Intervertebral disc replacement prosthesis
AssigneeVanderbilt University
InventorsJeffrey D. Gordon, John M. Dawson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An implantable intervertebral disc prosthesis that comprises a disc member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a perimeter surface. The disc includes an axis at least one slit defined in the perimeter surface; the slit being of sufficient depth and thickness to provide flexure. The slit terminates in a perimeter opening larger than the slit thickness. The perimeter opening (i.e., hole) acts as a pivot point and relieves stress. The disc prosthesis optionally comprises a cavity with an upper seat defined on the lower surface, a lower disc having an upper and lower surface and a lower seat defined on the upper surface, and a support ball. The support ball engages the seat on the upper disc and the seat on the lower disc.
Claims31
An implantable intervertebral disc replacement prosthesis, comprising:
- a disc member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a perimeter surface, and having an axis, the disc member having a slit defined in the perimeter surface to provide flexibility to the disc member, the slit having a slit thickness and a first end and a second end, with each end terminating in a perimeter opening larger than the slit thickness,
- a cavity along the axis of the disc, and
- a support ball housed in the cavity.
An implantable intervertebral disc replacement prosthesis, comprising:
- a disc member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a perimeter surface, and having an axis, the disc member having a slit defined in the perimeter surface to provide flexibility to the disc member, the slit having a slit thickness and terminating in a perimeter opening larger than the slit thickness, wherein each perimeter opening receives one slit,
- a cavity along the axis of the disc, and
- a support ball housed in the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.