Methods and apparatus for dynamically stable spinal implant
First Claim
1. A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising:
- placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region;
placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region;
wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc;
affixing the barrier to tissue in or surrounding the intervertebral disc; and
deploying the barrier between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are directed at stabilizing somatic implants. A site within a body is selected that has a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature. An apparatus that has a flexible portion and one or more relatively rigid portions may then be implanted such that the flexible portion is situated in the first region and the rigid portion lies in the second region whereby the implant will remain dynamically stable and resist migration.
454 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising:
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placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region;
placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region;
wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc;
affixing the barrier to tissue in or surrounding the intervertebral disc; and
deploying the barrier between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising:
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placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region;
placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region;
wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc; and
inserting an insertion device into the intervertebral disc at a point located a distance away from a defect in the annular fibrosis of the intervertebral disc and advancing the barrier across the defect. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of positioning an implant within an implantation site, said implantation site comprising a first region having a tight and/or changing curvature bordered by a second region or regions having minimal or constant curvature, said method comprising:
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placing a relatively flexible region of said implant within said first region;
placing a relatively stiff or rigid region of said implant within said second region;
wherein said implantation site is the interior of an intervertebral disc and said implant comprises a barrier for preventing the migration of materials from within the disc toward the periphery of the disc; and
deploying the barrier between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification