Vertebral-column fusion devices and surgical methods
First Claim
1. An intervertebral fusion device, the device having a single component comprising an elongate element, the elongate element providing one or more upper load bearing surfaces and one or more lower load bearing surfaces, to be engaged by respective vertebrae in use, the upper and lower load bearing surfaces being vertically spaced from one another by the elongate element, and the elongate element being rigid in a direction parallel to the vertical spacing of the upper and lower load bearing surfaces, the elongate element having a first state and a second state, the elongate element having a substantially linear configuration in the first state and a less linear configuration in the second state, the elongate element being capable of transition, at least once, from the second state to the first state and being capable of transition, at least once, from the first state to the second state, the elongate element being of shape memory alloy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vertebral-column device that is suitable to be received in an intervertebral space between two dorsal vertebrae, the prosthesis comprising a curved strip of biocompatible material. The width of the strip being such that after placement, the strip makes contact with the vertebrae. The strip is manufactured from a material that can undergo great deformations before permanent deformation arises. The strip is curved in a shape in which the extremities are situated apart from one another and the radius of the curved parts and the thickness of the strip are chosen in such a way that when the strip is bent out into an approximately straight strip, scarcely any permanent deformation arises. Thus, the strip which has been bent out into an approximately straight strip is capable of being introduced into an intervertebral space where the strip assumes its original curved shape.
311 Citations
31 Claims
- 1. An intervertebral fusion device, the device having a single component comprising an elongate element, the elongate element providing one or more upper load bearing surfaces and one or more lower load bearing surfaces, to be engaged by respective vertebrae in use, the upper and lower load bearing surfaces being vertically spaced from one another by the elongate element, and the elongate element being rigid in a direction parallel to the vertical spacing of the upper and lower load bearing surfaces, the elongate element having a first state and a second state, the elongate element having a substantially linear configuration in the first state and a less linear configuration in the second state, the elongate element being capable of transition, at least once, from the second state to the first state and being capable of transition, at least once, from the first state to the second state, the elongate element being of shape memory alloy.
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21. A method of surgery, the method including the acts of:
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making an incision in the patient;
removing at least part of an intervertebral disc from the patient though the incision, thereby providing an intervertebral disc space; and
inserting a device into the intervertebral space;
the device having a single component comprising an elongate element, the elongate element providing one or more upper load bearing surfaces for a vertebrae and one or more lower load bearing surfaces for a vertebrae, the upper and lower load bearing surfaces being engaged by respective vertebrae in use, the upper and lower load bearing surfaces being vertically spaced from one another by the elongate element and the elongate element being rigid in a direction parallel to the vertical spacing of the upper and lower load bearing surfaces, the elongate element having a first state prior to insertion and a second state after insertion, the elongate element having a substantially linear configuration in the first state and a less linear configuration in the second state, the elongate element being capable of transition, at least once, from the second state to first state and being capable of transition, at least once, from the first state to the second state, the elongate element being of shape memory alloy.- View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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- 24. An intervertebral fusion device, the device having a single component comprising an elongate element, the elongate element providing one or more upper load bearing surfaces and one or more lower load bearing surfaces to be engaged by respective vertebrae in use, the upper and lower load bearing surfaces being vertically spaced from one another by the elongate element and the elongate element being rigid in a direction parallel to the vertical spacing of the upper and lower load bearing surfaces, the elongate element having a first state and a second state, the elongate element having a substantially linear configuration in the first state and a less linear configuration in the second state, the elongate element being capable of transition, at least once, from the second state to first state and being capable of transition, at least once, from the first state to the second state, the elongate element being formed of a plurality of elongate components which at least in part extend alongside one another.
- 28. An intervertebral fusion device, the device being a single component comprising a memory metal elongate element, the elongate element providing one or more upper load bearing surfaces and one or more lower load bearing surfaces for engaging respective vertebrae in use and being vertically spaced from one another by the elongate element, the elongate element being rigid in a directional parallel to the vertical spacing of the upper and lower load bearing surfaces having first and second ends and a substantially non-linear configuration between the two ends.
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31. A method of using a prosthetic device, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an intervertebral fusion device, the device being a single component comprising a memory metal elongate element, the elongate element providing one or more upper load bearing surfaces and one or more lower load bearing surfaces for engaging respective vertebrae in use and being vertically spaced from one another by the elongate element, the elongate element being rigid in a directional parallel to the vertical spacing of the upper and lower load bearing surfaces having first and second ends and a substantially non-linear configuration between the two ends;
b) straightening the non-linear configuration of the elongate element to form a substantially linear configuration;
c) inserting the straightened device into the disc space, and d) curving the substantially linear configuration of the elongate element to reform the non-linear configuration.
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Specification