at least one recess of one of the inner surfaces of the plates. The recess is oversize with respect to the projection to allow sliding movement of the plate over the core while retaining the core between the plates during such sliding movement. The projection(s) may include a rod extending through an axial hole in the core, multiple surface features of the core, or the like.
Claims25
A method of implanting a prosthetic disc, the method comprising:
- providing a prosthetic disc including:
- upper and lower plates and a core, wherein the core has at least one convex bearing surface configured to slide over a corresponding bearing surface of one of the upper and lower plates upon implantation between adjacent vertebrae;
- providing a rib on only one of the upper and lower plates and a channel in a corresponding bearing surface of the core, with the rib located between a central axis of the plate and an outer periphery thereof, wherein the rib is a continuous rib;
- positioning the core between the upper and lower plates with the core held captive between the plates while the plates slide over the core by locating the rib within the channel;
- forcibly separating adjacent vertebrae from one another to provide space for insertion of the prosthetic disc;
- and
- inserting the prosthetic disc between the separated vertebrae.
A method of implanting a prosthetic disc, the method comprising:
- providing a prosthetic disc including:
- upper and lower plates and a core, wherein the core has at least one convex bearing surface configured to slide over a corresponding bearing surface of one of the upper and lower plates upon implantation between adjacent vertebrae;
- providing a rib on only one of the upper and lower plates and a channel in a corresponding bearing surface of the core, with the rib located between a central axis of the plate and an outer periphery thereof, and between a central axis of the core and an outer periphery thereof;
- positioning the core between the upper and lower plates with the core held captive between the plates while the plates slide over the core by locating the rib within the channel;
- forcibly separating adjacent vertebrae from one another to provide space for insertion of the prosthetic disc;
- and
- inserting the prosthetic disc between the separated vertebrae.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.