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US 6,974,479 B2Granted
System and method for blocking and/or retaining a prosthetic spinal implant
AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.
InventorHai H. Trieu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices for anchoring and/or blocking spinal implants in an intervertebral disc space are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention the device includes a rigid blocking member having one end unconnected and free to block a spinal implant, and another end attached to a securing member to secure the blocking member to the spine. Methods for using the inventive anchoring/blocking implants are also provided.
Claims19
A method for retaining a prosthetic spinal implant in an intervertebral disc space, said method comprising:
- (a) implanting a prosthetic spinal implant member in an intervertebral disc space;
- (b) providing a first L-shaped blocking member having an anchoring end and a blocking end, wherein said blocking end is free and unconnected to a prosthetic spinal implant;
- and
- (c) positioning the blocking end of said first L-shaped blocking member in an intervertebral disc space in a position effective to block said prosthetic spinal implant from being expelled from the intervertebral disc space;
- and
- (d) securing the anchoring end of said first L-shaped blocking member to a vertebra in a manner in which the blocking end of said first L-shaped blocking member is maintained in a position effective to block said prosthetic spinal implant from being expelled from the intervertebral disc space.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.