Minimally invasive compliant devices for total lumbar disc replacement
Assignee33 Medical, Inc.
InventorsAnton Edis Bowden, Daniel James Orr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Minimally invasive compliant devices for spinal disc replacement are discussed herein. In various embodiments, the device comprises a contact-aided compliant mechanism comprising a first rigid component, a second rigid component, a third rigid component, a first flexible component, a second flexible component. Additionally, the first flexible component can be disposed between the first rigid component and the second rigid component while the second flexible components disposed between the second rigid component and the third rigid component. In many embodiments, the rigid components can include a bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface selectively engages another bearing surface of another rigid component.
Claims20
A spinal disc replacement implant comprising:
- a contact-aided compliant mechanism comprising:
- a first rigid component;
- a second rigid component;
- a third rigid component;
- a first flexible component;
- a second flexible component;
- each of the first and second flexible components comprising a first end, a second end, and a third end;
- the first flexible component disposed between the first rigid component and the second rigid component;
- the second flexible component disposed between the second rigid component and the third rigid component;
- the first rigid component further comprising a first bearing surface, wherein the first bearing surface selectively engages an upper bearing surface of the second rigid component;
- and
- the third rigid component further comprising a third bearing surface, wherein the third bearing surface selectively engages a lower bearing surface of the second rigid component.
A spinal disc replacement implant comprising:
- a contact-aided compliant mechanism comprising:
- a first rigid component, the first rigid component including a first bearing surface;
- a second rigid component, the second rigid component including an upper and lower bearing surface;
- a third rigid component, the third rigid component including a third bearing surface;
- a plurality of flexible components, each of the flexible components including a first end, a second end, and a third end, wherein the first end is attached to one of the first, second, or third rigid component and wherein the third end is attached to one of the first, second, or third rigid component;
- the first bearing surface selectively engaging the upper bearing surface;
- and
- the third bearing surface selectively engaging the lower bearing surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.