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US 12,661,234 B2Granted
Piezoelectric spinal implant and methods of making and using same
AssigneeSpark Assets LLC
InventorsZiev Moses, Kevin Chappuis, Luke Diehl, Lance Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spinal implant capable of generating an electric output includes a first endplate, a second endplate, and a piezoelectric component disposed between the first and second endplates. The spinal implant may further include an intermediate body and a second piezoelectric component disposed between the intermediate body and the second endplate. The inner surfaces of the endplates and/or the intermediate body may be non-planar, such as having an undulating shape. The electric output is produced when the endplates of the spinal implant undergo a force, including a compressive force and/or a shear force.
Claims32
A spinal implant assembly comprising:
- a first endplate having a first non-planar inner surface;
- a second endplate attached to the first endplate and having a second non-planar inner surface facing toward the first non-planar inner surface;
- and
- a component made entirely of a piezoelectric material, the component disposed between the first non-planar inner surface and the second non-planar inner surface and having a non-planar upper surface facing toward the first non-planar inner surface and a non-planar lower surface facing toward the second non-planar inner surface, wherein the first non-planar inner surface has first undulations and the second non-planar inner surface has second undulations, the first undulations including a first concave surface and a first convex surface, the first concave surface and the first convex surface together defining a first wavelike surface, the second undulations including a second concave surface and a second convex surface, the second concave surface and the second convex surface together defining a second wavelike surface.
1 more element
A kit to make a spinal implant assembly, the kit comprising:
- a first endplate having a first non-planar inner surface;
- a second endplate having a second non-planar inner surface, the first endplate and the second endplate configured to be attached to one another to form the spinal implant assembly;
- and
- a component made entirely of a piezoelectric material, the component to be disposed between the first non-planar inner surface and the second non-planar inner surface in the spinal implant assembly, the component further configured to a have, when part of the spinal implant assembly, a non-planar upper surface facing toward the first non-planar inner surface and a non-planar lower surface facing toward the second non-planar inner surface, wherein the first non-planar inner surface has first undulations and the second non-planar inner surface has second undulations, the first undulations including a first concave surface and a first convex surface, the first concave surface and the first convex surface together defining a first wavelike surface, the second undulations including a second concave surface and a second convex surface, the second concave surface and the second convex surface together defining a second wavelike surface.
1 more element
A method of making a kit for a spinal implant assembly, the method comprising:
- forming a first endplate having a first non-planar inner surface;
- forming a second endplate having a second non-planar inner surface, the first endplate and the second endplate configured to be attached to one another to form the spinal implant assembly;
- forming a component made entirely of a piezoelectric material, the component to be disposed between the first non-planar inner surface and the second non-planar inner surface in the spinal implant assembly, the component further configured to a have, when part of the spinal implant assembly, a non-planar upper surface facing toward the first non-planar inner surface and a non-planar lower surface facing toward the second non-planar inner surface, wherein the first non-planar inner surface has first undulations and the second non-planar inner surface has second undulations, the first undulations including a first concave surface and a first convex surface, the first concave surface and the first convex surface together defining a first wavelike surface, the second undulations including a second concave surface and a second convex surface, the second concave surface and the second convex surface together defining a second wavelike surface;
- and
- organizing the first endplate, the second endplate, and the component together for joint provision as a kit for subsequent assembly into the spinal implant assembly.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.