Disc prosthesis
First Claim
1. An implant of a biocompatible metallic body having a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls extending therebetween to define a substantially D-shaped interior space, and wherein each side wall defines a substantially arcuate curve joining one end of the front wall and one end of the rear wall, and wherein each wall contains at least one opening therein, the upper and lower surfaces of the two side walls having a plurality of teeth extending therefrom for engaging adjacent vertebral bodies, the implant being made of a biocompatible metal, the side walls tapering in height from the rear wall to the front wall;
- wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the front and rear walls each lack teeth, and have a height substantially similar to that of a portion of the side wall adjacent the front and rear walls.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a spinal disc implant comprising two side walls which are opposed and substantially parallel spaced apart by a front wall and a back wall to define an interior space. The side walls define substantially elliptical curves joining the front and back walls. The front wall is also curved and the back wall may be either curved or straight. The walls may have openings or holes which may be circular or elliptical in shape. The upper and lower edges of the implant have a plurality of teeth extending therefrom for engaging adjacent vertebrae. The implant is made of a biocompatible metal such as titanium or an alloy thereof, and the first and second sides tapering from the second end to the first end. The interior space has a porous hydroxyapatite block shaped to fill the interior space. The porous hydroxyapatite substance helps the prosthesis integrate into the vertebral structure by allowing into the pores.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An implant of a biocompatible metallic body having a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls extending therebetween to define a substantially D-shaped interior space, and wherein each side wall defines a substantially arcuate curve joining one end of the front wall and one end of the rear wall, and wherein each wall contains at least one opening therein, the upper and lower surfaces of the two side walls having a plurality of teeth extending therefrom for engaging adjacent vertebral bodies, the implant being made of a biocompatible metal, the side walls tapering in height from the rear wall to the front wall;
- wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the front and rear walls each lack teeth, and have a height substantially similar to that of a portion of the side wall adjacent the front and rear walls.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An implant of a biocompatible metal for replacing a diseased spinal disk, comprising:
- a generally D-shaped body, the body including a curved front wall, a substantially straight rear wall, and a pair of spaced apart arcuate side walls connecting the front and rear walls, the side walls including a plurality of teeth on upper and lower surfaces thereof;
the front and rear walls lacking teeth and having a height equal to that of the side walls less approximately twice the height of the teeth;
the rear wall also having a notch on an upper and lower edge thereof for engaging an insertion instrument;
the side walls sloping from the front wall to the rear wall such that the height of the front wall exceeds the height of the rear wall by about 3 mm. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
- a generally D-shaped body, the body including a curved front wall, a substantially straight rear wall, and a pair of spaced apart arcuate side walls connecting the front and rear walls, the side walls including a plurality of teeth on upper and lower surfaces thereof;
Specification