Back to results
US 9,039,766 B1Granted
Wave spring for a spinal implant
AssigneeMX Orthopedics, Corp.
InventorMatthew Fonte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spinal implant includes a wave spring configured to surround a nucleus. The spring may be formed from a shape memory material. The implant may further include an artificial nucleus configured to simulate a disc nucleus.
Claims20
A spinal implant comprising:
- a coiled wave spring configured to surround a nucleus, wherein the wave spring is formed with at least one wire having a sinusoidal shape and made of a shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material is tailored to achieve a stress-induced martensitic transformation when a critical stress is exceeded and the shape memory material is further trained to expand to a preset shape when the wave spring temperature exceeds its transition temperature.
A method of forming a spinal implant, the method comprising:
- forming a coiled wave spring, the wave spring having at least one wire with a sinusoidal shape and made of a shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material is tailored to achieve a stress-induced martensitic transformation when a critical stress is exceeded and the shape memory material is further trained to expand to a preset shape when the wave spring temperature exceeds its transition temperature;
- and
- configuring the wave spring to surrounding a nucleus.
A method of implanting a spinal implant, the method comprising:
- inserting a coiled wave spring into an intervertebral space, wherein the wave spring is formed with at least one wire having a sinusoidal shape and made of a shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material is tailored to achieve a stress-induced martensitic transformation when a critical stress is exceeded and the shape memory material is further trained to expand to a preset shape when the wave spring temperature exceeds its transition temperature;
- and
- introducing a nucleus material into an interior area of the wave spring, the nucleus material configured to simulate a disc nucleus.
A method of forming a spinal implant, the method comprising:
- providing a shape memory material with about 30-40% cold work;
- coiling a wave spring, the wave spring having at least one wire with a sinusoidal shape and made of the shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material is tailored to achieve a stress-induced martensitic transformation when a critical stress is exceeded;
- and
- subsequently age heat treating the shape memory material after coiling the wave spring.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.