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US 6,270,528 B1Granted
Composited intervertebral bone spacers
AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.
InventorWilliam F. McKay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described are intervertebral spacer assemblies having reinforcing members or space-filling members. Also described are methods for fabricating intervertebral spacers, as well as methods for fusing adjacent vertebrae utilizing intervertebral spacers of the present invention.
Claims17
A composite intervertebral spacer, comprising:
- a) an elongate body of bone having a longitudinal axis and a channel extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said channel formed at least partially from a natural channel;
- b) at least two opposing arms connected to said body, said opposing arms defining a mouth to said channel;
- and
- c) a space-filing member disposed within said channel, said composite spacer having a substantially uniform circumference.
1 more element
An intervertebral spacer, comprising:
- a) an elongated body, said body having a wall defining a C-shaped chamber;
- and
- b) a space-filling member disposed within said chamber, said spacer having a substantially uniform circumference.
An intervertebral spacer, comprising:
- a) a body of bone having a longitudinal axis, a channel extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said channel formed at least partially from an inter-medullary canal, a thru-hole extending through said spacer and transverse to said longitudinal axis;
- b) at least two opposing arms connected to said body, said opposing arms defining a mouth to said channel;
- and
- c) a space-filling member disposed within said channel, said spacer having a substantially uniform circumference.
1 more element
A method of preparing an intervertebral spacer, comprising:
- providing an elongated body of bone having a longitudinal axis and a channel extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said channel formed at least partially from a natural channel, at least two opposing arms connected to said body, said opposing arms defining a mouth to said channel;
- providing a space-filling member configured to be received in said channel;
- and
- inserting said space-filling member into said channel to form said spacer, said spacer having a substantially uniform circumference.
1 more element
A method of fusing adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
- 1) providing an intervertebral spacer including:
- a) an elongated body of bone having a longitudinal axis and a channel extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said channel formed at least partially from a natural channel;
- b) at least two opposing arms connected to said body, said opposing arms defining a mouth to said channel;
- c) a space-filling member disposed in said channel, said spacer having a substantially uniform circumference;
- 2) preparing adjacent vertebrae to receive the spacer in an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- 3) placing the spacer into the intervertebral space after said preparing step.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.