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US5609637A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Space keeper, in particular for an intervertebral disk

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-04-17
•
Granted: 1997-03-11
•
Expires: 2016-04-17
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Abstract

Abstract A space keeper, in particular for substituting an intervertebral disk, is provided which comprises a cage-shaped wall (1) having a plurality of holes (4, 5) therein and a plurality of points (6) at both edges of the wall. In order to avoid the need for the operating person to keep different types on stock for corresponding different sections, the points (6) have severable portions (7) for adjusting the sectional form.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lutz Biedermann
  • 👤 J urgen Harms

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 04:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/442; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/02; A61L27/04; A61L27/06; A61L31/00; A61L31/02; A61L31/022; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30062; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30113; A61F2002/30125; A61F2002/30133; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/3023; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30593; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30907; A61F2002/30909; A61F2002/30912; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0004; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0006; A61F2230/0008; A61F2230/0015; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023; A61L2430/00; A61L2430/38

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 126 words
A space keeper for replacing an intervertebral disk, the space keeper comprising: a wall being closed around an axis defining a hollow body generally sized and shaped to replace said intervertebral disk, said wall having two opposite edges providing a bottom and a top surface of said body, a plurality of holes defined by said wall, said holes being disposed circumferentially around said wall and having a height in a direction parallel to said axis, said height decreasing from a maximum value at one side of said wall to a minimum value at an opposite side of said wall, a plurality of points provided at said edges, and severable projecting portions provided at said points for adjusting said shape by severing selected ones of said portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 126 words
A space keeper for replacing an intervertebral disk, the space keeper comprising: a wall being closed around an axis defining a hollow body generally sized and shaped to replace said intervertebral disk, said wall having two opposite edges providing a bottom and a top surface of said body, a plurality of holes defined by said wall, said holes being disposed circumferentially around said wall and having a height in a direction parallel to said axis, said height decreasing from a maximum value at one side of said wall to a minimum value at an opposite side of said wall, a plurality of points provided at said edges, and severable projecting portions provided at said points for adjusting said shape by severing selected ones of said portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The space keeper of claim 1, wherein said top and bottom surfaces include an angle with respect to said axis whereby said body is wedge-shaped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The space keeper of claim 2, wherein said angle is in the range of about 8° to about 12°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The space keeper of claim 3, wherein said angle is in the range of about 9° to 11°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The space keeper of claim 1, wherein said holes are formed as quadrangles or diamonds a diagonal of which extends in the direction of said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
The space keeper of claim 5, wherein said points are defined by ends of the quadrangles or the diamonds projecting upwards and downwards at said opposite edges, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The space keeper of claim 1, wherein said hollow body defined by said wall has a substantially oval cross-section perpendicular to said axis.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

SU1424826A1 Cited
US4820305A Cited
EP0268115B1 Cited
US4904261A Cited
SU1650114A1 Cited
US5458638A Cited
EP0538183A1 Cited
DE9216092U1 Cited
US5405391A Cited
US5425772A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-03-10 2000-09-09 2001-03-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-03-10 2004-09-09 2005-03-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-03-10 2008-09-09 2009-03-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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