Vertebral Rods and Methods of Use
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorLarry Thomas McBride
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present application is directed to vertebral rods constructed for vertebral movement in first and second planes, and to prevent or inhibit vertebral movement in a third plane. The vertebral rod may include one or more notches. The notches change the cross section shape of the rod and thus the structural characteristics. The notches may be shaped, sized, and positioned to facilitate vertebral movement in the first and second planes, and prevent or inhibit movement in the third plane. A fill material may be positioned within the notches to strengthen the rod and/or provide durability.
Claims24
A vertebral rod comprising:
- an elongated body constructed of a first material;
- a plurality of notches spaced along the body, the plurality of notches causing the body to bend within first and second planes and substantially prevent bending within a third plane;
- and
- a fill material positioned within each of the plurality of notches, the fill material being different than the first material.
A vertebral rod comprising:
- an elongated body constructed of a first material;
- a notch extending into the body;
- and
- a fill material positioned within the notch;
- the body, notch, and fill material cause a first flexural rigidity for bending in a first direction and a second flexural rigidity to substantially prevent bending in a second direction.
A vertebral rod comprising:
- an elongated body constructed of a first material;
- a notch extending into the body;
- and
- a fill material positioned within each of the plurality of notches, the fill material being different than the first material;
- the body including a first cross section shape away from the notch and a second cross section shape at the notch, the shapes causing the body to bend within first and second planes and substantially prevent bending within a third plane.
A vertebral rod comprising:
- an elongated body constructed of a first material;
- a notch extending into the body and causing the body to bend within first and second planes and substantially prevent bending within a third plane;
- and
- a fill material positioned within the notch, the fill material being different than the first material to strengthen the body during bending within the first and second planes.
A vertebral rod comprising:
- an elongated body constructed of a first material;
- a first notch and a second notch each extending into the body and causing the body to bend within first and second planes and substantially prevent bending within a third plane;
- a fill material positioned within the first and second notches, the fill material being different than the first material to strengthen the body during bending within the first and second planes;
- and
- a support member extending along the body to support the body, the support member being constructed of a different material than the body and the fill material.
A method of supporting vertebral members with a vertebral rod, the method comprising the steps of:
- bending an elongated body during vertebral motion in a first direction;
- decreasing a size of the notch and deforming a fill material within the notch during the vertebral motion in the first direction;
- and
- maintaining the size of the notch and preventing deformation of the fill material to inhibit vertebral motion in a second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.