3D printing of implantable vertebral segment
AssigneeEstate of Craig Alan Blanchard
InventorCraig Blanchard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An implantable vertebral segment for replacing a damaged vertebral segment in a patient. The implantable vertebral segment includes a vertebral bone member and a vertebral disc member. The vertebral bone member includes an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion is configured to be coupled to the inner portion through a fastening mechanism, wherein the outer portion and the inner portion form a tunnel configured to receive a spinal cord. Also, the vertebral bone member and the vertebral disc member include an interlocking mechanism for coupling the vertebral bone member and the vertebral disc member.
Claims9
A method for correcting spinal defects in a patient, the method comprising:
- imaging a spine of the patient to generate a model specific to the patient;
- and
- 3D printing an implantable vertebral segment based on the model, wherein the implantable vertebral segment comprises:
- a vertebral bone member comprising:
- an outer unit, and
- an inner unit,
- wherein the outer unit is configured to be coupled to the inner unit through a fastening mechanism, the outer unit and the inner unit together forming a tunnel configured to receive a spinal cord, and the fastening mechanism comprising a plug and socket that interlock to secure the outer unit with the inner unit;
- a vertebral disc member, wherein the vertebral disc member comprises a central disc portion, an upper triangular protrusion extending vertically from a central top area of the central disc portion, and a lower triangular protrusion extending vertically from a central bottom area of the central disc portion;
- wherein the vertebral bone member comprises a first vertebral bone member and a second vertebral bone member, wherein the vertebral disc member is physically positioned between and mechanically interlocked with the first vertebral bone member and the second vertebral bone member;
- and
- implanting the implantable vertebral segment at a location of a damaged vertebral bone and an adjacent vertebral disc, wherein the implantable vertebral segment is biocompatible and anatomically similar to the vertebral bone and disc before damage.
A method for correcting spinal defects in a patient, the method comprising:
- imaging a spine of the patient to generate a model specific to the patient;
- and
- 3D printing an implantable vertebral segment based on the model, wherein the implantable vertebral segment comprises:
- a vertebral bone member comprising:
- an outer unit, and
- an inner unit,
- wherein the outer unit is configured to be coupled to the inner unit through a fastening mechanism, the outer unit and the inner unit together forming a tunnel configured to receive a spinal cord, and the fastening mechanism comprising a plug and socket that interlock to secure the outer unit with the inner unit;
- a vertebral disc member;
- wherein the vertebral bone member comprises a first vertebral bone member and a second vertebral bone member and a second vertebral bone member, wherein the vertebral disc member is physically positioned between and mechanically interlocked with the first vertebral bone member and the second vertebral bone member;
- and
- a capping vertebral disc member configured to cap an outer end of one of the first vertebral bone member or the second vertebral bone member, the capping vertebral disc member comprising a central disc portion and an upper triangular protrusion extending vertically from a central top area of the central disc portion;
- and
- implanting the implantable vertebral segment at a location of a damaged vertebral bone and an adjacent vertebral disc, wherein the implantable vertebral segment is biocompatible and anatomically similar to the vertebral bone and disc before damage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.