Artificial intervertebral disk member
AssigneeSulzer Medizinaltechnik AG
InventorWalter Baumgartner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The artificial intervertebral disk member (1) consists of an upper (2) and a lower (3) support, which are attached in the adjacent vertebrae (32, 33), and of an elastic separator (4). The separator is constructed as a separate insert part (5), which can be inserted from outside into the final position (E) and can be fixed there. The upper support (2) is securely connected to the lower support (3) via the elastic separator (4). This produces a "patient-friendly" implant which can be optimally adapted and revised to suit the patients.
Claims18
An intervertebral disk member comprising:
- an upper and a lower support for attachment to adjacent upper or lower vertebrae;
- an elastic separator removably interposable into a final position between the upper and lower supports following their attachment to the adjacent vertebrae and for tightly connecting the upper support to the lower support;
- and
- a reinforcement band surrounding the elastic separator.
An intervertebral disk member comprising:
- an upper and a lower support for attachment to adjacent upper or lower vertebrae;
- an elastic separator constructed as a separate part for insertion into a final position between the upper and lower supports following their attachment to the adjacent vertebrae and for tightly connecting the upper support to the lower support;
- and
- a snap fastener, operably coupled to the elastic separator, for fixing the elastic separator into the final position.
An artificial intervertebral disk member for insertion between adjacent upper and lower vertebrae comprising:
- an upper support attached to the upper vertebra;
- a lower support attached to the lower vertebra;
- an elastic separator removably interposable between the upper and lower supports;
- and
- the upper and lower supports each having profile guides, the elastic separator being sized to slide within the profile guides into a final position in which the upper and lower supports are tightly connected to the elastic separator.
An artificial intervertebral disk member for insertion between adjacent upper and lower vertebrae comprising:
- an upper support attached to the upper vertebra and having a lower surface, the lower surface having an undercut portion;
- a lower support attached to the lower vertebra and having an upper surface, the upper surface having an undercut portion;
- an elastic separator removably interposable between the upper and lower supports, the separator being sized to fit tightly within the undercut portions of the upper and lower supports to thereby connect the supports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.