Artificial spinal disk
First Claim
1. An artificial spinal disk for placement between adjacent spinal vertebrae to replace disk material, comprising in combination:
- a first flat plate for attaching to the endplate of a first vertebral body said first flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a front wall, and a slot opening through the second surface and through the front wall;
a second flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, adapted to slide into the slot in said first plate;
a post having a first end, and a second end perpendicularly attached to the second surface of said second plate and extending through the slot opening in the second surface of said first plate;
a ball having a portion of the spherical surface thereof transitioned into a conical portion, wherein the smaller end of the conical portion is mounted on the first end of said post;
a third flat plate for attaching to the endplate of a second vertebral body the endplate of the second vertebral body opposing the endplate of the first vertebral body, said third flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a front wall, and a slot opening through the second surface and through the front wall;
a fourth member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a front wall, and adapted to slide into the slot in said third plate, said fourth member having a slot therein opening through the second surface and through the front wall thereof and a first channel within the slot opening through the front wall of said fourth member adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said ball;
a fifth member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a rear wall, and adapted to slide into the slot in said fourth member, the second surface having a second channel therein adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said ball and said post, and opening through the rear wall; and
means for rigidly affixing said fifth member to said fourth member, whereby the channel in said fifth member and the channel in said fourth member form opposing, parallel channels wherein said ball may rotate and slide a chosen distance therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An artificial spinal implant for placement between adjacent vertebrae to replace disk material and to stabilize the involved vertebrae is described. The artificial disk may be disassembled for installation and/or removal for repair, replacement or adjustment, and may be assembled from the front of the spine as individual component parts, thereby permitting alignment of the spine during the assembly process, and the stabilization of the involved vertebrae once assembly has been completed. Further, the components may be chosen from a set of similar components having different sizes, thereby enabling the implant to be tailor fit to the requirements of the patient.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An artificial spinal disk for placement between adjacent spinal vertebrae to replace disk material, comprising in combination:
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a first flat plate for attaching to the endplate of a first vertebral body said first flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a front wall, and a slot opening through the second surface and through the front wall; a second flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, adapted to slide into the slot in said first plate; a post having a first end, and a second end perpendicularly attached to the second surface of said second plate and extending through the slot opening in the second surface of said first plate; a ball having a portion of the spherical surface thereof transitioned into a conical portion, wherein the smaller end of the conical portion is mounted on the first end of said post; a third flat plate for attaching to the endplate of a second vertebral body the endplate of the second vertebral body opposing the endplate of the first vertebral body, said third flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a front wall, and a slot opening through the second surface and through the front wall; a fourth member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a front wall, and adapted to slide into the slot in said third plate, said fourth member having a slot therein opening through the second surface and through the front wall thereof and a first channel within the slot opening through the front wall of said fourth member adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said ball; a fifth member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a rear wall, and adapted to slide into the slot in said fourth member, the second surface having a second channel therein adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said ball and said post, and opening through the rear wall; and means for rigidly affixing said fifth member to said fourth member, whereby the channel in said fifth member and the channel in said fourth member form opposing, parallel channels wherein said ball may rotate and slide a chosen distance therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An artificial spinal disk for placement between adjacent spinal vertebrae to replace disk material, comprising in combination:
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a first flat plate for attaching to the endplate of a first vertebral body said first flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a front wall, a slot opening through the second flat surface and through the front wall; a second flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second flat surface, adapted to slide into the slot in said first plate; a post having a first end, and a second end perpendicularly attached to the second surface of said second plate and extending through the slot opening in the second surface of said first plate; a ball having a portion of the spherical surface thereof transitioned into a conical portion, wherein the smaller end of the conical portion is mounted on the first end of said post; a third member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a front wall, the first flat surface adapted to be attached to the endplate of a second vertebral body opposing the endplate of the first vertebral body, said third member having a slot therein opening through the second surface and through the front wall thereof and a first channel within the slot opening through the front wall of said third member adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said ball; and a fourth member having a first surface, a second surface parallel thereto, and a rear end, and adapted to slide into the slot in said third member, the second surface having a second channel therein adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said ball, and opening through the rear wall; whereby the channel in said third member and the channel in said fourth member form opposing, parallel channels wherein said ball may rotate and slide a chosen distance therein. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An artificial spinal disk for placement between adjacent spinal vertebrae to replace disk material, comprising in combination:
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a first flat plate for attaching to the endplate of a first vertebral body said first flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a post having a first end, and a second end perpendicularly attached to the second surface of said first plate; a ball having a portion of the spherical surface thereof transitioned into a conical portion, wherein the smaller end of the conical portion is mounted on the first end of said post; a second flat plate for attaching to the endplate of a second vertebral body the endplate of the second vertebral body opposing the endplate of the first vertebral body, said second flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface parallel thereto, a front wall, and a slot opening through the second surface and through the front wall; a third member having a first surface, an opposing second surface and a front wall, and adapted to slide into the slot in said second plate, said third member having a slot therein opening through the second surface and through the front wall thereof and a first channel within the slot opening through the front wall of said third member adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said ball; a fourth member having a first surface, an opposing second flat surface and a rear wall, and adapted to slide into the slot in said third member, the second surface having a second channel therein adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said ball, and opening through the rear wall; and means for rigidly affixing said fourth member to said third member, whereby the channel in said third member and the channel in said fourth member are opposing, parallel channels, wherein said ball may rotate and slide a chosen distance therein. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An artificial spinal disk for placement between adjacent spinal vertebrae to replace disk material, comprising in combination:
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a first flat plate for attaching to the endplate of a first vertebral body said first flat plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a post having a first end, and a second end perpendicularly attached to the second surface of said first plate; a ball having a portion of the spherical surface thereof transitioned into a conical portion, wherein the smaller end of the conical portion is mounted on the first end of said post; a second member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a front wall, the first surface adapted to be attached to the endplate of a second vertebral body opposing the endplate of the first vertebral body, said second member having a slot therein opening through the second surface and through the front wall thereof and a first channel within the slot opening through the front wall of said second member adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said ball; and a third member having a first surface, an opposing second surface and a rear wall, and adapted to slide into the slot in said second member, the second surface having a second channel therein adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said ball, and opening through the rear wall; whereby the channel in said second member and the channel in said third member form opposing, parallel channels wherein said ball may rotate and slide a chosen distance therein. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification