Vertebra prosthesis
OwnerErnest L. Downeyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus useful to replace at least a portion of a vertebra in a spinal column associated with a spinal cord which comprises a plurality of elements sized and adapted to be fitted together in a position to substantially surround the spinal cord and to act as at least a portion of the naturally occurring vertebra located in the position an assembly acting to secure the fitted together elements in place in the spinal column.
Claims19
An apparatus useful to replace at least a portion of a vertebra in a spinal column associated with a spinal cord which comprises:
- a vertebra body including a plurality of elements sized and adapted to be fitted together in a position to substantially surround the spinal cord, said vertebra body having the same shape as a naturally occurring vertebra having pedicles, laminae and processes which is located in said position and acting as at least a portion of a naturally occurring vertebra located in said position;
- and
- a securement assembly located in conjunction with said vertebra body and adapted to secure said vertebra body in place in the spinal column.
An apparatus useful to replace at least a portion of a vertebra in a spinal column associated with a spinal cord which comprises:
- an artificial vertebra element sized and adapted to be placed in a position to act as at least a portion of the naturally occurring vertebra located in said position;
- and
- a securement assembly located in conjunction with said vertebra element and adapted to facilitate securing said vertebra element directly to at least one of a first disc prosthesis and a second disc prosthesis, said securement assembly including substantially opposing first and second securement indents located in said vertebra element and being sized and adapted to receive and hold first and second outwardly extending securement members included in the first disc prosthesis and the second disc prosthesis, respectively.
An apparatus useful to replace at least a portion of a vertebra and substantially all of both discs directly associated with the naturally occurring vertebra to be replaced which comprises:
- a first disc prosthesis adapted to be secured to the first vertebra adjacent the vertebra to be replaced, said first disc prosthesis being sized and adapted to replace and act as substantially all of the first naturally occurring disc located between said first vertebra and said vertebra to be replaced;
- an artificial vertebra element sized and adapted to be placed in a position to act as at least a portion of said vertebra to be replaced;
- a second disc prosthesis adapted to be secured to the second vertebra adjacent the vertebra to be replaced, said second disc prosthesis being sized and adapted to replace and act as substantially all of the second naturally occurring disc located between said second vertebra and said vertebra to be replaced;
- and
- a securement assembly located in conjunction with said vertebra element and adapted to secure said vertebra element directly to said first disc prosthesis and said second disc prosthesis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.