US6117174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spinal implant device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-09-16
•
Granted: 2000-09-12
•
Expires: 2018-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae that includes a body and an engaging member. The body extends along a longitudinal axis having a first portion and two or more legs depending from the first portion. The legs are laterally spaced apart from each other and define a second end of the body spaced opposite the first end. The legs define an engaging member receiving cavity. An engaging member, such as a disc, is secured to the body and received within the engaging member receiving cavity, wherein the engaging member is secured to the body only by engagement of the engaging member with the legs. During installation, the engaging member causes the legs to flex.
Inventors
- 👤 Wesley A. Nolan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61F2/446; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/025; A61B2017/0256; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30744; A61F2/442; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2/28; A61F2002/2835; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30153; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/302; A61F2002/30205; A61F2002/3021; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30261; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30331; A61F2002/30362; A61F2002/3037; A61F2002/30372; A61F2002/30405; A61F2002/30408; A61F2002/30476; A61F2002/30481; A61F2002/305; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30537; A61F2002/30538; A61F2002/30574; A61F2002/30579; A61F2002/30593; A61F2002/30594; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30774; A61F2002/30777; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30785; A61F2002/30789; A61F2002/3085; A61F2002/448; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0019; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0033; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0019; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0065; A61F2230/0067; A61F2230/0069; A61F2230/0082; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0004; A61F2250/0006; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00017; A61F2310/00023; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907; Y10S606/91; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/902; Y10S623/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae, comprising: a body extending along a longitudinal axis having a first portion and two or more legs depending from said first portion, said first portion having a first end having a width of a first lateral distance, said legs laterally spaced apart from each other and defining a second end of said body spaced opposite from said first end, said second end having a width of a second lateral distance, said legs defining an engaging member receiving cavity; and an engaging member secured to said body and received within said engaging member receiving cavity, wherein said engaging member is secured to said body only by engagement of said engaging member with said legs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae, comprising: a body extending along a longitudinal axis having a first portion and two or more legs depending from said first portion, said first portion having a first end having a width of a first lateral distance, said legs laterally spaced apart from each other and defining a second end of said body spaced opposite from said first end, said second end having a width of a second lateral distance, said legs defining an engaging member receiving cavity; and an engaging member secured to said body and received within said engaging member receiving cavity, wherein said engaging member is secured to said body only by engagement of said engaging member with said legs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging member slidably contacts said body whereby when said engaging member is positioned at a first position the second lateral distance approximately equals the first lateral distance and when the engaging member is positioned at a second position said engaging member causes said legs to flex and the second lateral distance is different than the first lateral distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said engaging member is positioned at the second position the second lateral distance is greater than the first lateral distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 2, wherein said engaging member positioned at the second position is adjacent said second end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion is substantially cylindrical in shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first portion is hollow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said legs are spaced apart from each other defining a passageway through said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 7, wherein said legs define a passageway extending along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion and said legs have curved outer surfaces, each of said outer surfaces having the same radius of curvature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body has an outer surface having a radial projection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 10, wherein said body outer surface comprises a plurality of radial projections in the form of threads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebra as claimed in claim 11, wherein said threads are defined on said first portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion includes an inner surface that defines a hollow cavity that is in communication with the engaging member receiving cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an end cap, said first portion includes an inner surface defining a passageway having an open end, wherein said end cap attaches to said first end of said first portion and closes off the open end of the passageway.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is selected from the group consisting of titanium, nitinol and stainless steel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion is substantially cylindrical in shape and includes an inner surface that defines a hollow cavity that is in communication with the engaging member receiving cavity, said first leg and said second leg defining a passageway extending along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis for bone mass to grow therethrough.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 16, wherein said body has an outer surface that includes a radial projection.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for installing a dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae, said method comprising the steps of: providing a body extending along a longitudinal axis having a first portion and two legs depending from said first portion, said first portion having a first end having a width of a first lateral distance, said legs laterally spaced apart from each other and defining a second end of said body spaced opposite from said first end, said second end having a width of a second lateral distance, said legs defining an engaging member receiving cavity; and an engaging member adapted to be secured to said body and received within said engaging member receiving cavity; forming a body receiving passageway between two adjacent vertebrae for receipt of said body; inserting said body into said body receiving passageway; and securing said engaging member to said second end of said body causing said legs to flex so that the second lateral distance increases whereby the second lateral distance is greater than the first lateral distance and the engaging member is only held in place by said legs.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for installing a dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae, said method comprising the steps of: providing a body extending along a longitudinal axis having a first portion and two legs depending from said first portion, said first portion having a first end having a width of a first lateral distance, said legs laterally spaced apart from each other and defining a second end of said body spaced opposite from said first end, said second end having a width of a second lateral distance, said legs defining an engaging member receiving cavity; and an engaging member adapted to be secured to said body and received within said engaging member receiving cavity; forming a body receiving passageway between two adjacent vertebrae for receipt of said body; inserting said body into said body receiving passageway; and securing said engaging member to said second end of said body causing said legs to flex so that the second lateral distance increases whereby the second lateral distance is greater than the first lateral distance and the engaging member is only held in place by said legs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed claim 18, further comprising the step of placing bone tissue within the engaging member receiving cavity and a bone receiving cavity defined in said first portion of said body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising the step of securing an end cap to said first end of said body after bone tissue has been placed within said first portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of installing a second dynamic fusion device between the adjacent vertebrae which is adjacent to the installed fusion device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging member is secured to said second end of said body by moving said engaging member from a position external of said body to engage with said second end of said body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said legs includes an inner surface that defines a ramp, whereby movement of said engaging member along the longitudinal axis contacts said ramp causing said leg to flex in a lateral direction and varying the second lateral distance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 14, wherein said end cap is made of a polymeric material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion defines one or more passageways for permitting bone mass to grow therethrough.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, where said engaging member includes a threaded passageway for threadably receiving an adjustment rod for engaging said engaging member with said legs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging member is a disc.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 10, wherein said radial projection extends from at least one of said legs.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae as claimed in claim 11, wherein said threads are defined on said legs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-12 | 2004-03-13 | 2004-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-12 | 2008-03-13 | 2008-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-12 | 2012-03-13 | 2012-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |