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US 6,846,328 B2Granted
Articulating spinal implant
AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.
InventorJoseph C. Cauthen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulating spinal implant for interverteral disc replacement. The articulating spinal implant is formed from two elements, each engaging one of an adjacent pair of vertebra. An articulating means between the two elements resists compression and lateral movement between the vertebra, but allows the adjacent vertebra to articulate about an instantaneous axis of rotation.
Claims45
A spinal implant for implantation within an intervertebral disc space, comprising:
- a first intervertebral articular element having a first outer fusion surface engagable with a first vertebra;
- a second intervertebral articular element having a second outer fusion surface engagable with a second vertebra;
- and
- a stabilization element engaged with said first and second articular elements and configured to temporarily stabilize said first and second elements for a period of time sufficient to facilitate fusion between said first and second articular elements and the first and second vertebrae and to subsequently permit relative articulation between said first and second articular elements.
1 more element
A spinal implant for implantation within an intervertebral disc space, comprising:
- a first intervertebral articular element having a first outer fusion surface engagable with a first vertebra;
- a second intervertebral articular element having a second outer fusion surface engagable with a second vertebra;
- and
- means for temporarily stabilizing said first and second elements for a period of time sufficient to facilitate fusion between said first and second articular elements and the first and second vertebrae and to subsequently permit relative articulation between said first and second articular elements.
1 more element
A spinal implant for implantation within an intervertebral disc space, comprising:
- a first intervertebral articular element having a first outer fusion surface engagable with a first vertebra;
- a second intervertebral articular element having a second outer fusion surface engagable with a second vertebra;
- and
- a dynamizable element having a first state that substantially prevents relative movement between said first and second articular elements for a period of time sufficient to facilitate fusion between said first and second articular elements and the first and second vertebrae and a second state that allows relative articulating movement between said first and second articular elements.
1 more element
A spinal implant for implantation within an intervertebral disc space, comprising:
- a first intervertebral articular element having a first outer fusion surface engagable with a first vertebra;
- a second intervertebral articular element having a second outer fusion surface engagable with a second vertebra;
- and
- a resorbable element having a first state that substantially prevents relative movement between said first and second articular elements for a period of time sufficient to facilitate fusion between said first and second articular elements and the first and second vertebrae and a second state that allows relative articulating movement between said first and second articular elements.
1 more element
A spinal implant for implantation within an intervertebral disc space, comprising:
- a first articular element having a first articulation surface;
- a second articular element having a second articulation surface engagable with said first articulation surface to provide articulating movement between said first and second articular elements;
- and
- a dynamizable element having a first state that substantially prevents said articulating movement for a period of time sufficient to facilitate fusion between said first and second articular elements and the first and second vertebrae and a second state that allows said articulating movement.
1 more element
A spinal implant for implantation within an intervertebral disc space, comprising:
- a first element having a first articulation surface;
- a second element having a second articulation surface engagable with said first articulation surface to provide articulating movement between said first and second elements;
- and
- a dynamizable element having a first state that substantially prevents said articulating movement and a second state that allows said articulating movement, said dynamizable element formed of a resorbable material that is resorbed subsequent to implantation of the spinal implant within the intervertebral disc space to allow said articulating movement.
1 more element
A method for maintaining an intervertebral disc space, comprising:
- providing a spinal implant including a first intervertebral articular element and a second intervertebral articular element, the first element having a first outer fusion surface, the second element having a second outer fusion surface;
- engaging the first outer surface of the first articular element with the first vertebra;
- engaging the second outer surface of the second articular element with the second vertebra;
- and
- temporarily coupling the first articular element with the second articular element for a period of time sufficient to facilitate fusion between the first and second articular elements and the first and second vertebrae and to subsequently permit relative articulation between said first and second articular elements.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.