# US 8,771,357 B2 · Flexible space holder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,357 B2 - Document ID: US8771357B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/121,888 - Filed: 2005-05-04 - Published: 2005-12-01 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2004-05-04 - Assignees: Biedermann Technologies GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Lutz Biedermann; Jürgen Harms; Wilfried Matthis - Inventors: Lutz Biedermann; Jürgen Harms; Wilfried Matthis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771357B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine} - A61F 2/44: for the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs - A61F 2/442: {Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient (non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455)} - A61F 2/30767: {Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth} - A61F 2002/30148: {lozenge- or diamond-shaped} - A61F 2002/30563: {having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers} - A61F 2002/30566: {Helical springs} - A61F 2002/30818: {castellated or crenellated} - A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes} - A61F 2230/0017: Angular shapes - A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract The present invention refers to a flexible space holder for temporary or permanent introdution into a human or animal body of at least one biocompatible, rigid material having a tube-like body (1), with one or more flexible areas being formed by material recesses mare provided for. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A space holder for vertebrae and for intervertebral discs of at least one biocompatible material, the space holder comprising: a tube-like body having a longitudinal axis, the tube-like body comprising at least one rigid section having a tubular wall with a plurality of holes through the wall, and a flexible section adjacent to the rigid section, the flexible section having a helical recess separate from the plurality of holes; wherein the rigid section of the tube-like body further comprises an end portion configured to engage a body part, wherein the rigid and flexible sections are a continuous one-piece element; wherein the tubular wall of the rigid section defines an interior cavity radially inward from tubular wall, and each of the plurality of holes extending radially through the tubular wall to the interior cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The space holder according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible material is selected from the group comprising titanium, titanium alloys and plastics. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The space holder according to claim 1, wherein the recess is a groove-like recess formed in the wall of said tube-like body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The space holder according to claim 3, wherein the recess is an open aperture in the wall of said tube-like body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The space holder according to claim 1, wherein two recesses are formed in the tube-like body of said space holder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The space holder according to claim 5, wherein said two recesses are groove-like recesses. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The space holder according to claim 5, wherein said two recesses are intertwined. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The space holder according to claim 1, wherein said space holder is compressible and extendable along a longitudinal axis of the tube-like body, bendable relative to the longitudinal axis, and torsionable about the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The space holder according to claim 1, wherein the end portion comprises projections. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The space holder according to claim 9, wherein said projections comprise serrations for engagement with adjacent body parts. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The space holder according to claim 10, wherein said projections are triangular. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The space holder according to claim 10, wherein said projections are trapezoidal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The space holder according to claim 1, wherein the tube-like body is elastically extendable or compressible by about 0.5 to about 20% in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The space holder according to claim 13, wherein the tube-like body is elastically extendable or compressible by about 1 to about 15% in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The space holder according to claim 1, wherein the tube-like body is elastically bendable about a radial axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The space holder according to claim 15, wherein the end portion can pivot by about 0.5 to about 10° from a longitudinal axis of the tube-like body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The space holder according to claim 16, wherein the end portion can pivot about 1 to about 6° from the longitudinal axis of the tube-like body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The space holder according to claim 1, wherein said tube-like body is torsionable about a longitudinal axis, wherein the end portion is torsionable by about 0.5 to about 2.5°. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The space holder of claim 1, wherein the end portion has serrations around a circumference of the tubular wall, the serrations being configured to engage the body part. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The space holder of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes are formed by intersecting bars of the rigid section around a circumference of the tubular wall. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The space holder of claim 20, wherein the intersecting bars form serrations to engage the body part. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The space holder of claim 21, wherein the serrations have a trapezoidal shape and are separated by triangular recesses around the circumference of the tubular wall. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The space holder of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes comprises a row of diamond-shaped openings extending continuously around the circumference of the tubular wall. ### Claim 24 A space holder for vertebrae and for intervertebral discs of at least one biocompatible material, the space holder comprising: a tube-like body comprising at least one rigid section having a tubular wall with a plurality of holes through the wall configured for growth of tissue, and a flexible section adjacent to the rigid section, the flexible section having at least one recess having a different shape than the plurality of holes and being separate from the plurality of holes; wherein the rigid section of the tube-like body further comprises an end portion configured to engage a body part; wherein the end portion has serrations around a circumference of the tubular wall for engagement with the body part; wherein the entire space holder is a monolithic body. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The space holder according to claim 24, wherein the at least one recess is a helical recess. ### Claim 26 A space holder for vertebrae and for intervertebral discs of at least one biocompatible material, the space holder comprising: a tube-like body having a longitudinal axis, the tube-like body comprising at least one rigid section having a tubular wall with a plurality of holes through the wall, and a flexible section adjacent to the rigid section, the flexible section having a helical recess separate from the plurality of holes; wherein the rigid section of the tube-like body further comprising an end portion configured to engage a body part; wherein the tubular wall of the rigid section defines an interior cavity radially inward from the tubular wall, and each of the plurality of holes extending radially through the tubular wall to the interior cavity; wherein the end portion comprises projections to engage a body part; and, wherein the entire tube-like body including the at least one rigid section, the flexible section and the projections is a monolithic body.