Method for surgical implantation of a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical procedure for implanting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into a human disc space, the procedure comprising:
- exposing an anulus comprised of fibrous tissue positioned between adjacent vertebrae;
making an incision through the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue wherein a portion of the flap remains attached to the anulus;
maneuvering the flap to provide an opening;
inserting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the opening; and
securing the flap to the anulus to close the opening.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for surgically implanting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into a human spinal disc space is disclosed. The spinal disc space contains adjacent vertebrae and an anulus having a posterior side. The method includes cutting a flap through the anulus in the disc space to create an opening. The vertebrae adjacent to the disc space are slightly separated and a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body is inserted through the opening into the disc space.
1077 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A surgical procedure for implanting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into a human disc space, the procedure comprising:
-
exposing an anulus comprised of fibrous tissue positioned between adjacent vertebrae; making an incision through the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue wherein a portion of the flap remains attached to the anulus; maneuvering the flap to provide an opening; inserting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the opening; and securing the flap to the anulus to close the opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A surgical procedure for implantation of two prosthetic spinal disc nucleus bodies side-by-side into a human disc space, the procedure comprising:
-
exposing an anulus comprised of fibrous tissue positioned between adjacent vertebrae; cutting the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a first flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the first flap remains attached to the anulus; cutting the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a second flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue wherein a portion Of the second flap remains attached to the anulus; maneuvering the first flap to provide a first opening through the anulus; inserting a first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into the human disc space through the first opening; maneuvering the second flap to provide a second opening through the anulus; and inserting a second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body into the human disc space through the second opening. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A surgical procedure for implantation of two prosthetic spinal disc nucleus bodies side-by-side into a human disc space defined by adjacent vertebrae, an anulus comprised of a fibrous tissue with a posterior side, and a nucleus, the procedure comprising:
-
exposing the posterior side of the anulus; cutting the posterior side of the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a first flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the first flap remains attached to the anulus; cutting the posterior side of the fibrous tissue of the anulus to form a second flap comprised of the fibrous anulus tissue, wherein a portion of the second flap remains attached to the anulus; maneuvering the first flap to provide a first opening through the anulus; maneuvering the second flap to provide a second opening through the anulus; removing at least a portion of the nucleus through either the first opening or the second opening; inserting a jack through the first opening in the anulus; separating the adjacent vertebrae with the jack; inserting a first prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the second opening in the anulus; removing the jack; inserting a second prosthetic spinal disc nucleus body through the first opening in the anulus; securing the first flap to the anulus; and securing the second flap to the anulus.
-
Specification