Implantable nuclear prosthesis
AssigneeSpinal Stabilization Technologies LLC
InventorsJames D Lutz, W. Loren Francis, Mark Novotny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A nuclear disc implant includes an inner fillable enclosure and an outer fillable enclosure. After insertion into a enucleated disc cavity, the inner enclosure is filled with a fluid and the outer fillable enclosure is filled with a curable material. The curable material is allowed to cure and the fluid is removed from the inner enclosure to leave an inner enclosure surrounded by an cured outer enclosure. A reinforcing band may be provided around the nuclear disc implant. An inflation tool to fill the nuclear disc implant is provided.
Claims20
A spinal implant device comprising:
- an inner fillable enclosure having a proximal end with a proximal opening and a distal end with a distal opening, the inner fillable enclosure being configured to expand;
- an outer fillable enclosure having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal ends of the inner and outer fillable enclosures are coupled together and the distal ends of the inner and outer fillable enclosures are coupled together, the outer fillable enclosure having a discoid shape;
- and
- a proximal plug for sealing the proximal opening in the proximal end of the inner fillable enclosure, the proximal plug including an access lumen for providing access to the inner fillable enclosure and including a receptacle with an aperture for providing access to the outer fillable enclosure.
A kit for implanting a nucleus replacement device, comprising:
- a spinal implant device comprising:
- an inner fillable enclosure having a proximal end with a proximal opening and a distal end with a distal opening, the inner fillable enclosure being configured to expand;
- an outer fillable enclosure having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal ends of the inner and outer fillable enclosures are coupled together and the distal ends of the inner and outer fillable enclosures are coupled together, the outer fillable enclosure having a discoid shape;
- and
- a proximal plug for sealing the proximal opening in the proximal end of the inner fillable enclosure, the proximal plug including an access lumen for providing access to the inner fillable enclosure and including a receptacle with an aperture for providing access to the outer fillable enclosure;
- and
- an inflation stylus adapted to mate with the proximal plug, wherein the inflation stylus comprises:
- an adjustable first lumen for movably extending through the access lumen to deliver
- and remove fluid from the inner fillable enclosure;
- and
- a second lumen for delivering fluid to the outer fillable enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.