Expandable artificial disc prosthesis
OwnerPerry A. Geremakis, Roy Horiinventors
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a spinal implant that allows restoration of movement to an effected vertebral joint. The spinal implant of the current invention also allows the adjustment of the height of the implant so that it can be best fit into the affected joint of an individual patient. One embodiment of the current invention provides an implant having two endplates separated from each other and a central adjuster between the two endplates, wherein the central adjuster is configured to adjust the height of the implant and to articulate with at least one of the two endplates.
Claims37
An artificial intervertebral implant for replacing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc, comprising:
- two endplates separated from each other, the two endplates each having an outward facing surface that faces away from each other so that a height of the implant is defined by a separating distance between each of the outward facing surfaces;
- a central adjuster between the two endplates and configured to adjust the height of the implant by changing the separating distance between the outward facing surfaces of the two endplates, the central adjuster having at least one articulating surface configured to articulate between the adjuster and at least one of the two endplates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.