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US 9,730,805 B1Granted
Intervertebral fusion device and method or use
AssigneeSpinelogik, Inc.
InventorJeffrey Paris Wensel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Some embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus that (1) delivers a fusion member between two vertebral bodies after at least a portion of the fibrocartilaginous disc between the vertebral bodies has been removed, and (2) affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes (1) a fusion member that is delivered and positioned between the vertebral bodies, (2) a delivery mechanism that delivers and positions the fusion member between the vertebral bodies, and (3) an anchoring member that affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a fusion member for positioning between two vertebral bodies, the fusion member having a first plurality of channels, each channel of the first plurality of channels having an opening on a same side of the fusion member;
- a delivery mechanism for delivering the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies, the delivery mechanism extending outside a patient's body to a medical practitioner while the delivery mechanism is coupled to the fusion member and the fusion member is positioned between the two vertebral bodies, the delivery mechanism having a second plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the first plurality of channels is configured to be aligned with a different channel of the second plurality of channels when the delivery mechanism delivers the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies;
- and
- a plurality of independent anchoring members configured to secure the fusion member to the vertebral bodies, each independent anchoring member for (i) traversing through a different channel of the fusion member, (ii) penetrating into one of the vertebral bodies, (iii) coupling the fusion member to the penetrated vertebral body, and (iv) preventing decoupling of the fusion member from the penetrated vertebral body.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a fusion member for positioning between two vertebral bodies, the fusion member having a first plurality of channels, each channel of the first plurality of channels having an opening on a same side of the fusion member;
- a delivery mechanism for delivering the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies, the delivery mechanism extending outside a patient's body to a medical practitioner while the delivery mechanism is coupled to the fusion member and the fusion member is positioned between the two vertebral bodies, the delivery mechanism having a second plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the first plurality of channels is configured to be aligned with a different channel of the second plurality of channels when the delivery mechanism delivers the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies;
- and
- a plurality of independent anchoring members configured to secure the fusion member to the vertebral bodies, each independent anchoring member for (i) coupling the fusion member to the vertebral body and (ii) preventing decoupling of the fusion member from the vertebral body, wherein each independent anchoring member comprises a passageway for receiving a hardening polymer and depositing the hardening polymer about an area in the vertebral body in which the independent anchoring member is coupled.
1 more element
A fusion device comprising:
- a fusion member for positioning between two vertebral bodies, the fusion member having a first plurality of channels, each channel of the first plurality of channels having an opening on a same side of the fusion member;
- a delivery mechanism for delivering the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies, the delivery mechanism extending outside a patient's body to a medical practitioner while the delivery mechanism is coupled to the fusion member and the fusion member is positioned between the two vertebral bodies, the delivery mechanism having a second plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the first plurality of channels is configured to be aligned with a different channel of the second plurality of channels when the delivery mechanism delivers the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies;
- and
- a plurality of independent anchoring members configured to secure the fusion member to the vertebral bodies, each independent anchoring member for (i) coupling the fusion member to the vertebral body, and (ii) preventing decoupling of the fusion member from the vertebral body.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a fusion member for positioning between two vertebral bodies, the fusion member having a first plurality of channels, each channel of the first plurality of channels having an opening on a same side of the fusion member;
- a delivery mechanism for delivering the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies, the delivery mechanism having a second plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the first plurality of channels is configured to be aligned with a different channel of the second plurality of channels when the delivery mechanism delivers the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies;
- a plurality of independent anchoring members configured to secure the fusion member to the vertebral bodies, each independent anchoring member for (i) traversing through a different channel of the fusion member, (ii) penetrating into one of the vertebral bodies, (iii) coupling the fusion member to the penetrated vertebral body, and (iv) preventing decoupling of the fusion member from the penetrated vertebral body,
- wherein each independent anchoring member is at least partially made of a flexible material.
1 more element
A fusion device comprising:
- a fusion member for positioning between two vertebral bodies, the fusion member having a first plurality of channels, each channel of the first plurality of channels having an opening on a same side of the fusion member;
- a delivery mechanism for delivering the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies, the delivery mechanism having a second plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the first plurality of channels is configured to be aligned with a different channel of the second plurality of channels when the delivery mechanism delivers the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies;
- and
- a plurality of independent anchoring members configured to secure the fusion member to the vertebral bodies, each independent anchoring member for (i) coupling the fusion member to the vertebral body, and (ii) preventing decoupling of the fusion member from the vertebral body,
- wherein each independent anchoring member is at least partially made of a flexible material.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a fusion member for positioning between two vertebral bodies, the fusion member having a first plurality of channels, each channel of the first plurality of channels having an opening on a same side of the fusion member;
- a delivery mechanism for delivering the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies, the delivery mechanism having a second plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the first plurality of channels is configured to be aligned with a different channel of the second plurality of channels when the delivery mechanism delivers the fusion member between the two vertebral bodies;
- and
- a plurality of independent anchoring members configured to secure the fusion member to the vertebral bodies, each independent anchoring member for (i) coupling the fusion member to the vertebral body and (ii) preventing decoupling of the fusion member from the vertebral body, wherein each independent anchoring member comprises a passageway for receiving a hardening polymer and depositing the hardening polymer about an area in the vertebral body in which the independent anchoring member is coupled,
- wherein each independent anchoring member is at least partially made of a flexible material.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.