Artificial disc device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A prosthetic spinal nucleus device for replacing a nucleus of a spinal disc and for being implanted between adjacent axially spaced upper and lower vertebrae, the device comprising:
- a rigid upper shell for contacting the upper vertebra and sized to fit within an annulus of the spinal disc;
a rigid lower shell for contacting the lower vertebra and sized to fit within the annulus of the spinal disc; and
at least one bearing member between the upper and lower shells and allowing for relative movement between the upper and lower shells such that the annulus retains the device therein.
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Abstract
An artificial disc device for replacing a damaged nucleus is disclosed. In one form, the device may be inserted in components such that the device may be assembled within and retained by the natural annulus therein. In another form, the device may be inserted into the natural annulus in a collapsed or compressed state or arrangement and then be expanded within and retained by the annulus therein.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A prosthetic spinal nucleus device for replacing a nucleus of a spinal disc and for being implanted between adjacent axially spaced upper and lower vertebrae, the device comprising:
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a rigid upper shell for contacting the upper vertebra and sized to fit within an annulus of the spinal disc;
a rigid lower shell for contacting the lower vertebra and sized to fit within the annulus of the spinal disc; and
at least one bearing member between the upper and lower shells and allowing for relative movement between the upper and lower shells such that the annulus retains the device therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A prosthetic spinal nucleus device for replacing a nucleus of a spinal disc and for being implanted between adjacent axially spaced upper and lower vertebrae, the device comprising:
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a rigid upper shell for contacting the upper vertebra and sized to fit within an annulus of the spinal disc;
a rigid lower shell for contacting the lower vertebra and sized to fit within the annulus of the spinal disc; and
at least one bearing member between the upper and lower shells and allowing for polyaxial movement and sliding of the upper and lower shells movement between the upper and lower shells. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A prosthetic spinal nucleus device for replacing a nucleus of a spinal disc and for being implanted between adjacent axially spaced upper and lower vertebrae, the device comprising:
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a rigid upper shell with a convex top surface for contacting the upper vertebra and selected according to a concavity of the vertebra top surface, the shell being sized to fit within an annulus of the spinal disc;
a rigid lower shell with a convex bottom surface for contacting the lower vertebra and selected according to a concavity of the lower vertebrae, the shell being sized to fit within the annulus of the spinal disc; and
at least one bearing member between the upper and lower shells and allowing for relative movement between the upper and lower shells. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of replacing a nucleus of a spinal disc, the steps including:
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providing an implant device including a plurality of components;
determining a minimum bounded loop size through which each of the components can pass;
providing an incision in an annulus of the spinal disc such that the incision forms a deformable bounded loop sized according to the minimum bound loop size through which each of the components can pass;
orienting the components for insertion through the incision;
inserting sequentially the components through the incision; and
assembling the components to form the device within the annulus. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of replacing a nucleus of a spinal disc, the steps including:
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providing an implant device having a rigid top member, a rigid bottom member, and a spacer member;
assembling the device in a collapsed arrangement with a pre-determined size in a pre-determined direction;
providing an incision in an annulus of the spinal disc such that the incision forms a deformable bounded loop sized according to the pre-determined size such that the device in the collapsed arrangement can pass through the incision;
inserting the device in the collapsed arrangement through the incision; and
expanding the device such that the device has an expanded arrangement with a size greater than the pre-determined size at least in the pre-determined direction. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification