EP0260044A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spinal implant
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-08-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A spinal implant has an elongate body (1) which is divided into two portions (5, 6) with mutually opposed contact surfaces (5A, 6A) and is for insertion into the joint space between two adjacent vertebrae. A cam device (3) or cam devices are movable between the contact surfaces to expand or increase the spacing between the body portions so as to increase the spacing between the adjacent vertebrae. The implant has a porous external surface to facilitate bore and cartilage tissue growth therein. Alternatively, the external surface is smooth and coated with a bioactive material such as a hydroxyapatite, for example, tricalcium phosphate. In both instances bone, cartilage tissue and external surfaces of the implant are fused together to prevent migration of the implant. Advantageously, insertion of the implant requires a minimum incision in skin and cartilage tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 John Anthony Norman Shepperd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61F2/446; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30724; A61F2/30767; A61F2/442; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30113; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30331; A61F2002/30362; A61F2002/3037; A61F2002/30405; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30537; A61F2002/30556; A61F2002/30579; A61F2002/30594; A61F2/3094; A61F2002/30975; A61F2002/4625; A61F2002/4627; A61F2002/4628; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0033; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0006; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0004; A61F2250/0009; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00017; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00029; A61F2310/00179; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/00592; A61F2310/00796
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A spinal implant comprising an elongate body (1) divided longitudinally into two portions (5, 6) and being insertable in the joint space between two adjacent vertebrae, engageable contact surfaces (5A, 6A) between the body portions, and expansion means (3, 7) movable between the contact surfaces of the body portions (5, 6) for spacing the body portions apart and adjusting the joint spacing between adjacent vertebrae.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A spinal implant comprising an elongate body (1) divided longitudinally into two portions (5, 6) and being insertable in the joint space between two adjacent vertebrae, engageable contact surfaces (5A, 6A) between the body portions, and expansion means (3, 7) movable between the contact surfaces of the body portions (5, 6) for spacing the body portions apart and adjusting the joint spacing between adjacent vertebrae.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the contact surface of each body portion is recessed to receive the expansion means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the contact surface of the body portion has two recesses (8, 9) each arranged to receive a cam device (3) defining the expansion means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the two cam devices (3) are mounted on a screw threaded member (7).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the screw threaded member (7) has opposite screw threads with one of the cam devices located on a respective one of the screw threads so that upon rotation of the threaded member the cam devices (3) move towards one another or away from one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the contact surface of each body portion (22, 23) has a single recess (26) for receiving a single cam device (31).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the cam device has front and rear ends with the rear end having a threaded bore (27, 28) therein for receiving support means (29, 30) of an implantation instrument for inserting the implant between adjacent vertebrae.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the threaded bore (27, 28) at the rear end of each body portion (22,23) is substantially adjacent the contact surface thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claims 6, 7 and 8, characterised in that the cam device (31) has longitudinal grooves (35, 36) therein for receiving the implant support means (29, 30) when the cam device is located in the implant instrument prior to insertion into the spinal implant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the threaded bore (27, 28) at the rear end of each body portion is located towards the external peripheral surface of the body portions along a central line perpendicular to the contact surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the cam device has no longitudinal grooves and is arranged to pass between the implant support means (29,30).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cam device has a central curved portion and platform portions are attached thereto at front and rear ends of the curved portion, each platform portion having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces for engagement with the contact surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A spinal implant as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cam device comprises a rotatable cam housed in a compartment within the implant and is rotatable within the compartment to vary the spacing between the body portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A spinal implant as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the exterior surface of the implant is of a porous material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A spinal implant as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the exterior surface of the implant is smooth and coated with a bioactive material to chemically bond the bore and cartilage tissue of the vertebrae to the implant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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