# US 9,867,712 B2 · Artificial cervical and lumbar discs, disc plate insertion gun for performing sequential single plate intervertebral implantation enabling symmetric bi-disc plate alignment for interplate mobile core placement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,867,712 B2 - Document ID: US9867712B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/739,327 - Filed: 2015-06-15 - Published: 2016-04-14 - Granted: 2018-01-16 - Earliest claimed: 2004-05-12 - Assignees: Nathan C. Moskowitz - Applicants: Nathan C. Moskowitz - Inventors: Nathan C. Moskowitz; Mosheh T. Moskowitz; Ahmnon D. Moskowitz; Pablo A. Valdivia Y. Alvarado - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9867712B2 ## CPC - 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 2/4425: {made of articulated components} - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61F 2002/30125: {elliptical or oval} - A61F 2002/30604: {modular} - A61F 2002/30649: {Ball-and-socket joints} - A61F 2002/30662: {with rotation-limiting means} - A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes} - A61F 2002/443: {having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component} - A61F 2230/0008: elliptical or oval - A61F 2230/008: paraboloidal - 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 An artificial replacement disc includes a pair of substantially parallel plates formed to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates, each of the plates including a plurality of spikes on a first surface and a concave trough formed on a second surface opposite of the first surface. A mobile core includes a core rim with opposing convex surfaces extending from opposite sides of the core rim, the mobile core being capable of being disposed between the pair of plates to permit the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. The spikes on each of the plates extend substantially away from the mobile core and the convex surfaces are formed to integrally fit within the concave trough of at least one of the plates. The core rim limits lateral movement of the mobile core relative to the parallel plates. One or more insertion tools for inserting and implanting the replacement disc are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical tool for inserting an artificial disc between vertebral endplates, the tool comprising: a handle portion comprising a trigger, an upper disc plate release button, and a lower disc plate release button; and an elongate insertion portion extending distally away from the handle portion, the elongate insertion portion comprising an upper replacement plate releasing portion and a lower replacement plate releasing portion positioned opposite of the upper replacement plate releasing portion, the upper replacement plate releasing portion comprising a release handle and a release link configured to engage and release a periphery of an upper replacement plate, wherein the upper replacement plate releasing portion is biased toward a closed position when the upper disc plate release button is not actuated, and the upper replacement plate releasing portion is opened when the upper disc plate release button is actuated; and the lower replacement plate releasing portion comprising a release handle and a release link configured to engage and release a periphery of a lower replacement plate, wherein the lower replacement plate releasing portion is biased toward a closed position when the lower disc plate release button is not actuated, and the lower replacement plate releasing portion is opened when the lower disc plate release button is actuated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical tool according to claim 1, wherein the elongate insertion portion includes an upper tip portion and a lower tip portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical tool according to claim 2, wherein the upper tip portion and the lower tip portion are curved to facilitate posterior insertion of a lumbar replacement disc in a patient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical tool according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper or lower replacement plate releasing portions comprises a leaf spring, a tension cable and a wedge portion proximally disposed relative to the respective release handle and the release link. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surgical tool according to claim 4, wherein the upper and lower replacement plate releasing portions each include a leaf spring, a tension cable and a wedge portion proximally disposed relative to the respective release handle and the release link. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical tool according to claim 1, further comprising a replacement disc plate driver portion for driving a replacement disc plate from a first, proximal position toward a second, distal position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical tool according to claim 1, wherein the upper replacement plate releasing portion is configured to secure an upper replacement plate in a position opposite from and axially aligned with a center of a lower replacement plate held within the lower replacement releasing portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the upper replacement plate releasing portion includes an angled tip portion and the lower replacement plate releasing portion includes an angled tip portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein each of the upper replacement plate and the lower replacement plate has a bean-shaped plate, and wherein the upper replacement plate releasing portion and the lower replacement plate releasing portion are configured to support the bean-shaped upper replacement plate and the bean-shaped lower replacement plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, and further comprising means for opening the upper replacement plate releasing portion in response to actuation of the upper disc plate release button. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, and further comprising means for opening the lower replacement plate releasing portion in response to actuation of the lower disc plate release button. ### Claim 12 A surgical tool for inserting an artificial disc between vertebral endplates, wherein the artificial disc includes an upper replacement plate and a lower replacement plate formed to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates and a mobile core capable of being disposed between the upper replacement plate and the lower replacement plate to permit the upper replacement plate and the lower replacement plate to move relative to one another, the tool comprising: a handle portion comprising a trigger, an upper disc plate release button, and a lower disc plate release button; and an insertion portion extending distally away from the handle portion, the insertion portion comprising an upper replacement plate releasing portion and a lower replacement plate releasing portion, the upper replacement plate releasing portion comprising a release handle and a release link configured to engage and release a periphery of the upper replacement plate; and the lower replacement plate releasing portion comprising a release handle and a release link configured to engage and release a periphery of the lower replacement plate, wherein the upper replacement plate releasing portion includes an angled tip portion and the lower replacement plate releasing portion includes an angled tip portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The surgical tool of claim 12, wherein at least one of the upper or lower replacement plate releasing portions comprises a leaf spring, a tension cable and a wedge portion proximally disposed relative to the respective release handle and the release link. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical tool of claim 13, wherein the upper and lower replacement plate releasing portions each include a leaf spring, a tension cable and a wedge portion proximally disposed relative to the respective release handle and the release link. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The surgical tool of claim 12, further comprising a replacement disc plate driver portion for driving a replacement disc plate from a first, proximal position toward a second, distal position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The surgical tool of claim 12, wherein the upper replacement plate releasing portion is configured to secure the upper replacement plate in a position opposite from and axially aligned with a center of the lower replacement plate held within the lower replacement releasing portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The surgical tool of claim 12, wherein each of the upper replacement plate and the lower replacement plate has a bean-shaped plate, and wherein the upper replacement plate releasing portion and the lower replacement plate releasing portion are configured to support the bean-shaped upper replacement plate and the bean-shaped lower replacement plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The surgical tool of claim 12, and further comprising means for opening the upper replacement plate releasing portion in response to actuation of the upper disc plate release button. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The surgical tool of claim 12, and further comprising means for opening the lower replacement plate releasing portion in response to actuation of the lower disc plate release button.