US4863477A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1987-05-12
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Granted: 1989-09-05
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Expires: 2007-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis, molded in the same shape and general dimensions as a natural disc which it replaces after removal of a damaged natural disc, is molded of a biologically acceptable, non-porous, preferably rubber or silicone-rubber compound in two halves, each half having a hollow, molded interior. The two halves are joined together with a non-toxic adhesive to form a body having a fluid-tight cavity in its interior. The upper and lower surfaces of the disc each have a plurality of small suction cup-like projections molded thereon for frictionally engaging adjacent vertebrae. After the two halves of the prosthesis are joined, the prosthesis is implanted between two vertebrae in place of a removed natural disc, and a volume of fluid, such as saline solution, is injected into the interior cavity of the prosthesis to create the necessary amount of resilliency which restores proper vertebral spacing and facilitates flexibility of the spinal column.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary L. Monson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/441; A61F2/442; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30125; A61F2002/30128; A61F2002/30133; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30563; A61F2002/30593; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30879; A61F2002/30891; A61F2002/30892; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0008; A61F2230/0015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis of flexible, non-porous, biologically compatible material, for replacing a natural intervertebral disc, comprising: a substantially oval disc of about the same size and shape as the natural intervertebral disc which it replaces, including a convex upper surface for non-invasively abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a convex lower surface for non-invasively abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface of the prosthesis, and gripping means for frictionally engaging at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, said gripping means being situated on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, said gripping means including at least one raised protrusion providing frictional adhesion to the adjacent vertebra surface, wherein at least a portion of said gripping means is positioned in a substantially closed ring configuration on at least one of the upper surface and lower surface of the prosthesis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis of flexible, non-porous, biologically compatible material, for replacing a natural intervertebral disc, comprising: a substantially oval disc of about the same size and shape as the natural intervertebral disc which it replaces, including a convex upper surface for non-invasively abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a convex lower surface for non-invasively abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface of the prosthesis, and gripping means for frictionally engaging at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, said gripping means being situated on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, said gripping means including at least one raised protrusion providing frictional adhesion to the adjacent vertebra surface, wherein at least a portion of said gripping means is positioned in a substantially closed ring configuration on at least one of the upper surface and lower surface of the prosthesis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the gripping means comprises one suction cup.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A prosthesis of claim 2 wherein the gripping means comprises a plurality of suction cups.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
206 words
A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis of flexible, non-porous, biologically compatible material, for replacing a natural intervertebral disc, comprising: a substantially oval disc of about the same size and shape as the natural intervertebral disc which it replaces, including a convex upper surface for abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a convex lower surface for abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface of the prosthesis and gripping means for frictionally engaging at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, said gripping means being situated on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, said gripping means including at least one raised protrusion providing frictional adhesion to the adjacent vertebra surface, wherein at least a portion of said gripping means is positioned in a substantially closed ring configuration on at least one of the upper surface and lower surface of the prosthesis, and at least one of said gripping means on at least one of the upper surface or lower surface of the prosthesis further comprises a plurality of suction cups.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
206 words
A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis of flexible, non-porous, biologically compatible material, for replacing a natural intervertebral disc, comprising: a substantially oval disc of about the same size and shape as the natural intervertebral disc which it replaces, including a convex upper surface for abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a convex lower surface for abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface of the prosthesis and gripping means for frictionally engaging at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, said gripping means being situated on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, said gripping means including at least one raised protrusion providing frictional adhesion to the adjacent vertebra surface, wherein at least a portion of said gripping means is positioned in a substantially closed ring configuration on at least one of the upper surface and lower surface of the prosthesis, and at least one of said gripping means on at least one of the upper surface or lower surface of the prosthesis further comprises a plurality of suction cups.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
A prosthesis of claim 1 made of flexible, compressible material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A prosthesis of claim 5 wherein the material is a member selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone-rubber compounds, plastic material and a combination of rubber and plastic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A prosthesis of claim 1 wherein fluid is contained in the cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
A prosthesis of claim 7 wherein the fluid is saline solution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the upper surface and lower surface of the prosthesis comprise separate pieces each having outer and inner surfaces such that when joined together respective inner surfaces form an interior cavity of the prosthesis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A prosthesis of claim 9 wherein said cavity is filled with a fluid and at least one of said inner surfaces comprises means upstanding therefrom for directing flow of said fluid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A prosthesis of claim 10 wherein both of said inner surfaces means upstanding therefrom comprise means for directing the flow of said fluid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A prosthesis of claim 9 wherein the separate pieces are substantially identically formed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said upper surface and said lower surface are joined by a perimeter wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
177 words
A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis of flexible, non-porous, biologically compatible materials, for replacing a natural intervertebral disc, comprising: a substantially oval disc of about the same size and shape as the natural intervertebral disc which it replaces, including a convex upper surface for non-invasively abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a convex lower surface for non-invasively abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface, and gripping means for frictionally engaging at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, said gripping means being situated on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, said gripping means including at least one raised protrusion providing frictional adhesion to the adjacent vertebra surface, wherein at least a portion of said raised protrusion is positioned in a substantially closed ring configuration on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
177 words
A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis of flexible, non-porous, biologically compatible materials, for replacing a natural intervertebral disc, comprising: a substantially oval disc of about the same size and shape as the natural intervertebral disc which it replaces, including a convex upper surface for non-invasively abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a convex lower surface for non-invasively abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface, and gripping means for frictionally engaging at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, said gripping means being situated on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, said gripping means including at least one raised protrusion providing frictional adhesion to the adjacent vertebra surface, wherein at least a portion of said raised protrusion is positioned in a substantially closed ring configuration on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
193 words
A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis of flexible, non-porous, biologically compatible materials, for replacing a natural intervertebral disc, comprising: a substantially oval disc of about the same size and shape as the natural intervertebral disc which it replaces, including a convex upper surface for abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a convex lower surface for abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface, and gripping means for frictionally engaging at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, said gripping means being situated on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, said gripping means including at least one raised protrusion providing frictional adhesion to the adjacent vertebra surface, wherein at least a portion of said raised protrusion is positioned in a substantially closed ring configuration on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, and wherein at least a portion of said protrusion further comprises a plurality of suction cups positioned thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
193 words
A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis of flexible, non-porous, biologically compatible materials, for replacing a natural intervertebral disc, comprising: a substantially oval disc of about the same size and shape as the natural intervertebral disc which it replaces, including a convex upper surface for abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a convex lower surface for abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface, and gripping means for frictionally engaging at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, said gripping means being situated on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, said gripping means including at least one raised protrusion providing frictional adhesion to the adjacent vertebra surface, wherein at least a portion of said raised protrusion is positioned in a substantially closed ring configuration on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, and wherein at least a portion of said protrusion further comprises a plurality of suction cups positioned thereon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
114 words
A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis of flexible, non-porous, biologically compatible material, for replacing a natural intervertebral disc, comprising: an upper surface for abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a lower surface for abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface, and gripping means on said upper surface and said lower surface including at least one suction cup for frictional adhesion to at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, wherein the gripping means comprises a plurality of suction cups positioned in a ring configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
114 words
A synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis of flexible, non-porous, biologically compatible material, for replacing a natural intervertebral disc, comprising: an upper surface for abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a lower surface for abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface, and gripping means on said upper surface and said lower surface including at least one suction cup for frictional adhesion to at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, wherein the gripping means comprises a plurality of suction cups positioned in a ring configuration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A prosthesis of claim 16 wherein the gripping means comprises a plurality of suction cups positioned on both said upper surface and said lower surface.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for implanting a synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis in a spine in place of a removed natural disc between two adjacent vertebrae comprising: removing air from within a fluid-tight cavity of a substantially oval disc prosthesis of about the same size and shape as the natural disc which it replaces, said prosthesis comprising a convex upper surface for abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a convex lower surface for abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface of the prosthesis, and gripping means for frictionally engaging at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, said gripping means being situated on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, said gripping means including at least one suction cup providing frictional adhesion to the adjacent vertebra surface, inserting a prosthesis into a cylindrical container, ejecting a prosthesis from the container into a space between the two adjacent vertebrae, positioning the prosthesis with its convex upper and lower surfaces in abutting position between adjacent bone surfaces of said two adjacent vertebrae, without invading said bone surfaces, and injecting a fluid into the fluid-tight cavity to inflate the prosthesis and restore normal vertebral spacing in the spine.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for implanting a synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis in a spine in place of a removed natural disc between two adjacent vertebrae comprising: removing air from within a fluid-tight cavity of a substantially oval disc prosthesis of about the same size and shape as the natural disc which it replaces, said prosthesis comprising a convex upper surface for abutting a lower surface of a first vertebra, a convex lower surface for abutting an upper surface of a second vertebra located adjacent and below said first vertebra, a fluid-tight cavity between said upper surface and said lower surface of the prosthesis, and gripping means for frictionally engaging at least one of said lower surface of the first vertebra and upper surface of the second vertebra, said gripping means being situated on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the prosthesis, said gripping means including at least one suction cup providing frictional adhesion to the adjacent vertebra surface, inserting a prosthesis into a cylindrical container, ejecting a prosthesis from the container into a space between the two adjacent vertebrae, positioning the prosthesis with its convex upper and lower surfaces in abutting position between adjacent bone surfaces of said two adjacent vertebrae, without invading said bone surfaces, and injecting a fluid into the fluid-tight cavity to inflate the prosthesis and restore normal vertebral spacing in the spine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-04 | 1993-03-06 | 1993-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-04 | 1997-03-06 | 1997-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-04 | 2001-03-06 | 2001-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |