Spinal implant
AssigneeCardinal Spine, LLC
InventorFrank Castro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a spinal implant that can be inserted into a surgically created cavity of one or more regions of the mammalian spine. Universal corner posts and one or more lateral universal posts are connected with a series of trapezoidal wedge-like braces. The series of braces includes a centralized brace, a first set of braces extending in a first direction away from the centralized brace and a second set of braces extending in a second direction away from the centralized brace. Embodiments of the current cage also include first and second lateral brakes and an end cap.
Claims42
1) A spinal implant consisting essentially of titanium, stainless steel, resorbable polymers, non-resorbable polymers or combinations thereof;
- said spinal implant comprising a length of consecutively joined receptacles having peripheral openings a surgeon can see through prior to addition of osteogenic and/or arthrodesis accelerating substances, wherein said length of consecutively joined receptacles comprises:
- a) a series of trapezoidal dividers having a common lengthwise axis, wherein each divider comprises:
- i) an inward side;
- ii) an outward side;
- iii) a first side connected with said outward side and said inward side forming a first outward corner with said outward side and a first inward corner with said inward side;
- iv) a second side connected with said outward side and said inward side forming a second outward corner with said outward side and a second inward corner with said inward side;
- and
- v) an aperture;
- b) a first universal corner post contacting said first inward corners;
- c) a second universal corner post contacting said second inward corners;
- d) one or more first universal posts contacting said first sides of said dividers;
- e) one or more second universal posts contacting said second sides of said dividers;
- f) one or more inward universal posts contacting said inward sides of said dividers;
- g) a first brake extending laterally beyond said first sides and from about a superior member of said series to about an inferior member of said series, wherein said first brake comprises one or more bores;
- and
- h) a second brakes extending laterally beyond said second sides and from about said superior member of said series to about said inferior member of said series, wherein said second brake comprises one or more bores.
10) A cage combination capable of implantation into a cavity surgically created between a superior spinal region and an inferior spinal region of a mammal;
- said combination comprising:
- a) a series of trapezoidal braces, wherein each trapezoidal brace includes two sides of equal length and an aperture;
- b) an inward support;
- c) an outward support;
- d) a first lateral support;
- e) a second lateral support, wherein said supports are joined with each other such that said outward support is of greater dimensions than said inward support;
- and
- f) one or more end caps.
22) A cage capable of implantation into a cavity surgically created between a superior spinal region and an inferior spinal region of a mammal;
- said cage comprising:
- a) a series of trapezoidal braces, wherein each trapezoidal brace includes two sides of equal length and an aperture;
- b) an inward support;
- c) an outward support;
- d) a first lateral support;
- e) a second lateral support, wherein said supports are joined with each other such that said outward support is of greater dimensions than said inward support;
- f) one or more brakes connectable to either said first lateral support, said second lateral support or both.
31) A brake attachable to a spinal implant, wherein said spinal implant comprises a lateral support including a plurality of lengthwise posts and one or more spaces associated with said plurality of lengthwise posts;
- said brake comprising:
- a) an inward side and an outward side;
- b) a length approximating the length of said lateral support;
- c) a width extending laterally and outwardly from said lateral support, after attachment to said lateral support;
- d) one or more bores for receiving fasteners;
- and
- e) one or more clips attached to said inward side for cooperating with one of said posts and spaces adjacent said one post for connecting said one or more clips to said lateral support, wherein each said clip comprises first and second tips biased toward each other such that after said clips are forced about said one post said brake is securely connected to said spinal implant.
33) A brake attachable to a spinal cage, comprising:
- a) an inward side and an outward side;
- b) a width extending laterally and outwardly from said spinal cage, after attachment to said spinal cage;
- c) one or more bores for receiving fasteners;
- and
- d) one or more connectors attached to said inward side for connecting said brake to one or more universal posts, other than an outermost universal post, of said spinal cage.
36) An end cap for a spinal implant comprising:
- a) a coupler comprising:
- i) a spacer;
- ii) a frontal plate including at least one opening for receiving a fastener for securing said coupler to vertebra;
- and
- iii) pins attached perpendicularly to and extending away from an inward side of said spacer;
- and
- b) a bridge comprising:
- i) an outermost section surrounding a generally trapezoidal aperture;
- said outermost section further comprising;
- A) a surgeon facing side including a plurality of bores for receiving said pins;
- and
- B) a spinal implant facing side including bores therein;
- and
- ii) docking slides for securely engaging a corresponding opening proximate a lengthwise end of said spinal implant.
37) An end cap for a spinal implant comprising:
- a) a coupler comprising:
- i) a frontal plate including at least one opening for receiving a fastener for securing said coupler to vertebra;
- and
- ii) one or more extensions;
- and
- b) a bridge comprising:
- i) bores for receiving said extensions;
- and
- ii) slides for securely engaging a corresponding opening proximate a lengthwise end of said spinal implant.
40) A brake attachable to a spinal cage, comprising:
- a) a first wall having an open side therein and connectable to a lateral support of said spinal cage, wherein said first wall further comprises:
- i) a channel communicating with said open side and extending lengthwise through said first wall, wherein said channel further comprises:
- a first width narrower than perimeters of one or more posts of said spinal cage;
- and a second width greater than said perimeters of one or more of said posts such that, after attachment to said spinal cage, said second width locks about said perimeters of one or more of said posts for securing said first wall to said spinal cage;
- and
- b) a second wall generally perpendicular to said first wall further comprising one or more bores.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.