US 2004/0176848 A1 · Cervical disc replacement method

Abstract

A method for replacing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc in a spinal column includes: removing the portion of the intervertebral disc from the spinal column; and inserting an apparatus for replacing the portion of the intervertebral disc, wherein the apparatus for replacing the portion of the intervertebral disc is operable to permit respective vertebral bones of the spinal column between which the apparatus is positioned to articulate in flexion and extension in an anterior-posterior plane of the spinal column, lateral bending in a lateral plane of the spinal column, and axial rotation through a range of angles without permitting the vertebral bones to substantially move in directions directed away from one another along a longitudinal axis of the spinal column.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for replacing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc in a spinal column, comprising:

removing the portion of the intervertebral disc from the spinal column;
and
inserting an apparatus for replacing the portion of the intervertebral disc,
wherein the apparatus for replacing the portion of the intervertebral disc is operable to permit respective vertebral bones of the spinal column between which the apparatus is positioned to articulate in flexion and extension in an anterior-posterior plane of the spinal column, lateral bending in a lateral plane of the spinal column, and axial rotation through a range of angles without permitting the vertebral bones to substantially move in directions directed away from one another along a longitudinal axis of the spinal column.

1 more element

A method for replacing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc in a spinal column, comprising:

removing the portion of the intervertebral disc from the spinal column;
and
inserting an apparatus for replacing the portion of the intervertebral disc, wherein:
the apparatus for replacing the portion of the intervertebral disc includes:
(i) a first member having a first vertebral contact surface for engagement with an endplate of a first vertebral bone in the spinal column, and having a first saddle shaped articulation surface, and (ii) a second member having a second vertebral contact surface for engagement with an endplate of a second vertebral bone in the spinal column, and having a second saddle shaped articulation surface,
an intervertebral disc space is defined substantially between the first and second endplates of the first and second vertebral bones, and
the first and second articulation surfaces are sized and shaped to engage one another when the first and second members are disposed in the intervertebral disc space to enable the first and second vertebral bones to articulate in at least one of flexion, extension and lateral bending.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cervical disc replacement method

Life of this patent

Cervical disc replacement method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19