Prosthetic disc and method of implanting
First Claim
1. An elongated cylindrical prosthetic intervertebral disc capsule adapted to be inserted in a sagittal direction within the nucleus of a damaged disc, said capsule having a diameter approximating the height of a human disc space and a length approximating the sagittal diameter of the nucleus of the disc, and said capsule comprising:
- an outer layer of strong, inert fibers intermingled with a bioresorbable material which attracts tissue ingrowth, anda fluid-filled bladder, such that when two of these capsules are inserted side-by-side into the nucleus of the anulus of a damaged disc, each lying near one of the lateral edges of the disc and spaced from the other capsule, they will maintain both height and motion, including front-to-back bending, at the disc space, but will limit rotation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
By implanting two prosthetic disc capsules side-by-side into a damaged disc of a human spine, both height and motion, including front-to-back bending, can be maintained. The prosthetic disc capsules have an outer layer of strong, inert fibers intermingled with a bioresorbable material which attracts tissue ingrowth, a bladder enveloped by the layer, and a thixotropic gel filling the bladder. The prosthetic disc capsules can be surgically implanted by (1) jacking apart the vertebrae adjacent a damaged disc, (2) forming a substantially sagital bore in the damaged disc near each of its lateral edges, and (3) inserting one of the capsules axially into each bore.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An elongated cylindrical prosthetic intervertebral disc capsule adapted to be inserted in a sagittal direction within the nucleus of a damaged disc, said capsule having a diameter approximating the height of a human disc space and a length approximating the sagittal diameter of the nucleus of the disc, and said capsule comprising:
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an outer layer of strong, inert fibers intermingled with a bioresorbable material which attracts tissue ingrowth, and a fluid-filled bladder, such that when two of these capsules are inserted side-by-side into the nucleus of the anulus of a damaged disc, each lying near one of the lateral edges of the disc and spaced from the other capsule, they will maintain both height and motion, including front-to-back bending, at the disc space, but will limit rotation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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- 12. A surgical procedure involving the implantation of two prosthetic disc capsules side-by-side into the nucleus of the anulus of a damaged disc, said procedure comprising the steps of:
- 13. (1) jacking apart the vertebrae adjacent to a damaged disc,
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14. (2) forming a substantially sagittal bore in the damaged disc near each of its lateral edges and spaced from the other bore, and
(3) inserting an elongated inflatable cylindrical disc capsule axially into each bore.
Specification