Method for surgical implantation of a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus
AssigneeRaymedica, Inc.
InventorsCharles D. Ray, Eugene A. Dickhudt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for surgically implanting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into a human spinal disc space is disclosed. The spinal disc space contains adjacent vertebrae and an anulus having a posterior side. The method includes cutting a flap through the anulus in the disc space to create an opening. The vertebrae adjacent to the disc space are slightly separated and a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body is inserted through the opening into the disc space.
Claims17
A surgical procedure for implanting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into a human disc space, the procedure comprising:
- exposing an anulus comprised of fibrous tissue positioned between adjacent vertebrae;
- making an incision through the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue wherein a portion of the flap remains attached to the anulus;
- maneuvering the flap to provide an opening;
- inserting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the opening;
- and
- securing the flap to the anulus to close the opening.
A surgical procedure for implantation of two prosthetic spinal disc nucleus bodies side-by-side into a human disc space, the procedure comprising:
- exposing an anulus comprised of fibrous tissue positioned between adjacent vertebrae;
- cutting the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a first flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the first flap remains attached to the anulus;
- cutting the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a second flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue wherein a portion Of the second flap remains attached to the anulus;
- maneuvering the first flap to provide a first opening through the anulus;
- inserting a first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into the human disc space through the first opening;
- maneuvering the second flap to provide a second opening through the anulus;
- and
- inserting a second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into the human disc space through the second opening.
A surgical procedure for implantation of two prosthetic spinal disc nucleus bodies side-by-side into a human disc space defined by adjacent vertebrae, an anulus comprised of a fibrous tissue with a posterior side, and a nucleus, the procedure comprising:
- exposing the posterior side of the anulus;
- cutting the posterior side of the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a first flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the first flap remains attached to the anulus;
- cutting the posterior side of the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a second flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the second flap remains attached to the anulus;
- maneuvering the first flap to provide a first opening through the anulus;
- maneuvering the second flap to provide a second opening through the anulus;
- removing at least a portion of the nucleus through either the first opening or the second opening;
- inserting a jack through the first opening in the anulus;
- separating the adjacent vertebrae with the jack;
- inserting a first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the second opening in the anulus;
- removing the jack;
- inserting a second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the first opening in the anulus;
- securing the first flap to the anulus;
- and
- securing the second flap to the anulus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.