Intervertebral Disc Restoration
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An intervertebral disc implant which includes:
- an envelope of a stretchable and elastically deformable elastomeric material, the envelope including an attaching formation for attachment to an introducer to enable the envelope, in a collapsed state, to be introduced into a volume of an intervertebral disc that has undergone a nucleotomy; and
a filler material receivable in the envelope via the introducer to cause the envelope to expand elastically to conform substantially to the volume in which the envelope is received, in use.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intervertebral disc implant (10) includes an envelope (12) of a stretchable and elastically deformable elastomeric material. The envelope includes an attaching formation (74) for attachment of an introducer (76) to enable the envelope, in a collapsed state, to be introduced into a volume of an intervertebral disc that has undergone a nucleotomy. A filler material (14) is receivable in the envelope via the introducer to cause the envelope to expand elastically to conform substantially to the volume in which the envelope is received.
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Citations
80 Claims
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1. An intervertebral disc implant which includes:
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an envelope of a stretchable and elastically deformable elastomeric material, the envelope including an attaching formation for attachment to an introducer to enable the envelope, in a collapsed state, to be introduced into a volume of an intervertebral disc that has undergone a nucleotomy; and a filler material receivable in the envelope via the introducer to cause the envelope to expand elastically to conform substantially to the volume in which the envelope is received, in use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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17. An intervertebral disc implant which includes:
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an envelope, the envelope including an attaching formation for attachment to an introducer to enable the envelope, in a collapsed state, to be introduced into a volume of an intervertebral disc that has undergone a nucleotomy; and a filler material receivable in the envelope after placement of the envelope in the volume of the disc, in use, to cause expansion of the envelope to conform to the volume, the filler material comprising a plurality of discrete, elongate elements introducible, via the introducer, into an interior of the envelope. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An intervertebral disc implant which includes:
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an envelope of a stretchable and elastically deformable elastomeric material, the envelope including an attaching formation for attachment to an introducer to enable the envelope, in a collapsed state, to be introduced into a volume of an intervertebral disc that has undergone a nucleotomy; and a filler material receivable in the envelope via the introducer to cause the envelope to expand elastically to conform substantially to the volume in which the envelope is received, in use, the filler material being a foamed material which is introduced in a compressed state via the introducer into the interior of the envelope where it expands to its relaxed state to cause the envelope to conform to-the volume. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. An intervertebral disc implant which includes:
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an envelope, the envelope including an attaching formation for attachment to an introducer to enable the envelope, in a collapsed state, to be introduced, in a minimally invasive manner, into a volume of an intervertebral disc that has undergone a nucleotomy; and a filler material receivable in the envelope after placement of the envelope in the volume of the disc, in use, to cause expansion of the envelope to conform to the volume, the filler material comprising, in combination, a curable filler material and a plurality of discrete, biocompatible elements contained, in use, in the filler material within the envelope. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An intervertebral disc implant which includes:
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an envelope of a stretchable and elastically deformable elastomeric material, the envelope including an attaching formation for attachment to an introducer to enable the envelope, in a collapsed state, to be introduced into a volume of an intervertebral disc that has undergone a nucleotomy; and a filler material receivable in the envelope via the introducer to cause the envelope to expand elastically to conform substantially to the volume in which the envelope is received, in use, the filler material being an elastomeric material having a viscosity of at least 500000 cP. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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48. An intervertebral disc implant which includes:
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an envelope receivable in a volume of an intervertebral disc that has undergone a nucleotomy, the envelope defining a plurality of chambers, the chambers being configured so that, when at least certain of the chambers contain a filler material, the envelope conforms substantially to the volume of the disc; a filler material receivable in the at least certain of the chambers; and at least one of the chambers having a filler mechanism associated with it. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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- 58. An intervertebral disc implant which includes at least one element which changes from a first configuration for insertion into a volume of an intervertebral disc that has undergone a nucleotomy to a second configuration in which the at least one element conforms substantially to the volume, the at least one element being configured to be received, in its first configuration, in an introducer to be inserted into the volume of the disc.
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68. A method of implanting an intervertebral disc implant into an intervertebral disc, the method including:
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percutaneously performing a nucleotomy on the disc to remove a nucleus pulposus of the disc to create a volume; inserting an envelope of the implant into the volume; charging an interior of the envelope with filler material in a manner to allow the envelope to expand to conform substantially to the volume; and causing the interior of the envelope to be closed off to retain the filler material within the envelope, the filler material being selected to mimic natural biomechanical characteristics of the nucleus pulposus of the disc. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A method of implanting an intervertebral disc implant into an intervertebral disc, the method including:
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percutaneously performing a nucleotomy on the disc to remove a nucleus pulposus of the disc to create a volume; inserting an introducer into an opening formed in an annulus of the disc; and introducing into the volume, via the introducer, at least one element which changes from a first configuration, in which the at least one element is able to be inserted into the introducer, to a second configuration in which the at least one element conforms substantially to the volume. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. An introducer for introducing an intervertebral disc implant into a disc that has undergone a nucleotomy, the introducer including:
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at least two sleeves arranged telescopically with respect to each other; and a displacement mechanism arranged on an operatively inner surface of an innermost one of the sleeves for assisting in displacing filler material along the sleeves into an interior of the disc, in use. - View Dependent Claims (80)
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Specification