Segmented insert for intervertebral support
First Claim
1. An intervertebral support system comprising:
- a rod having a first end section adapted for post-operative affixing in the body of a first vertebra of a subject, the rod being dimensioned to be inserted through a bore in a pedicle of a second vertebra of said subject, adjacent to said first vertebra;
a plurality of separate solid elements having lateral dimensions substantially larger than that of said bore disposed on said rod in a stack directed between the end faces of said first and second vertebrae of said subject, in the intervertebral region, when said rod is fixed in the body of said first vertebra; and
at least one additional element strung onto said rod, which is dimensioned to pass through said bore and which is irreversibly expandable to a lateral diameter substantially larger than that of said bore, such that said stack can provide intervertebral support between said two adjacent vertebrae of said subject.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A spinal intervertebral support implant, for fusion or for dynamic stabilization purposes. A rod, preferably in the form of a screw, is inserted obliquely from the pedicle of an inferior vertebra into the body of a neighboring superior vertebra, through the disc space. The rod can be anchored into the body of the superior vertebra by means of a force fit or a screw thread. A pile of elements is disposed on the rod in the disc space like a pile of washers, so that the compression load between vertebrae is carried partly by these elements. These elements can be inserted through the bore through which the rod was inserted in a tightly folded configuration, and deployed into their washer-like form only when in position in the intervertebral space, such that there is no need for any additional incisions.
66 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An intervertebral support system comprising:
-
a rod having a first end section adapted for post-operative affixing in the body of a first vertebra of a subject, the rod being dimensioned to be inserted through a bore in a pedicle of a second vertebra of said subject, adjacent to said first vertebra; a plurality of separate solid elements having lateral dimensions substantially larger than that of said bore disposed on said rod in a stack directed between the end faces of said first and second vertebrae of said subject, in the intervertebral region, when said rod is fixed in the body of said first vertebra; and at least one additional element strung onto said rod, which is dimensioned to pass through said bore and which is irreversibly expandable to a lateral diameter substantially larger than that of said bore, such that said stack can provide intervertebral support between said two adjacent vertebrae of said subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An intervertebral support system comprising:
-
a rod having a first end section adapted for affixing in the body of a first vertebra of a subject, the rod being dimensioned to be inserted through a bore in a pedicle of a second vertebra of said subject, adjacent to said first vertebra; a plurality of separate solid elements having lateral dimensions substantially larger than that of said bore, disposed on said rod in a stack directed between the end faces of said first and second vertebrae of said subject in the intervertebral region when said rod is fixed in the body of said first vertebra, such that said stack provides intervertebral support between said two adjacent vertebrae of a subject, wherein at least one of said separate solid elements has an undeployed configuration dimensioned to pass through said bore, and a deployed configuration having lateral dimensions substantially larger than that of said bore. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. A it for providing intervertebral support, comprising:
-
a rod having a first end section adapted for affixing in the body of a first vertebra of a subject, the rod being dimensioned to be inserted through a bore in a pedicle of a second vertebra of said subject, adjacent to said first vertebra; a plurality of separate solid elements having central openings for stringing on said rod, said elements having two states, a deployed state having lateral dimensions substantially larger than that of said bore; and
a non-deployed state having lateral dimensions smaller than said bore, such that said elements can be threaded onto said rod in said undeployed state; anda deploying mechanism to switch said elements from their undeployed state to their deployed state. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification