Intervertebral spacer device
First Claim
1. An intervertebral spacer device comprising first and second plate members, each having plate surfaces thereof, said plates being disposed in a spaced apart relationship such that inner ones of said plate surfaces oppose one another, and external ones of said plate surfaces face in opposite directions;
- andat least one restoring force providing element disposed between the inner surfaces of said first and second plate members, and disposed such that a compressive load applied to the external faces of said plates is counteracted by said at least one restoring force providing element, said at least one restoring force providing element including at least one belleville washer having a narrow end and a wide end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is a belleville washer. In a first embodiment there are two belleville washers which are oriented in opposite directions such that the narrow ends thereof are in contact with each other and the wider ends are in contact with the respective end plates. In a second embodiment there is a single belleville washer which is modified to mount onto a ball-shaped head. The lower plate of this embodiment includes a post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the plate, the post including a ball-shaped head. The modified belleville washer is lockably mounted to the head such that the wider portion of the washer seats against the upper plate.
528 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An intervertebral spacer device comprising first and second plate members, each having plate surfaces thereof, said plates being disposed in a spaced apart relationship such that inner ones of said plate surfaces oppose one another, and external ones of said plate surfaces face in opposite directions;
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at least one restoring force providing element disposed between the inner surfaces of said first and second plate members, and disposed such that a compressive load applied to the external faces of said plates is counteracted by said at least one restoring force providing element, said at least one restoring force providing element including at least one belleville washer having a narrow end and a wide end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An intervertebral spacer device comprising
first and second plate members, each having plate surfaces thereof, said plates being disposed in a spaced apart relationship such that inner ones of said plate surfaces oppose one another, and external ones of said plate surfaces face in opposite directions, said first and second plate members further including circumferential flange elements extending outwardly from said inner surfaces; -
a flexible circumferential skirt disposed about and between the lateral perimeters of said first and second plate members, coupled to said circumferential flange elements of each plate member, therein defining an interior volume; a pair of belleville washers, each having narrow and wide ends thereof, disposed such that said narrow ends thereof are in contact with one another and the wide ends of each is in contact with the corresponding inner surface of the corresponding plate, said wide end being retained within the circumferential flange of the corresponding plate, whereby said belleville washers are disposed such that a compressive load applied to the external faces of said plates is counteracted by the washers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An intervertebral spacer device comprising
first and second plate members, each having plate surfaces thereof; - said plates being disposed in a spaced apart relationship such that inner ones of said plate surfaces oppose one another, and external ones of said plate surfaces face in opposite directions, said first and second plate members further including circumferential flange elements extending outwardly from said inner surfaces;
said second plate member further including a post structure rising off the inner surface thereof, and which post structure includes a ball-shaped head; a flexible circumferential skirt disposed about and between the lateral perimeters of said first and second plate members, coupled to said circumferential flange elements of each plate member, therein defining an interior volume; a belleville washer, having narrow and wide ends thereof, said narrow end including a central opening which includes a curvate volume for receiving and holding therein said ball-shaped head, wherein said wide end of said washer is in contact with the corresponding inner surface of the first plate, said wide end being retained within the circumferential flange of the corresponding plate, whereby said belleville washer is disposed such that a compressive load applied to the external faces of said plates is counteracted by the restoring force of said washer. - View Dependent Claims (18)
- said plates being disposed in a spaced apart relationship such that inner ones of said plate surfaces oppose one another, and external ones of said plate surfaces face in opposite directions, said first and second plate members further including circumferential flange elements extending outwardly from said inner surfaces;
Specification