Artificial disc implant
First Claim
1. A method for inserting an artificial disc implant into a spinal disc space, comprising:
- accessing the disc space;
preparing an implant insertion location in the disc space;
providing an implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and an elastic spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell, the elastic spacer having a dehydratable hydrogel core;
dehydrating the hydrogel core to reduce the spacer height between the upper and lower shells;
inserting the implant into the disc space; and
rehydrating the hydrogel core to expand the spacer in the disc space and position the upper and lower shells in rigid engagement with an adjacent vertebral endplate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An artificial disc implant includes an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer therebetween. The spacer preferably has properties similar to that of a natural spinal disc, while the upper and lower shells form a rigid interface between the implant and the adjacent vertebral bodies. The upper and lower shells can be configured to prevent expulsion of the spacer from the disc space. The implant upper and lower shells may further be configured into partially cylindrical shapes for ease of insertion through an insertion tube as presently known for interbody fusion devices. The devices may further be configured for insertion through a double-barreled insertion tube. Methods and instruments for inserting an artificial disc implant are also provided.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for inserting an artificial disc implant into a spinal disc space, comprising:
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accessing the disc space;
preparing an implant insertion location in the disc space;
providing an implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and an elastic spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell, the elastic spacer having a dehydratable hydrogel core;
dehydrating the hydrogel core to reduce the spacer height between the upper and lower shells;
inserting the implant into the disc space; and
rehydrating the hydrogel core to expand the spacer in the disc space and position the upper and lower shells in rigid engagement with an adjacent vertebral endplate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for inserting an artificial disc implant into a spinal disc space, comprising:
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accessing the disc space;
inserting a sleeve adjacent the disc space, the sleeve having a working channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end;
preparing an implant insertion location in the disc space through the sleeve;
providing an implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell, wherein said upper and lower shells are separate from one another;
reducing the height of the implant between the upper and lower shells;
inserting the reduced height implant through the working channel of the sleeve to the implant insertion location in the disc space; and
expanding the reduced height implant in the disc space so that the upper shell and the lower shell rigidly engage adjacent vertebral endplates. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for inserting an artificial disc implant into a spinal disc space, comprising:
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accessing the disc space;
preparing an implant insertion location in the disc space;
providing an implant having an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer between the upper shell and the lower shell, the spacer having a hydratable hydrogel core;
inserting the implant into the disc space; and
hydrating the hydrogel core to expand the spacer in the disc space and rigidly engage the upper and lower shells with an adjacent vertebral endplate. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification