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US 2006/0235522 A1Published application
System and techniques for restoring and maintaining intervertebral anatomy
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorKevin Foley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques and systems for distracting a spinal disc space and supporting adjacent vertebrae are provided. Trial instruments are insertable into the disc space to determine a desired disc space height and to select a corresponding implant. Implants can be also be self-distracting and the implant providing the desired disc space height can be implanted in the spinal disc space.
Claims21
1-47. (canceled)
A method for inserting an intervertebral implant, comprising:
- accessing a collapsed spinal disc space;
- sequentially inserting and removing a number of trial bodies into the collapsed spinal disc space;
- selecting the trial body providing a desired disc space height;
- selecting an intervertebral implant having a height corresponding to the desired disc space height provided by the selected trial body;
- removing the selected trial body such that the spinal disc space is non-distracted;
- and
- distracting the spinal disc space with the selected intervertebral implant to restore the collapsed spinal disc space to the desired disc space height and post-operatively maintain the desired disc space height.
4 more elements
A method for inserting an intervertebral implant, comprising:
- accessing a spinal disc space;
- distracting the disc space by sequentially inserting and removing a number of trial bodies into the spinal disc space, wherein the trial bodies each include a leading end nose rounded between upper and lower surfaces of the respective trial body;
- selecting the trial body providing a desired disc space height between the upper and lower surfaces of the trial body;
- selecting an intervertebral implant having a height between upper and lower surfaces thereof corresponding to the desired disc space height provided by the selected trial body, the selected intervertebral implant further including a leading end nose having a rounded profile extending between upper and lower surfaces of the implant;
- inserting the leading end nose of the selected intervertebral implant into the spinal disc space and distracting the spinal disc space to restore the collapsed spinal disc space to the desired disc space height with the selected intervertebral implant;
- and
- fusing vertebrae on each side of the spinal disc space with the selected intervertebral implant in the spinal disc space.
4 more elements
A method for inserting an intervertebral implant, comprising:
- accessing a spinal disc space;
- distracting the disc space by sequentially inserting and removing a number of trial bodies into the spinal disc space;
- determining the trial body providing a desired disc space height between the upper and lower surfaces of the trial body;
- selecting an intervertebral implant having a height between upper and lower surfaces thereof corresponding to the desired disc space height provided by the determined trial body;
- distracting the spinal disc space to restore the collapsed spinal disc space to the desired disc space height with the selected intervertebral implant;
- and
- removing an inserter from the selected intervertebral implant after distracting the spinal disc space with the selected intervertebral implant while the selected intervertebral implant maintains distraction of the spinal disc space.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.