Patent US6143033A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6143033A
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US
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Allogenic intervertebral implant
Assignee: Synthes USA LLC
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Filing: 1998-12-23
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Granted: 2000-11-07
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Expires: 2018-12-23
Abstract
Abstract An allogenic intervertebral implant for fusing vertebrae is disclosed. The implant is an annular plug conforming in size and shape with end plates of vertebrae. The implant has either an exterior surface identical to that of the harvest bone or an exterior surface machined to have a uniform shape such as an oval or a rectangle. The top and bottom surfaces of the implant have a plurality of teeth to resist expulsion and provide initial stability. The top and bottom surfaces can be either flat planar surfaces or curved surfaces. Preferably, the anterior height of the implant is greater than the posterior height so that the implant is wedge-shaped profile to help restore disc height and the natural curvature of the spine. In one embodiment, the top and bottom surfaces each have a channel oriented in the anterior, lateral, or anterolateral direction for receiving a surgical instrument. The implant can also have a hole for attachment of an inserter. Although the interior space formed by the annular plug can be the natural shape defined by the medullary canal, the medullary canal walls can be machined so that the implant has a uniform interior space.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. Paul
- 👤 Hansjuerg W. Emch
- 👤 Beat Schenk
- 👤 Jeffrey L. Carver
- 👤 Kelly J. Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61F2/447; A61F2/28; A61F2/4465; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2002/2835; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30125; A61F2002/30126; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30153; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30593; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30774; A61F2002/3082; A61F2002/30827; A61F2002/30828; A61F2002/30841; A61F2002/30843; A61F2002/30904; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0008; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0019
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An intervertebral implant comprising an annular plug of allogenic bone conforming in circumferential size and shape with end plates of vertebrae, wherein top and bottom surfaces of the implant include a plurality of teeth provided in a two dimensional array with the teeth being spaced apart from one another for interlocking with adjacent vertebrae, and wherein the teeth have a saw tooth shape defined by a first side extending perpendicularly to the respective top and bottom surfaces of the implant and a second side oriented at an acute angle to both the first side and the respective top and bottom surfaces of the implant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An intervertebral implant comprising an annular plug of allogenic bone conforming in circumferential size and shape with end plates of vertebrae, wherein top and bottom surfaces of the implant include a plurality of teeth provided in a two dimensional array with the teeth being spaced apart from one another for interlocking with adjacent vertebrae, and wherein the teeth have a saw tooth shape defined by a first side extending perpendicularly to the respective top and bottom surfaces of the implant and a second side oriented at an acute angle to both the first side and the respective top and bottom surfaces of the implant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant has a wedge-shaped profile to help restore disc height and spine curvature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The implant of claim 2, having an anterior height which is greater than a posterior height to produce the wedge-shaped profile.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom surfaces each have a channel for receiving a surgical instrument.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The implant of claim 4, wherein the channels run in an anterior-posterior direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The implant of claim 4, wherein the channels run in an anterolateral direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The implant of claim 4, wherein the channels run in a lateral direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein at least one side of the implant has at least one hole for attachment of an inserter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The implant of claim 8, wherein the at least one hole is threaded.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The implant of claim 8, wherein the at least one hole is provided in an anterior, anterolateral, or lateral side.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are parallel and are spaced by a distance that approximates that of an intervertebral disc.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are curved surfaces which are contoured to mimic the end plates of the adjacent vertebrae.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface has a uniform shape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The implant of claim 13, wherein the exterior surface has an oval shape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The implant of claim 13, wherein the exterior surface has a rectangular shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The implant of claim 13, wherein the annular plug includes an interior surface of a machined wall.
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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) | 2003-11-07 | 2004-05-08 | 2004-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-07 | 2008-05-08 | 2008-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-07 | 2012-05-08 | 2012-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |