US6176882B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intervertebral implant
Assignee: Biedermann Motech GmbH and Co KG
•
Filing: 1999-02-19
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Granted: 2001-01-23
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Expires: 2019-02-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to an intervertebrae implant comprising two side walls ( 1, 2 ) arranged at a distance to each other, a front wall ( 3 ) connecting the same at their one end, a back wall ( 4 ) connecting the same at their opposite other end, and one opening each on the base and cover part extending at right angles to the afore-mentioned walls. The invention also comprises at least one element ( 60, 61 ) provided for in the space ( 5 ) enclosed by the above walls, which element has a surface pointing towards the base or cover part and can be moved back and forth between a first final position in which said surface projects at least partly outwards beyond the base or cover part and a second final position in which the surface does not project beyond the base or cover part.
Inventors
- 👤 Lutz Biedermann
- 👤 Thomas Wichmann
- 👤 J{umlaut over (u)}rgen Harms
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61F2/447; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7002; A61B17/7004; A61B17/7008; A61F2/442; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30138; A61F2002/30143; A61F2002/30148; A61F2002/30153; A61F2002/30156; A61F2002/30158; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30233; A61F2002/30261; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30331; A61F2002/30354; A61F2002/30359; A61F2002/30362; A61F2002/30364; A61F2002/30383; A61F2002/3039; A61F2002/30398; A61F2002/304; A61F2002/30405; A61F2002/3041; A61F2002/30411; A61F2002/30433; A61F2002/30476; A61F2002/30492; A61F2002/30507; A61F2002/30515; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30537; A61F2002/30538; A61F2002/30579; A61F2002/30593; A61F2002/30594; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30774; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/30785; A61F2002/3079; A61F2002/30841; A61F2002/30843; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30891; A61F2002/30892; A61F2002/30904; A61F2/46; A61F2/4637; A61F2002/4638; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0033; A61F2220/0041; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0017; A61F2230/0019; A61F2230/0023; A61F2230/0026; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61F2230/0082; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0004; A61F2250/0006; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An intervertebrae implant comprising: two spaced side walls, a front wall connecting the side walls at one end thereof, a back wall connecting the side walls at their other end, the walls defining a corresponding space within the walls, a bottom face, a top face, each face extending transversely to said walls, at least one member disposed within the space defined by said walls, said member having a surface oriented toward one of the bottom face or the top face, and an adjusting element, which is supported in the front wall and the back wall, and which cooperates with the member such that the member is reciprocally movable between a first end position wherein the surface does not project beyond the bottom face or the top face and a second end position wherein the surface at least partially projects outwardly beyond the bottom face or the top face.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
An intervertebrae implant comprising: two spaced side walls, a front wall connecting the side walls at one end thereof, a back wall connecting the side walls at their other end, the walls defining a corresponding space within the walls, a bottom face, a top face, each face extending transversely to said walls, at least one member disposed within the space defined by said walls, said member having a surface oriented toward one of the bottom face or the top face, and an adjusting element, which is supported in the front wall and the back wall, and which cooperates with the member such that the member is reciprocally movable between a first end position wherein the surface does not project beyond the bottom face or the top face and a second end position wherein the surface at least partially projects outwardly beyond the bottom face or the top face.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 1 , further comprising two members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
123 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 1 , further comprising a threaded spindle, and wherein the adjusting element comprises two wedge members, the spindle having two ends and two portions with opposite thread pitch and being provided in the space, one end of the threaded spindle being rotationally supported in the front wall and the other end being rotationally supported in the back wall, and wherein the two wedge members are supported within the space in such a manner that, upon rotation of the threaded spindle in one direction, a distance between the wedge members decreases and, upon rotation of the threaded spindle in an opposite direction, the distance between the wedge members increases, and said wedge members operate to move the element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 3 , wherein the member comprises two inclined surfaces on a side opposite to said surface and wherein the wedge members engage the inclined surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 3 , wherein each wedge member provides a different wedge angle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 3 , wherein each portion of said spindle has a different thread pitch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the member comprises teeth, thereby in use providing for penetration into an adjacent bone material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 1 , further comprising a stop that limits the outward movement of the member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 8 , wherein the stop comprises a pin supported in the side walls and extending substantially parallel to the front wall and the back wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claims 1 , wherein the shape of each of the side walls is substantially trapezoidal to provide a truncated wedge-shaped body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 1 , wherein the member is positioned in the second end position in a manner such that said surface is inclined with respect to the bottom face or the top face.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
208 words
An intervertebrae implant comprising: two spaced side walls, a front wall connecting the side walls at one end thereof, a back wall connecting the side walls at their other end, the walls defining a corresponding space within the walls, a bottom face, a top face, each face extending transversely to said walls, at least one member disposed within the space defined by said walls, said member having a surface oriented toward one of the bottom face or the top face, an adjusting element, which is supported in the front wall and the back wall, and which cooperates with the member such that the member is reciprocally movable between a first end position wherein the surface does not project beyond the bottom face or the top face and a second end position wherein the surface at least partially projects outwardly beyond the bottom face or the top face; and a stop that limits the outward movement of the member; wherein the stop comprises a pin supported in the side walls and extending substantially parallel to the front wall and the back wall; wherein said member further comprises a U-shaped slit extending transversely to said surface, said slit cooperating with said pin to limit the outward movement of the member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
208 words
An intervertebrae implant comprising: two spaced side walls, a front wall connecting the side walls at one end thereof, a back wall connecting the side walls at their other end, the walls defining a corresponding space within the walls, a bottom face, a top face, each face extending transversely to said walls, at least one member disposed within the space defined by said walls, said member having a surface oriented toward one of the bottom face or the top face, an adjusting element, which is supported in the front wall and the back wall, and which cooperates with the member such that the member is reciprocally movable between a first end position wherein the surface does not project beyond the bottom face or the top face and a second end position wherein the surface at least partially projects outwardly beyond the bottom face or the top face; and a stop that limits the outward movement of the member; wherein the stop comprises a pin supported in the side walls and extending substantially parallel to the front wall and the back wall; wherein said member further comprises a U-shaped slit extending transversely to said surface, said slit cooperating with said pin to limit the outward movement of the member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 12 , further comprising two members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
123 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 12 , further comprising a threaded spindle, and wherein the adjusting element comprises two wedge members, the spindle having two ends and two portions with opposite thread pitch and being provided in the space, one end of the threaded spindle being rotationally supported in the front wall and the other end being rotationally supported in the back wall, and wherein the two wedge members are supported within the space in such a manner that, upon rotation of the threaded spindle in one direction, a distance between the wedge members decreases and, upon rotation of the threaded spindle in an opposite direction, the distance between the wedge members increases, and said wedge members operate to move the element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 14 , wherein the member comprises two inclined surfaces on a side opposite to said surface and wherein the wedge members engage the inclined surfaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 14 , wherein each wedge member provides a different wedge angle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 14 , wherein each portion of said spindle has a different thread pitch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 12 , wherein the surface of the member comprises teeth, thereby in use providing for penetration into an adjacent bone material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claims 12 , wherein the shape of each of the side walls is substantially trapezoidal to provide a truncated wedge-shaped body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
An intervertebrae implant according to claim 12 , wherein the member is positioned in the second end position in a manner such that said surface is inclined with respect to the bottom face or the top face.
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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) | 2004-01-23 | 2004-07-24 | 2005-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-23 | 2008-07-24 | 2009-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-23 | 2012-07-24 | 2013-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |