Artificial functional spinal unit assemblies
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Accused Products
Abstract
An artificial functional spinal unit is provided comprising, generally, an expandable artificial intervertebral implant that can be placed via a posterior surgical approach and used in conjunction with one or more artificial facet joints to provide an anatomically correct range of motion. Expandable artificial intervertebral implants in both lordotic and non-lordotic designs are disclosed, as well as lordotic and non-lordotic expandable cages for both PLIF (posterior lumber interbody fusion) and TLIF (transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion) procedures. The expandable implants may have various shapes, such as round, square, rectangular, banana-shaped, kidney-shaped, or other similar shapes. By virtue of their posteriorly implanted approach, the disclosed artificial FSU'"'"'s allow for posterior decompression of the neural elements, reconstruction of all or part of the natural functional spinal unit, restoration and maintenance of lordosis, maintenance of motion, and restoration and maintenance of disc space height.
395 Citations
97 Claims
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1-53. -53. (canceled)
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54. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:
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an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;
a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine;
an insert configured to be positioned in a channel of the lower body and between the superior surface of the lower body and the inferior surface of the upper body before insertion of the intervertebral implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra of the human spine;
an expansion member configured to engage the insert to increase a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body after insertion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine; and
wherein the intervertebral implant is configured such that increasing the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body allows increased articulation of the intervertebral implant. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:
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an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;
a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine;
an insert comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the insert is configured to be positioned in a channel of the lower body and between the superior surface of the lower body and the inferior surface of the upper body before insertion of the intervertebral implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra of the human spine;
an expansion member configured to engage the insert to increase a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body after insertion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine, wherein the intervertebral implant is configured such that increasing the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body allows increased articulation of the intervertebral implant; and
wherein the intervertebral implant comprises a substantially elongated anterior side, a substantially elongated posterior side, and two ends, and wherein the intervertebral implant comprises an opening on or proximate the posterior side or on or proximate one of the ends for insertion or engagement of the expansion member from a posterior approach after insertion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64)
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65. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:
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an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;
a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine;
an insert configured to be positioned between the superior surface of the lower body and the inferior surface of the upper body such that a height of the intervertebral implant is substantially equal to a height of the lower body plus a height of the upper body before insertion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine; and
an expansion member configured to engage and raise the insert above the superior surface of the lower body to increase a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body after insertion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68)
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69. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:
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an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;
a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine;
an insert comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the insert is configured to be positioned between the superior surface of the lower body and the inferior surface of the upper body such that a height of the intervertebral implant exceeds a height of the lower body plus a height of the upper body;
an expansion member configured to engage and raise the insert above the superior surface of the lower body to increase a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body after insertion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine; and
wherein the implant is configured such that increasing the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body allows increased articulation of the intervertebral implant. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72)
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73-92. -92. (canceled)
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93. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:
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an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;
a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine;
an insert comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the insert is configured to be positioned between the superior surface of the lower body and the inferior surface of the upper body before insertion of the intervertebral implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra of the human spine;
an expansion member configured to engage the insert to increase a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body to allow increased articulation of the intervertebral implant after insertion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine; and
wherein increasing the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body comprises elevating the insert from the lower body by a distance substantially equivalent to a height of the expansion member. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96)
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97-106. -106. (canceled)
Specification