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AssigneeGreenwood Medical L.L.C.
InventorsJeffrey C. Felt, Mark A. Rydell, James B. Easley, Matthew D. Hajicek, Andrew N. Smith
Estimating the term…
Systems, apparatuses and methods for preserving motion in an intervertebral disc. Modular disc implant segments can be constructed from a relatively rigid material with compressive spring lobes to act similar to an elastomer. The lobes may be configured to have a C-shaped outer wall and one or more spring arms, such as a leaf springs, to facilitate the modular disc implant segment's ability to compress, thereby enabling an entire intervertebral disc constructed from multiple modular disc implant segments to compress with the implant recipient's movement. The implant segments are sized to be inserted serially into a space defined by the annular fibrosus after removal of the nucleus pulposus with connections being made between adjacent segments in the space during the insertion process.
A disc nucleus replacement assemblage for insertion and for assembly in a row extending across a space defined by and within an annulus fibrosis of a human spine after removal of the nucleus pulposus, the assemblage comprising:
A disc nucleus replacement assemblage for insertion and for assembly in a row extending laterally across and within an annulus fibrosis of a human spine of a patient after removal of a nucleus pulposus for preserving motion of the spine of the patient, the assemblage, after insertion and assembly, being deflectable from lateral, anterior and/or posterior movement of the patient, the assemblage comprising:
A disc nucleus replacement assemblage comprising a plurality of modular disc implant segments for insertion and for abutting assembly in a row extending laterally across and within an annulus fibrosis of a human spine of a patient after removal of a nucleus pulposus for preserving motion of the spine of the patient, the assemblage, after insertion and assembly, being deflectable from lateral, anterior and/or posterior movement of the patient;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.