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US 2006/0235523 A1Published application
Implant having a sheath with a motion-limiting attribute
AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.
InventorCarlos Gil
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical implant containing two opposing shells, a central body disposed between the shells, and a flexible sheath extending between edges of the opposing shells. The sheath provides for resisting at least one predetermined type of relative directional motion.
Claims25
A surgical implant comprising:
- two opposing shells, each having
- an outer surface adapted to engage the surfaces of the bones of a joint in such a way that movement of the shell relative to the bone surface is resisted by friction between the outer surface and the surface of the bone;
- an inner surface that is smoother than the outer surface;
- and
- an edge between the outer surface and the inner surface;
- a central body disposed between the inner surfaces of the shells comprising an outer surface, at least a portion of which has a shape that complements and articulates with the shape of the inner surface of one or both opposing shells;
- and
- a sheath extending between edges of the opposing shells, having a motion-limiting attribute to resist movement outside a constrained range of motion, and an inner surface that, together with the inner surfaces of the shells, defines a cavity containing the central body.
5 more elements
A system comprising an implant adapted for insertion between adjacent vertebrae, which implant comprises two opposing shells, a central body, and means for encapsulating the central body between the opposing shells, which means also limits movement of the vertebrae adjacent to the implant to a constrained range.
A method comprising:
- inserting an implant between adjacent vertebrae, which implant comprises two opposing shells, each shell having an outer surface, an inner surface that is smoother than the outer surface;
- and an edge between the outer surface and the inner surface;
- a central body disposed between the inner surfaces of the shells, the central body comprising an outer surface, at least a portion of which has a shape that complements and articulates with the shape of the inner surface of one or both opposing shells;
- and a sheath extending between edges of the opposing shells, having a motion-limiting attribute;
- and
- limiting movement of the vertebrae adjacent to the implant to a constrained range, which limiting of motion is caused at least in part by the motion-limiting attribute of the flexible sheath.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.