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US 2004/0024459 A1Published application
Methods and apparatus for placing intradiscal devices
OwnerBret A. Ferreeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An osteotomy of a portion of a vertebral endplate and/or vertebral body allows for easier insertion of a device that fits tightly into a disc space. A different aspect of the invention resides in a mechanical device to hold the osteotomized portion of the vertebra against the vertebral body after the intradiscal device is placed. The device may be removed after the pieces of vertebra heal and fuse together.
Claims7
A method of placing an intradiscal device into an intradiscal space between upper and lower vertebral bodies, each body having a section on opposing sides of the intradiscal space, the method comprising the steps of:
- truncating or removing at least a portion of the section of one or both of the upper and lower vertebral bodies;
- inserting an intradiscal device into the intradiscal space;
- and
- reattaching the truncated portion or attaching a bony substitute to the truncated or removed section of the vertebral body.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.