US5217461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for maintaining vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship
Assignee: DePuy Spine LLC
•
Filing: 1992-02-20
•
Granted: 1993-06-08
•
Expires: 2012-02-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for maintaining vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship in a spinal column includes an elongated one-piece rod which extends along the spinal column. An upper portion of the rod has a diameter which is less than the diameter of a lower portion of the rod. A first plurality of connector assemblies engage the lower portion of the rod and connect the lower portion of the rod to vertebrae. A second plurality of connector assemblies engage the upper portion of the rod and connect the upper portion of the rod to vertebrae which are disposed in the spinal column above the vertebrae to which the lower portion of the rod is connected.
Inventors
- 👤 Marc A. Asher
- 👤 Charles F. Heinig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7002; A61B17/7004; A61B17/7041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A spinal apparatus for maintaining vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship in a spinal column, said apparatus comprising an elongated one-piece rod which extends along the spinal column, said rod having a lower portion which extends along a first plurality of vertebrae and an upper portion which extends along a second plurality of vertebrae which are disposed in the spinal column above the first plurality of vertebrae, said lower portion of said rod having a substantially continuous cylindrical configuration with a first diameter, said upper portion of said rod having a substantially continuous cylindrical configuration with a second diameter which is less than the first diameter, a first plurality of connector assemblies including means for engaging the lower portion of said rod at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the lower portion of said rod and means for connecting the lower portion of said rod to vertebrae in the first plurality of vertebrae, and a second plurality of connector assemblies including means for engaging the upper portion of said rod at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the upper portion of said rod and means for connecting the upper portion of said rod to vertebrae in the second plurality of vertebrae.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A spinal apparatus for maintaining vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship in a spinal column, said apparatus comprising an elongated one-piece rod which extends along the spinal column, said rod having a lower portion which extends along a first plurality of vertebrae and an upper portion which extends along a second plurality of vertebrae which are disposed in the spinal column above the first plurality of vertebrae, said lower portion of said rod having a substantially continuous cylindrical configuration with a first diameter, said upper portion of said rod having a substantially continuous cylindrical configuration with a second diameter which is less than the first diameter, a first plurality of connector assemblies including means for engaging the lower portion of said rod at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the lower portion of said rod and means for connecting the lower portion of said rod to vertebrae in the first plurality of vertebrae, and a second plurality of connector assemblies including means for engaging the upper portion of said rod at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the upper portion of said rod and means for connecting the upper portion of said rod to vertebrae in the second plurality of vertebrae.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical upper and lower portions of said rod are disposed in a coaxial relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second diameter of the upper portion of said rod is at least 20% less than said first diameter of the lower portion of said rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first diameter of the lower portion of said rod is one-quarter of an inch and the second diameter of the upper portion of said rod is three-sixteenths of an inch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first diameter of the lower portion of said rod is three-sixteenths of an inch and the second diameter of the upper portion of said rod is one-eighth of a inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least some of the connector assemblies of said first plurality of connector assemblies connect the lower portion of said rod to lumbar vertebrae and at least some of the connector assemblies of said second plurality of connector assemblies connect the upper portion of said rod to thoracic vertebrae.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least some of the connector assemblies of said first plurality of connector assemblies connect the lower portion of said rod to thoracic vertebrae and at least some of the connector assemblies of said second plurality of connector assemblies connect the upper portion of said rod to cervical vertebrae.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2579968A
Cited
US4433677A
Cited
SU1127578A1
Cited
SU1256739A1
Cited
US4719905B1
Cited
US4719905A
Cited
US4858602A
Cited
US4931055A
Cited
US4998936A
Cited
US4981481A
Cited
US5019078A
Cited
US5074864A
Cited
US5024213A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-07 | 1996-12-07 | 1997-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-12-07 | 2001-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-07 | 2004-12-07 | 2005-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |