Internal pedicle shield
AssigneeChap-Med, Inc.
InventorJames L. Chappuis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pedicle insulator implant is designed to protect the nerves and surrounding tissue from injury by pedicle screws or other surgical devices and instruments. In its basic structure, the implant has a thicker section and a thinner section, the thicker section providing protection for nerves and other sensitive tissues while the thinner section can be deformable and provides grip. In one variation of the basic structure, the thinner section possess a rough surface when it is desirable in situations to provide further grip of the assembly and prevent rotation during the insertion of, for example, a pedicle screw.
Claims9
1-26. (canceled)
A pedicle insulator implant, implantable in a vertebral body of a spine, comprising:
- a non-continuous cylindrical wall defining an interior cavity and having a first end and a second end;
- a first segment of the cylindrical wall comprising a smooth exterior surface;
- and
- a second segment of the cylindrical wall comprising a rough exterior surface, wherein:
- i) the first segment of the cylindrical wall is of a greater thickness than the second segment of the cylindrical wall;
- and
- ii) the first segment comprises a first material and the second segment comprises a second material,
- whereby the pedicle insulator implant is configured to shield a fixture, reduce nerve root irritation, and diminish loosening of the fixture, when the fixture is implanted into a vertebral body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.