Artificial expansile total lumbar and thoracic discs for posterior placement without supplemental instrumentation and its adaptation for anterior placement of artificial cervical, thoracic and lumbar discs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A total artificial expansible disc for placement between two adjacent vertebral end plates, comprising:
- at least two pairs of substantially parallel shells, each pair is adapted to interface directly with only one of two adjacent vertebral endplates, each shell moves along at least two same substantially perpendicular axes increasing the space between each shell apart in order to fill a space between adjacent vertebral endplates;
an expansion device having at least one jack mechanism coupled to the shells to actively move the shells apart along the at least two substantially perpendicular axes; and
a core from the group consisting of at least a pair of directly cooperating elements having at least one element that includes a curved shape, a ball, an elastic element and a sheath filled with elastic material, said core being disposed between the pairs of shells and adapted to actively permit the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another.
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Abstract
A total artificial expansible disc having at least two pairs of substantially parallel shells, which move in multiple directions defined by at least two axes, is disclosed. Several methods for implanting the total artificial expansile disc are also disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc occupies a space defined by a pair of vertebral endplates. An expansion device, which preferably includes a jackscrew mechanism, moves the pairs of shells in multiple directions. A core is disposed between the pairs of shells, and the core permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another.
274 Citations
68 Claims
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1. A total artificial expansible disc for placement between two adjacent vertebral end plates, comprising:
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at least two pairs of substantially parallel shells, each pair is adapted to interface directly with only one of two adjacent vertebral endplates, each shell moves along at least two same substantially perpendicular axes increasing the space between each shell apart in order to fill a space between adjacent vertebral endplates; an expansion device having at least one jack mechanism coupled to the shells to actively move the shells apart along the at least two substantially perpendicular axes; and a core from the group consisting of at least a pair of directly cooperating elements having at least one element that includes a curved shape, a ball, an elastic element and a sheath filled with elastic material, said core being disposed between the pairs of shells and adapted to actively permit the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A total artificial expansible disc for placement between two adjacent vertebral endplates, comprising:
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at least two pairs of substantially parallel shells, each pair is adapted to interface directly with only one of two adjacent vertebral endplates, each shell moves along at least two same substantially perpendicular axes increasing the space between each shell apart in order to fill a space between adjacent vertebral endplates; at least one expansion mechanism coupled to the shells to actively move the shells apart along the at least two substantially perpendicular axes; and a core from the group consisting of at least a pair of directly cooperating elements having at least one element that includes a curved shape, a ball, an elastic element and a sheath filled with elastic material, said core being disposed between the pairs of shells and adapted to actively permit the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method of inserting a total artificial expansible disc between two adjacent vertebral endplates, comprising the steps of:
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inserting into an intervertebral disc space defined by two adjacent vertebral endplates, at least two pairs of substantially parallel shells, each shell can move along at least two same substantially perpendicular axes; expanding all of the shells apart along the at least two substantially perpendicular axes until the shells fill a portion of the disc space with each pair of shells directly contacting only one vertebral body; providing a core from the group consisting of at least a pair of directly cooperating elements having at least one element that includes a curved shape, a ball, an elastic element and a sheath filled with elastic material; disposing the core between the pairs of shells permitting the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A total artificial expansible disc for placement between two adjacent vertebral endplates, comprising:
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at least two pairs of substantially parallel shells, each pair is adapted to interface directly with only one of two adjacent vertebral endplates, each shell moves along at least two same substantially perpendicular axes increasing the space between each shell apart in order to fill a space between adjacent vertebral endplates; at least one expansion mechanism coupled to the shells to actively move the shells apart along the at least two substantially perpendicular axes; and a core of elastomeric material disposed between the pairs of shells and positioned in the center of the vertebral endplates after the shells have been moved apart to the outer periphery of the vertebral endplates, and adapted to actively permit the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another.
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66. A method of inserting a total artificial expansible disc between two adjacent vertebral endplates, comprising the steps of:
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inserting into an intervertebral disc space defined by two adjacent vertebral endplates, at least two pairs of substantially parallel shells, each shell can move along at least two same substantially perpendicular axes; expanding all of the shells apart along the at least two substantially perpendicular axes until the shells fill a portion of the disc space with each pair of shells directly contacting only one vertebral body; providing a core of elastomeric material that is positioned in the center of the vertebral endplates after the shells have been moved apart to the outer periphery of the vertebral endplates, and; disposing the core between the pairs of shells permitting the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another.
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67. A total artificial expansible disc for posterior placement between two adjacent vertebral endplates, comprising:
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at least two pairs of substantially parallel shells, each pair is adapted to interface directly with only one of two adjacent vertebral endplates, each shell moves along at least two same substantially perpendicular axes increasing the space between each shell apart in order to fill a space between adjacent vertebral endplates; at least one expansion mechanism coupled to the shells to actively move the shells apart along the at least two substantially perpendicular axes; and a core, including a ball and a trough, disposed between the pairs of shells and positioned in the center of the vertebral endplates after the shells have been moved apart to the outer periphery of the vertebral endplates, and adapted to actively permit the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another.
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68. A method of posteriorly inserting a total artificial expansible disc between two adjacent vertebral endplates, comprising the steps of:
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inserting into an intervertebral disc space defined by two adjacent vertebral endplates, at least two pairs of substantially parallel shells, each shell can move along at least two same substantially perpendicular axes; expanding all of the shells apart along the at least two substantially perpendicular axes until the shells fill a portion of the disc space with each pair of shells directly contacting only one vertebral body; providing a core, including a ball and a trough, that is positioned in the center of the vertebral endplates after the shells have been moved apart to the outer periphery of the vertebral endplates, and; disposing the core between the pairs of shells permitting the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another.
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Specification