FLEXIBLE SPINAL IMPLANT
First Claim
1. A spinal implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space, the implant comprising:
- a leading end;
a trailing end flexibly connected to the leading end; and
a locking mechanism adapted to lockingly engage the spinal implant to prevent motion between the leading end and trailing end;
wherein the implant is deformable about a flexible section to thereby permit a substantially straight entry of the implant into a selected disc space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible spinal implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space for sagittal and/or coronal intervertebral stabilization is provided comprising a flexible implant which enables bending of the flexible implant to facilitate insertion of the flexible spinal implant into the disc space via a spinal surgical procedure. The flexible spinal implant comprises a leading end, a trailing end flexibly connected to the leading end, a locking mechanism, wherein the implant is deformable at or about a flexible section to thereby permit a substantially straight entry of the implant into the disc space, and delivered to the selected disc space at a desired insertion angle of approach via a spinal surgical procedure. The implant can have a leading end comprising a curved or bullet shaped configuration, and the flexible section may be comprised of a flexible material or flexible sections which may be lockingly engaged.
148 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A spinal implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space, the implant comprising:
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a leading end; a trailing end flexibly connected to the leading end; and a locking mechanism adapted to lockingly engage the spinal implant to prevent motion between the leading end and trailing end; wherein the implant is deformable about a flexible section to thereby permit a substantially straight entry of the implant into a selected disc space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An implant system for insertion into an intervertebral disc space, the implant comprising:
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a spinal implant deformable about a flexible section to thereby permit a substantially straight entry of the implant into a selected disc space, the spinal implant comprising a leading end including a leading end locking passage, a trailing end flexibly connected to the leading end, and having a trailing end locking passage which substantially aligns with the leading end locking passage when the implant is inserted into a selected disc space; and a locking member adapted to be inserted into the leading end locking passage and trailing end locking passage to lockingly engage the spinal implant to prevent motion between the leading end and trailing end; wherein, in locking engagement, the locking member spans the flexible section at a pivotal connection and is at least partially inserted into both the substantially aligned leading end locking passage and trailing end locking passage thereby preventing motion between the leading end and the trailing end. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A spinal implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space, the implant comprising:
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a leading end; a trailing end flexibly connected to the leading end, wherein the implant is deformable about a flexible section between the leading end and trailing end to thereby permit a substantially straight entry of the implant into a selected disc space; and a locking member adapted to lockingly engage the leading end and trailing end via a friction fit or interference fit; wherein the locking member is locking engaged by spanning the flexible section at a pivotal connection between the leading end and trailing end thereby prevent motion between the leading end and the trailing end. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification