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Intervertebral disk prosthesis

  • US 5,320,644 A
  • Filed: 07/30/1992
  • Issued: 06/14/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An implantable intervertebral disk member for use as a replacement of a natural intervertebral disk between two adjacent vertebras of a spinal cord of a patient, the disk member comprising a one-piece body shaped and dimensioned to substantially conform to that of the natural disk it is to replace and forming spaced-apart, upper and lower attachment surfaces for connection of the disk member to the adjacent vertebras, the body being made of a solid, elastically deformable material and having a unitary construction, the body including a plurality of parallel slits oriented at a right angle to an axis of the disk member, the slits extending into the body to a sufficient depth so that proximate slits partially overlap and thereby define overlapping regions forming portions of leaf springs adapted to transmit bending forces, weight loads and shear loads applied to the disk member by the adjacent vertebras when the disk member is implanted in a patient'"'"'s spinal cord.

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