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Intervertebral disc

  • US 9,993,349 B2
  • Filed: 02/27/2009
  • Issued: 06/12/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An intervertebral device comprising:

  • a) a first prosthetic vertebral endplate including;

    i) a first outer surface adapted to mate with a first vertebral body; and

    ii) a first inner surface opposite the first outer surface along a first direction, wherein the first prosthetic vertebral endplate defines a first guide member;

    b) a second prosthetic vertebral endplate including a second outer surface adapted to mate with a second vertebral body spaced from the first vertebral body so as to define a space therebetween, wherein the first and second outer surfaces are opposite each other along the first direction, andc) a core member disposed between the first and second prosthetic vertebral endplates with respect to the first direction, the core member including a first retaining feature configured to engage the first guide member so as to guide movement of the core member with respect to the first prosthetic vertebral endplate along the first guide member, wherein the first guide member has a substantially flat first surface which defines a constant slope with respect to each of the first direction and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction such that movement of the core member along the first guide member while the first retaining feature is engaged with the first guide member causes the first prosthetic vertebral endplate to move with respect to the second prosthetic vertebral endplate along the first direction,wherein

         1) the first direction includes both an upward direction from the second outer surface toward the first outer surface, and a downward direction that is opposite the upward direction,

         2) the intervertebral device is devoid of structure that is spaced from the first outer surface in the upward direction, and

         3) the intervertebral device is devoid of structure that is spaced from the second outer surface in the downward direction, such that the intervertebral device is configured to be positioned between the first and second vertebral bodies so that the first and second outer surfaces contact the first and second vertebral bodies, respectively, when an entirety of the intervertebral device is disposed between the first and second vertebral bodies with respect to the first direction.

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