US5800550A — Interbody fusion cage

Claim 1

Independent Claim 124 words

A prosthetic device adapted for fusing together adjoining vertebrae connected by tissue of a collapsed disc, comprising: an inert generally rectangularly shaped support body configured to be seated on hard end plates of the vertebrae, said support body having solid top and bottom faces; a first aperture located in one of said support body top and bottom faces; and, a first anchoring peg movably mounted in said first aperture, said first anchoring peg projecting away from said one of said top and bottom faces and adapted to extend into an associated first vertebra to secure said support body in place relative to the associated first vertebra wherein said first anchoring peg comprises a body having a tapered proximal end and an apertured distal end.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 124 words

A prosthetic device adapted for fusing together adjoining vertebrae connected by tissue of a collapsed disc, comprising: an inert generally rectangularly shaped support body configured to be seated on hard end plates of the vertebrae, said support body having solid top and bottom faces; a first aperture located in one of said support body top and bottom faces; and, a first anchoring peg movably mounted in said first aperture, said first anchoring peg projecting away from said one of said top and bottom faces and adapted to extend into an associated first vertebra to secure said support body in place relative to the associated first vertebra wherein said first anchoring peg comprises a body having a tapered proximal end and an apertured distal end.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 75 words

The device of claim 1 further comprising a second anchoring peg movably mounted in a second aperture located in another of said top and bottom faces of said support body, said second aperture being spaced from said first aperture, said second peg projecting away from said another of said top and bottom faces and adapted to extend into an associated second vertebra to secure said support body in place relative to the associated second vertebra.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said first anchoring peg apertured distal end includes a serrated cutting face for digging into the associated first vertebra and a valley circumscribed by said cutting face for receiving bone from the associated first vertebra.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The device of claim 1 further comprising a means for preventing a rotation of said first peg in said support body.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said support body comprises a three dimensional member having radiused corners which allow a rotation of the support body along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 63 words

The assembly of claim 5 wherein said support body is adapted to be inserted between the adjoining vertebrae in a first orientation in which said top and bottom faces do not contact the adjoining vertebrae, and said support body is adapted to be rotated along its longitudinal axis to a second orientation in which said top and bottom faces contact the adjoining vertebrae.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

The device of claim 1 further comprising a means for locking said first peg in place in relation to said support body when said first peg has been projected outwardly of said support body.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said support body comprises a hollow three dimensional member including six interconnected walls defining an interior cavity and at least one opening in each wall of said member to allow for ingrowth of osseous tissue into said interior cavity of said body.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 148 words

A prosthetic device for supporting vertebrae in a vertebral column, comprising: an inert generally rectangularly shaped support body configured to be seated on hard end plates of the vertebrae, said support body having solid top and bottom faces; a central passageway located in said support body; a pair of guide holes located in said support body, said guide holes extending substantially perpendicularly to said central passageway in opposite directions through a respective one of said top and bottom faces of said support body; first and second retaining pegs movably mounted in a respective one of said guide holes, each peg extending away from said one of said top and bottom faces and adapted to extend into an associated vertebra to secure said support body in place relative to the associated vertebrae, each peg comprising a body having a distal end including a cutting edge and an adjacent aperture.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 148 words

A prosthetic device for supporting vertebrae in a vertebral column, comprising: an inert generally rectangularly shaped support body configured to be seated on hard end plates of the vertebrae, said support body having solid top and bottom faces; a central passageway located in said support body; a pair of guide holes located in said support body, said guide holes extending substantially perpendicularly to said central passageway in opposite directions through a respective one of said top and bottom faces of said support body; first and second retaining pegs movably mounted in a respective one of said guide holes, each peg extending away from said one of said top and bottom faces and adapted to extend into an associated vertebra to secure said support body in place relative to the associated vertebrae, each peg comprising a body having a distal end including a cutting edge and an adjacent aperture.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The device of claim 9 wherein said peg body of each of said retaining pegs further comprises a solid proximal end wall which is tapered for cooperating with a piston of an associated inserting tool.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The device of claim 9 wherein said retaining pegs each further comprise a means for preventing a rotation of said retaining peg in said support body.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 48 words

The device of claim 9 wherein said support body further comprises at least one passage communicating with said central passageway and with an exterior surface of said support body for facilitating an ingrowth of a bone implant material and bone from the vertebrae to fuse the vertebrae together.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

The device of claim 9 further comprising a means for locking said retaining pegs in place in relation to said support body when said retaining pegs have been projected outwardly of said support body.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 9 wherein said support comprises a three-dimensional member having radiused corners which allow a rotation of said support body along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 98 words

A prosthetic device for supporting vertebrae in a spinal column, comprising: an inert support body seatable within a cavity formed by removal of a portion of a disc located between adjoining vertebrae in a spinal column, said support body having top and bottom faces; a first aperture located in one of said support body top and bottom faces; and, a first anchoring peg movably mounted in said first aperture, said first anchoring peg comprising an approximately cylindrical body having a tapered planar face on a proximal end thereof and a distal end including a centrally disposed conically-shaped aperture.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 98 words

A prosthetic device for supporting vertebrae in a spinal column, comprising: an inert support body seatable within a cavity formed by removal of a portion of a disc located between adjoining vertebrae in a spinal column, said support body having top and bottom faces; a first aperture located in one of said support body top and bottom faces; and, a first anchoring peg movably mounted in said first aperture, said first anchoring peg comprising an approximately cylindrical body having a tapered planar face on a proximal end thereof and a distal end including a centrally disposed conically-shaped aperture.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device of claim 15 wherein said anchoring peg distal end further comprises an annular cutting face for digging into an associated vertebra.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 12 words

The device of claim 16 wherein said annular cutting face is serrated.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 165 words

A prosthetic assembly for fusing together adjoining vertebrae connected by tissue of a collapsed disc, comprising: a pair of spaced support bodies, each being sized to be located on a respective side of a centerline of a vertebral column of a patient, each said support body including top and bottom faces; a first aperture located in one of said support body top and bottom faces of at least one of said pair of support bodies; and, a first anchoring peg movably mounted in said first aperture, said first anchoring peg projecting away from said one of said top and bottom faces and adapted to extend into an associated first vertebra to secure said at least one of said pair of support bodies in place relative to the associated first vertebra, wherein said anchoring peg comprises: a peg body having a serrated cutting edge for digging into the associated first vertebra, and an opening located adjacent said cutting edge for receiving bone from the associated vertebra.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 165 words

A prosthetic assembly for fusing together adjoining vertebrae connected by tissue of a collapsed disc, comprising: a pair of spaced support bodies, each being sized to be located on a respective side of a centerline of a vertebral column of a patient, each said support body including top and bottom faces; a first aperture located in one of said support body top and bottom faces of at least one of said pair of support bodies; and, a first anchoring peg movably mounted in said first aperture, said first anchoring peg projecting away from said one of said top and bottom faces and adapted to extend into an associated first vertebra to secure said at least one of said pair of support bodies in place relative to the associated first vertebra, wherein said anchoring peg comprises: a peg body having a serrated cutting edge for digging into the associated first vertebra, and an opening located adjacent said cutting edge for receiving bone from the associated vertebra.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

The assembly of claim 18 wherein said serrated cutting edge is located on a distal end of said anchoring peg.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The assembly of claim 19 wherein a proximal end of said anchoring peg comprises a tapered planar face for cooperation with a piston of an associated inserting tool.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 34 words

The assembly of claim 18 wherein said anchoring peg further comprises a means for preventing a rotation of said anchoring peg in relation to said at least one of said pair of support bodies.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 62 words

The assembly of claim 18 wherein said at least one of said pair of support bodies further comprises: a central passageway; and at least one passage communicating with said central passageway and with an exterior surface of said support body for facilitating an ingrowth of a bone implant material and bone from the associated vertebra to fuse the adjoining associated vertebrae together.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 48 words

The assembly of claim 18 further comprising a means for locking said anchoring peg in place in relation to said at least one of said pair of support bodies when said anchoring peg has been projected outwardly of said at least one of said pair of support bodies.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 75 words

The assembly of claim 18 wherein each of said support bodies comprises a three dimensional member having radiused corners which allow a rotation of each of said support bodies along their respective longitudinal axes from a first orientation, in which said support bodies are inserted between the adjoining vertebrae, to a second orientation in which said support bodies are installed between the adjoining vertebrae such that said top and bottom faces contact the adjoining vertebrae.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-08-31	2002-03-02	2002-09-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-08-31	2006-03-02	2006-09-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-08-31	2010-03-02	2010-09-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Interbody fusion cage

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag