Intervertebral implant with conformable endplate
First Claim
1. An intervertebral implant, comprising:
- (a) a first conformable endplate having a rigid inner surface, the first conformable endplate being conformable to a boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load;
(b) a second endplate having a rigid inner surface opposing the rigid inner surface of the first conformable endplate; and
(c) a core between the endplates, wherein the first conformable endplate partitions the core from the boney vertebral endplate, whereby the core does not contact the boney vertebral endplate, wherein the core supports boney vertebral endplates between which the conformable endplates have been placed and the position of each conformable endplate is independent of the position of the other endplate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intervertebral implant replaces an intervertebral disc of the human spine. The intervertebral implant includes a first conformable endplate, the first conformable endplate being conformable to a boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load, a second endplate and a core between the endplates, wherein the first conformable endplate partitions the core from the boney vertebral endplate, whereby the core does not contact the boney vertebral endplate. The invention is also directed to a method of replacing an intervertebral disc. The method includes removing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc to form an intervertebral disc space, implanting a first conformable endplate, into the intervertebral disc space and in contact with a first boney vertebral endplate, the first conformable endplate being conformable to the first boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load; implanting a second endplate into the intervertebral disc space and in contact with a second boney vertebral endplate; and implanting a core between the first conformable endplate and the second endplate, wherein the first conformable endplate partitions the core from the first boney vertebral endplate, whereby the core does not contact the first boney vertebral endplate.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An intervertebral implant, comprising:
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(a) a first conformable endplate having a rigid inner surface, the first conformable endplate being conformable to a boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load;
(b) a second endplate having a rigid inner surface opposing the rigid inner surface of the first conformable endplate; and
(c) a core between the endplates, wherein the first conformable endplate partitions the core from the boney vertebral endplate, whereby the core does not contact the boney vertebral endplate, wherein the core supports boney vertebral endplates between which the conformable endplates have been placed and the position of each conformable endplate is independent of the position of the other endplate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A kit, comprising:
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(a) at least two first conformable endplates, each first conformable endplate being conformable to a boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load, each first conformable endplate having at least one dimension that is distinct from another conformable endplate of the kit;
(b) at least two second endplates, each second endplate having at least one dimension that is distinct from another second endplate of the kit, wherein each endplate includes a rigid inner surface; and
(c) at least one core, the core being dimensioned for implantation between a first conformable endplate and a second endplate in an intervertebral space that has been prepared for placement of the first conformable endplate, the second endplate and the core, wherein, upon implantation, the first conformable endplate partitions the core from a first boney vertebral endplate with which the first conformable endplate is in contact, whereby the core does not contact the first boney vertebral endplate, wherein the core supports boney vertebral endplates between which the conformable endplates have been placed and the position of each conformable endplate is independent of the position of the other endplate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An intervertebral implant, comprising:
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(a) two conformable endplates, each endplate includes a material that conforms to a boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load, wherein each endplate includes a rigid inner surface; and
(b) a core between the endplates, the core supporting boney vertebral endplates between which the conformable endplates have been placed and wherein the position of each conformable endplate is independent of the position of the other endplate.
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24. A method of replacing an intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
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(a) removing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc to form an intervertebral disc space;
(b) implanting a first conformable endplate, into the intervertebral disc space and in contact with a first boney vertebral endplate, the first conformable endplate being conformable to the first boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load;
(c) implanting a second endplate into the intervertebral disc space and in contact with a second boney vertebral endplate, wherein each endplate includes a rigid inner surface; and
(d) implanting a core between the first conformable endplate and the second endplate, wherein the first conformable endplate partitions the core from the first boney vertebral endplate, whereby the core does not contact the first boney vertebral endplate, wherein the core supports boney vertebral endplates between which the conformable endplates have been placed and the position of each conformable endplate is independent of the position of the other endplate. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification