US 7,803,192 B2 · Artificial intervertebral disc

Abstract

An artificial intervertebral disc and method of attaching the disc to vertebral bodies includes a plurality of separate structural members arranged in a stacked configuration, wherein each structural member comprises a female cavity having a unique size compared with the female cavities of the other structural members, wherein a top and middle structural member comprise male bodies defined by outer edges of the respective female cavities of the top and middle structural members, wherein the male body of the top structural member is dimensioned and configured to sit in the female body of the middle structural member, wherein the male body of the middle structural member is dimensioned and configured to sit in the female body of a bottom structural member, and wherein each of the top and bottom structural member comprise at least one projecting member outwardly extending therefrom.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An artificial intervertebral disc comprising:

a first body component having a first body upper surface, said first body component comprising:
a flanged outer periphery;
at least one first body projection member extending outwardly from said first body upper surface;
and
a first bowl region connected to said flanged outer periphery of said first body component, wherein said first bowl region comprises a first body cavity extending inwardly from said first body upper surface;
a second body component having a second body upper surface, said second body component comprising:
a flanged outer periphery;
and
a second bowl region connected to said flanged outer periphery of said second body component, wherein said second bowl region comprises a second body cavity extending inwardly from said second body upper surface;
a third body component having a third body upper surface and a third body bottom surface, said third body component comprising:
a third body cavity extending inwardly from said third body upper surface;
at least one third body projection member outwardly extending from said third body bottom surface;
and
a sidewall defining an outer boundary of said third body cavity, wherein said sidewall comprises at least one hole extending through an entire thickness of said sidewall;
wherein said first bowl region fits in said second body cavity, and
wherein said second bowl region fits in said third body cavity.

13 more elements

A method of attaching an artificial intervertebral disc to vertebral bodies, said method comprising:

attaching an upper surface of a superior body component to a superior vertebral body, wherein said superior body component comprises:
a flanged outer periphery;
at least one projection member extending outwardly from said upper surface;
and
a bowl region connected to said flanged outer periphery of said superior body component, wherein said bowl region comprises a cavity extending inwardly from said upper surface;
attaching a bottom surface of an inferior body component to an inferior vertebral body, wherein said inferior body component comprises:
a cavity extending inwardly from an upper surface of said inferior body component;
at least one projection member outwardly extending from said bottom surface;
and
a sidewall defining an outer boundary of said cavity of said inferior body component, wherein said sidewall comprises at least one hole extending through an entire thickness of said sidewall;
inserting a load-bearing component in between said superior body component and said inferior body component, wherein said load-bearing component comprises:
a flanged outer periphery;
and
a bowl region connected to said flanged outer periphery of said load-bearing component, wherein said bowl region comprises a cavity extending inwardly from an upper surface of said load-bearing component;
wherein said bowl region of said superior body component fits in said cavity of said load-bearing component, and
wherein said bowl region of said load-bearing component fits in said cavity of said inferior body component.

13 more elements

A method of attaching an artificial intervertebral disc to vertebral bodies, said method comprising:

attaching an upper surface of a superior body component to a superior vertebral body, wherein said superior body component comprises:
a flanged outer periphery;
at least one projection member extending outwardly from said upper surface;
and
a bowl region connected to said flanged outer periphery of said superior body component, wherein said bowl region comprises a cavity extending inwardly from said upper surface;
attaching a bottom surface of an inferior body component to an inferior vertebral body, wherein said inferior body component comprises:
a cavity extending inwardly from an upper surface of said inferior body component;
at least one projection member outwardly extending from said bottom surface;
and
a sidewall defining an outer boundary of said cavity of said inferior body component, wherein said sidewall comprises at least one hole extending through an entire thickness of said sidewall;
inserting a load-bearing component in between said superior body component and said inferior body component, wherein said load-bearing component comprises:
a flanged outer periphery;
and
a bowl region connected to said flanged outer periphery of said load-bearing component, wherein said bowl region comprises a cavity extending inwardly from an upper surface of said load-bearing component;
creating a gap between a bottom surface of said bowl region of said load-bearing component and a top surface of said cavity of said inferior body component when said load-bearing component is seated in said inferior body component,
wherein said bowl region of said superior body component fits in said cavity of said load-bearing component, and
wherein said bowl region of said load-bearing component fits in said cavity of said inferior body component.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Artificial intervertebral disc

Life of this patent

Artificial intervertebral disc

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20