Artificial total lumbar disc for unilateral safe and simple posterior placement in the lumbar spine, and removable bifunctional screw which drives vertical sliding expansile plate expansion, and interplate widening, and angled traction spikes
First Claim
1. A total artificial expansile disc, comprising:
- at least one pair of substantially parallel plates, that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates, each of said parallel plates including a first plate and a second sliding plate that moves along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis;
an expansion device that causes movement of the pair of plates along the first axis and the second axis;
a core, disposed between the pair of plates, that permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another; and
a limiter which prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates;
wherein the expansion device includes a plurality of bifunctional screws that are configured such that turning of the bifunctional screws causes the movement of the pair of substantially parallel plates along the first axis, and upon completion of the movement of the pair of substantially parallel plates along the first axis, causes the movement of the pair of substantially parallel plates along the second axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A total artificial expansile disc and a method for posterior insertion between a pair of vertebral endplates are disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc includes at least one pair of substantially parallel plates that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by the vertebral endplates. In another embodiment, each of substantially parallel plates includes a first plate and a second sliding plate. An expansion device or tool is used to move the substantially parallel pair of plates apart along the first axis. A core is disposed between the pair of plates, and the core permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. A ball limiter or ball extender prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates.
191 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A total artificial expansile disc, comprising:
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at least one pair of substantially parallel plates, that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates, each of said parallel plates including a first plate and a second sliding plate that moves along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; an expansion device that causes movement of the pair of plates along the first axis and the second axis; a core, disposed between the pair of plates, that permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another; and a limiter which prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates; wherein the expansion device includes a plurality of bifunctional screws that are configured such that turning of the bifunctional screws causes the movement of the pair of substantially parallel plates along the first axis, and upon completion of the movement of the pair of substantially parallel plates along the first axis, causes the movement of the pair of substantially parallel plates along the second axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A total artificial expansile disc, comprising:
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at least one pair of substantially parallel plates, that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates, each of said parallel plates including a first plate and a second sliding plate that moves along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; an expansion device that causes movement of the pair of plates along the first axis and the second axis; a core, disposed between the pair of plates, that permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another; and a limiter which prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates; wherein the expansion device causes translational movement of the pair of substantially parallel plates along the first axis and the second axis; and wherein the first plates are parallel to each other when moving apart along the first axis, and wherein the second sliding plates are parallel to each other when moving along the second axis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification