Artificial disk
First Claim
1. An artificial intervertebral disk system for replacing a damaged human disk between two adjacent vertebrae in a spinal column and preserving the full range of motion and functionality of the spinal column comprising in combination;
- paired cylindrically shaped members in a vertical, stacked, mated relationship and a flexible spacer therebetween, the paired cylindrically shaped members having an upper member having a top end and a bottom end having a downwardly depending stem with a spherical socket on a distal end thereof and further having a lower member having a bottom end and a top end having an upwardly depending stem with a spherical ball on a distal end thereof adapted for rotational mating with the spherical socket, the flexible spacer completely surrounding the spherical socket and the spherical ball for maintaining the separation distance between the adjacent vertebrae and preserving the full functionality of the spinal column;
a plurality of arcuate plates for urging securement of the paired cylindrically shaped members to the two adjacent vertebrae;
a plurality of fasteners for threadably attaching the artificial disk and the plurality of arcuate plates through the two adjacent vertebrae on the spinal column;
fixture means to hold the paired cylindrically shaped members in a fixed position for urging drilling of a plurality of channels through the two adjacent vertebrae for allowing threadable engagement of each one of the plurality of fasteners with the adjacent vertebrae; and
second fixture means for temporarily holding the adjacent vertebrae in a steady motionless state for urging routing of a cavity in the adjacent vertebrae sufficiently sized to accept the paired cylindrically shaped members.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An artificial intervertebral disk for replacing a damaged human disk between two adjacent vertebrae in a human spinal column is disclosed. The invention comprises a pair of cylindrically shaped members in a vertical stacked relationship and a flexible spacer therebetween. The cylindrically shaped members are joined together in a ball and socket relationship which provides full rotational movement thereof. The flexible spacer therebetween provides the resilient compressive strength necessary to maintain the vertical separation of the adjacent vertebrae. The flexible resilient spacer completely surrounds the ball and socket portions of the cylindrically shaped members. Each cylindrically shaped member is fastened to the bone in the adjacent vertebrae with an arcuate plate and is secured with a fastener that engages the bone in the adjacent vertebrae and a threaded recess in the cylindrically shaped member. A cavity is routed out of the adjacent vertebrae by a routing guide tool and the invention is implanted in the patient by a special alignment and holding tool that allows the surgeon to drill through channels in the bone in the adjacent vertebrae in perfect alignment with threadable recesses in the cylindrically shaped members. An
sized fastener is inserted through an aperture in the arcuate plate and engages the bone material and a threaded portion the recess in the cylindrically shaped member.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An artificial intervertebral disk system for replacing a damaged human disk between two adjacent vertebrae in a spinal column and preserving the full range of motion and functionality of the spinal column comprising in combination;
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paired cylindrically shaped members in a vertical, stacked, mated relationship and a flexible spacer therebetween, the paired cylindrically shaped members having an upper member having a top end and a bottom end having a downwardly depending stem with a spherical socket on a distal end thereof and further having a lower member having a bottom end and a top end having an upwardly depending stem with a spherical ball on a distal end thereof adapted for rotational mating with the spherical socket, the flexible spacer completely surrounding the spherical socket and the spherical ball for maintaining the separation distance between the adjacent vertebrae and preserving the full functionality of the spinal column; a plurality of arcuate plates for urging securement of the paired cylindrically shaped members to the two adjacent vertebrae; a plurality of fasteners for threadably attaching the artificial disk and the plurality of arcuate plates through the two adjacent vertebrae on the spinal column; fixture means to hold the paired cylindrically shaped members in a fixed position for urging drilling of a plurality of channels through the two adjacent vertebrae for allowing threadable engagement of each one of the plurality of fasteners with the adjacent vertebrae; and second fixture means for temporarily holding the adjacent vertebrae in a steady motionless state for urging routing of a cavity in the adjacent vertebrae sufficiently sized to accept the paired cylindrically shaped members. - 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 method of replacing a damaged human disk between two adjacent vertebrae in a spinal column with an artificial intervertebral disk for preserving the full range of motion and functionality of the spinal column comprising the steps of:
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exposing the anterior portion of the spinal column and removing the damaged disk from between the two adjacent vertebrae; attaching a routing guide to the adjacent vertebrae; routing out a cavity in the two adjacent vertebrae to a size sufficient to accept the artificial disk; removing the routing guide; implanting the artificial disk in the cavity; fixturing the artificial disk in a steady, motionless state with the alignment and holding tool; drilling a plurality of channels through the bone in the two adjacent vertebrae with a stop on the drill bit at about between 10 to 20 millimeters in depth; measuring the depth of each channel drilled through the bone with a depth gage and selecting the proper length fastener to threadably engage the interior surface of each channel and one of the recesses in the cylindrically shaped member; packing the cavity with a cortico cancellous bone graft; removing the alignment and holding tool; attaching one of the arcuate plates to the cylindrically shaped members and threadably engaging the interior surface of each one of the channels through one of the apertures in the arcuate plates with one of the fasteners; rotating each fastener with a screwdriver to threadably engage one of the recesses in the cylindrically shaped member; and closing up the anterior portion of the spinal column.
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Specification