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US 2003/0191533 A1Published application
Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants
AssigneeDiamicron, Inc.
InventorsRichard H. Dixon, Clayton Frank Gardinier, Troy J. Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Jeffery Karl Taylor, Bill J. Pope
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants are disclosed. Materials which may be used to make the spinal implants and manufacturing and finishing techniques for making the implants are also disclosed.
Claims24
An articulating diamond-surfaced prosthetic spinal implant for implantation between vertebrae in a human body, the implant comprising:
- a first component,
- said first component having a convex protruding dome member,
- said dome member including a first component load bearing and articulation surface,
- said first component load bearing and articulation surface being formed at least in part by a sintered polycrystalline diamond table,
- said sintered polycrystalline diamond table in said first component serving to provide a durable, biocompatible and low-friction surface for articulation of the implant,
- a second component,
- said second component having a concave trough,
- said trough having a shape and size that permits said protruding dome member to protrude therein,
- said trough having a shape and size that permits contact of said protruding dome member therewith at a plurality of contact points,
- said trough including a second component load bearing and articulation surface, said second component load bearing and articulation surface being formed at least in part by a sintered polycrystalline diamond table,
- said sintered polycrystalline diamond table in said second component serving to provide a durable, biocompatible and low-friction surface for articulation of the implant,
- said first component being movable with respect to said second component in at a point that has diamond to diamond contact between said first and second components.
9 more elements
An articulating diamond-surfaced prosthetic spinal implant for implantation between vertebrae in a human body, the implant comprising:
- a protrusion,
- a protrusion load bearing and articulation surface located on said protrusion,
- said protrusion load bearing and articulation surface being formed at least in part by diamond,
- a receptacle,
- a receptacle load bearing and articulation surface located on said receptacle, said receptacle load bearing and articulation surface being formed at least in part by diamond,
- said protrusion and said receptacle being sized and shaped to accommodate said protrusion protruding into said receptacle, and contact of said protrusion load bearing and articulation surface with said receptacle load bearing and articulation surface,
- said contact of said protrusion with said receptacle being accomplished by diamond to diamond contact of said protrusion and receptacle load bearing and articulation surfaces.
4 more elements
An articulating diamond-surfaced prosthetic spinal implant for implantation between vertebrae in a human body, the implant comprising:
- a protrusion,
- a protrusion load bearing and articulation surface located on said protrusion,
- said protrusion load bearing and articulation surface being formed at least in part by diamond,
- a receptacle,
- a receptacle load bearing and articulation surface located on said receptacle,
- said receptacle load bearing and articulation surface being formed at least in part by diamond,
- said protrusion and said receptacle being sized and shaped to accommodate said protrusion protruding into said receptacle, and said protrusion load bearing and articulation surface contacting said receptacle load bearing and articulation surface, said contact of said protrusion with said receptacle being accomplished by diamond to diamond contact of said protrusion and receptacle load bearing and articulation surfaces,
- said contact of said protrusion with said receptacle occurring at a diamond to diamond contact point where diamond of said protrusion contacts diamond of said receptacle,
- said protrusion being pivotally movable with respect to said receptacle about said diamond to diamond contact point to provide translational or rotational movement of said protrusion with respect to said receptacle.
6 more elements
An articulating diamond-surfaced prosthetic spinal implant for implantation between vertebrae in a human body, the implant comprising:
- a protrusion,
- a protrusion load bearing and articulation surface located on said protrusion,
- said protrusion load bearing and articulation surface being formed at least in part by diamond,
- said protrusion having a curvature defined by at least one radius R1, a receptacle,
- a receptacle load bearing and articulation surface located on said receptacle,
- said receptacle load bearing and articulation surface being formed at least in part by diamond,
- said receptacle having a curvature defined by at least one radius R2, said protrusion and said receptacle being sized and curved to accommodate said protrusion protruding into said receptacle, and to accommodate said protrusion load bearing and articulation surface contacting said receptacle load bearing and articulation surface,
- said contact of said protrusion with said receptacle being accomplished by diamond to diamond contact of said protrusion and receptacle load bearing and articulation surfaces,
- said contact of said protrusion with said receptacle occurring at a diamond to diamond contact point where diamond of said protrusion contacts diamond of said receptacle,
- said protrusion being translationally movable with respect to said receptacle in the axial plan of a human spine, said translational movement being accomplished by a sliding or rolling movement of diamond against diamond;
- wherein R1 and R2 are chosen to accommodate said translational movement;
- and
- wherein at least some of said translational movement occurs in the axial plane of a human spine about an arc of a circle having a radius R3 whose center is located at the base of the spinal process of a human spine, and wherein R3 is not equal to R1 or R2.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.