System and method for replacing degenerated spinal disks
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An artificial replacement disk that is positionable between vertebrae comprising:
- an upper housing including an upper cavity;
a lower housing including a lower cavity;
a first spacer and a second spacer, said first and second spacers mounted on a shaft with a resisting member located between the first and the second spacers, which resisting member can urge said first and second spacers apart; and
said first and second spacers partially located in said upper cavity and partially located in said lower cavity.
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Abstract
A system and method for replacing degenerated spinal disks in accordance with the present invention can substitute for interbody fusion techniques by replacing degenerated spinal disks with artificial spinal disks. In one embodiment, the system can comprise one or more artificial spinal disks, each comprising an upper and lower housing, a first spacer and a second spacer partially enclosed by a cavity formed by the housings, and a shaft with a spring positioned between the first spacer and the second spacer such that the spacers are urged apart.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. An artificial replacement disk that is positionable between vertebrae comprising:
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an upper housing including an upper cavity;
a lower housing including a lower cavity;
a first spacer and a second spacer, said first and second spacers mounted on a shaft with a resisting member located between the first and the second spacers, which resisting member can urge said first and second spacers apart; and
said first and second spacers partially located in said upper cavity and partially located in said lower cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 68, 73, 74)
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16. An artificial replacement disk that is positionable between vertebrae comprising:
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a first housing including a first cavity;
a second housing including a second cavity;
a first spacer and a second spacer, said first and second spacers mounted on a shaft with a resisting member located between the first and the second spacers, which resisting member can urge said first and second spacers apart; and
said first and second spacers partially located in said first cavity and partially located in said second cavity; and
when the first housing is urged toward the second housing the first and the second spacers move relative to each other and against the resisting member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69)
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19. An artificial replacement disk that is positionable between vertebrae comprising:
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an first housing and a second housing; and
means located between the first housing and the second housing for moving at an angle with respect to a direction that the first housing and the second housing can be urged together in order to absorb energy when the first housing and the second housing are urged together.
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20. An artificial replacement disk comprising:
a housing that can move in a first direction in order to move a spacer along the housing in a second direction in order to change the over all dimensions of the housing.
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21. An artificial replacement disk that is positionable between vertebrae comprising:
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a first housing including a cavity;
a second housing;
a first spacer and a second spacer, said first and second spacers mounted on a shaft with a resisting member located between the first and the second spacers, which resisting member can urge said first and second spacers apart;
said first and second spacers at least partially located in said cavity;
wherein the cavity has a sloping portion, and a cylindrical portion; and
when the first housing is urged toward the second housing the first and the second spacers move relative to each other and against the resisting member with one of the first and second spacers moving along the sloping portion of the cavity and toward the cylindrical portion.
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22. An artificial spinal disk adapted to be positioned between adjacent vertebrae of a spine, comprising:
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an upper plate;
a lower plate positioned opposite the upper plate such that a gap having a maximum width exists between the lower plate and the upper plate;
a device that can urge the upper and lower plates apart; and
wherein when the upper plate and the lower plate are urged together, the gap between a portion of each of the upper plate and the lower plate narrows, such that the gap between a remaining portion of each of the upper plate and the lower plate is no wider than the maximum width. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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37. An artificial spinal disk adapted to be positioned between adjacent vertebrae of a spine, comprising:
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a first portion, including;
a first upper plate;
a first lower plate positioned opposite the first upper plate such that a gap having a maximum width exists between the first lower plate and the first upper plate;
a first device that can urge the first upper and first lower plates apart; and
wherein when the first upper plate and the first lower plate are urged together, the gap between a portion of each of the first upper plate and the first lower plate narrows, such that the gap between a remaining portion of each of the first upper plate and the first lower plate is no wider than the maximum width;
a second portion, including;
a second upper plate;
a second lower plate positioned opposite the second upper plate such that a gap having a maximum width exists between the second lower plate and the second upper plate;
a second device that can urge the second upper and second lower plates apart;
wherein when the second upper plate and the second lower plate are urged together, the gap between a portion of each of the second upper plate and the second lower plate narrows, such that the gap between a remaining portion of each of the second upper plate and the second lower plate is no wider than the maximum width;
a device that can join the first portion with the second portion.
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38. A artificial spinal disk for substituting at least a portion of a spinal disk between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
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an upper housing adapted to be positioned adjacent to a first vertebra;
a lower housing positioned opposite the upper housing, the lower housing adapted to be positioned adjacent to a second vertebra;
an first spacer positioned between the upper housing and the lower housing such that an first gap can exist between an first end of the upper housing and an first end of the lower housing;
a second spacer positioned between the upper housing and the lower housing such that a second gap can exist between a second end of the upper housing and a second end of the lower housing;
a shaft;
the first spacer and the second spacer mounted on the shaft;
a device that can urge the first and second spacer apart; and
wherein when the upper housing and the lower housing are urged together, the space between the first spacer and the second spacer can be reduced. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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53. An artificial spinal disk that is adapted to be placed between adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, comprising:
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an upper elongated housing;
a lower elongated housing;
a first spacer and a second spacer positioned relative to an elongated shaft between the first and second housings with the elongated shaft being about parallel to the upper and lower elongated housings;
a spring mechanism positioned along said shaft in order to urge said first and second spacers apart; and
wherein when the upper and lower housings are urged together at least one of the first and second spacers can move relative to the other against the spring mechanism - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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70. An artificial replacement disk that is positionable between vertebrae comprising:
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a first housing including a first cavity and a second cavity;
a second housing including a third cavity and a fourth cavity;
wherein the first cavity and the third cavities are aligned with each other and are provide along an anterior/posterior line relative to a spine when the disk is implanted in a spine;
wherein the second cavity and the fourth cavities are aligned with each other and are provide along an anterior/posterior line relative to a spine when the disk is implanted in a spine;
a first spacer and a second spacer, said first and second spacers mounted on a first shaft with a first resisting member located between the first and the second spacers, which first resisting member can urge said first and second spacers apart; and
said first and second spacers partially located in said first cavity and partially located in said second cavity;
a third spacer and a fourth spacer, said third and fourth spacers mounted on a second shaft with a second resisting member located between the first and the second spacers, which second resisting member can urge said third and fourth spacers apart; and
said third and fourth spacers partially located in said third cavity and partially located in said fourth cavity; and
when the first housing is urged toward the second housing at least one of the first and the second spacers move relative to each other and against the first resisting member and the third and fourth spaces move relative to each other and against the second resisting member. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72)
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Specification