Inflatable intervertebral disc replacement prosthesis

• US 6,969,405 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Loubert Suddaby
• Original Assignee: Loubert Suddaby
• Inventors: Suddaby, Loubert
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REIMERS, ANNETTE R
• Application Number:
  US10/420,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 623/17.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30586 having two or more inflatable pockets or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30624 Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30649 Ball-and-socket joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type

Abstract

An intervertebral disc replacement prosthesis which can be implanted in a collapsed state, then expanded within the disc space such that minimally invasive surgical techniques may be employed for its insertion, and, by virtue of its expandable nature, ligaments can be restored to proper tension, facet joints can be unloaded posteriorly to inhibit degenerative changes, and functional mobility of the intervertebral segment can be restored.

Claims

1. An intervertebral disc replacement prosthesis comprising

a pair of independently inflatable chambers, each adapted to engage a respective cranial or caudal surface of neighboring vertebrae,

wherein said chambers have complementary structures which interengage to provide limited universal movement between said chambers, and

said complementary structures are articular plates of a substantially rigid material, each of said plates being attached to a respective one of said chambers.

2. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein one of said articular plates has a convex surface and the other of said articular plates has a corresponding concave surface.

3. The prosthesis of claim 2, wherein each of said convex and concave surfaces is substantially spherical.