Polymer filled spinal fusion cage
AssigneeZimmer, Inc.
InventorsGregory C Stalcup, Antony J. Lozier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An orthopaedic implant for implanting between adjacent vertebrae and a spine, includes a generally annular bag; and a hardened polymer with the bag. The method of fusing adjacent vertebrae in a spine includes the steps of forming an access hole in an annulus of a disc between the adjacent vertebrae; removing the nucleus within the disc to form a cavity surrounded by the annulus; placing a generally annular bag within the cavity; filling the bag with a polymer; injecting bone particles into the cavity surrounded by the annular bag; and hardening the polymer.
Claims22
A method of fusing adjacent vertebrae in a spine, comprising the steps of:
- forming an access hole in an annulus of a disc between the adjacent vertebrae;
- removing the nucleus within the disc to form a cavity surrounded by said annulus;
- placing a generally annular bag within said cavity;
- filling said bag with a polymer;
- injecting bone particles into a portion of said cavity surrounded by said annular bag;
- and
- hardening said polymer.
An orthopaedic implant for implanting between adjacent vertebrae in a spine, comprising:
- a generally annular bag;
- and
- a hardened polymer within said bag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.