US6375682B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device
Assignee: X-PANTU-FLEX DRD LLC
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Filing: 2001-08-06
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Granted: 2002-04-23
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Expires: 2021-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A spinal prosthetic device ( 10 ) which is hydraulically expanded or retracted, either pre-implantation or in-situ, thereby being adjustable for the exact intravertebral axial spacing required for the patient. Thrust bearing members ( 22 ) are positioned between the vertebra engaging members ( 12 ) and a pair of bellows ( 26 ), allowing the collapsible/expandable bellows ( 26 ) to be rotated with respect to the vertebra engaging members ( 12 ). The device ( 10 ) can be readjusted, on an out-patient basis, months after initial implantation. The spinal prosthetic device ( 10 ) offers all degrees of motion afforded by the anatomical spinal disc and by virtue of incorporating no rubbing contact of any parts, exhibits and infinite working life. The spinal prosthetic device ( 10 ) reproduces the same hydraulic load bearing capability as the nucleus pulposis and flexural freedom of movement similar to the annulus fibrosis.
Inventors
- 👤 Lewis W. Fleischmann
- 👤 Christopher Galuardi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/442; A61F2/4425; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30742; A61F2/30744; A61F2/3094; A61F2/30965; A61F2/441; A61F2/48; A61F2/484; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30331; A61F2002/30354; A61F2002/30451; A61F2002/30476; A61F2002/30507; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30537; A61F2002/3055; A61F2002/30576; A61F2002/30578; A61F2002/30621; A61F2002/30639; A61F2002/30649; A61F2/30767; A61F2002/30769; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30774; A61F2002/30841; A61F2002/30843; A61F2002/443; A61F2002/444; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0033; A61F2220/0058; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device comprising: a pair of opposed vertebra engaging members, each having a first vertebra engaging surface for joining said vertebra engaging member to a vertebra and having a second bearing surface; a pair of thrust bearing members, each having a radial bearing assembly, said pair of radial bearing assemblies being fixedly secured to said vertebra engaging members, each of said members being contiguous and rotatable with respect to said second bearing surfaces; a pair of collapsible, extendable bellows, each having an end cap formed on a first end thereof, said end cap having a bearing recess formed therein, said bearing recess receiving said radial bearing assembly of said thrust bearing member, said thrust bearing member being contiguous and rotatable with respect to said end cap; and, a base plate member having opposed annular surfaces, each of said annular surfaces being fixedly secured to a second end of said collapsible, extendable bellows, said base plate member having a fluid channel formed therethrough for allowing said bellows to be filled with a fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device comprising: a pair of opposed vertebra engaging members, each having a first vertebra engaging surface for joining said vertebra engaging member to a vertebra and having a second bearing surface; a pair of thrust bearing members, each having a radial bearing assembly, said pair of radial bearing assemblies being fixedly secured to said vertebra engaging members, each of said members being contiguous and rotatable with respect to said second bearing surfaces; a pair of collapsible, extendable bellows, each having an end cap formed on a first end thereof, said end cap having a bearing recess formed therein, said bearing recess receiving said radial bearing assembly of said thrust bearing member, said thrust bearing member being contiguous and rotatable with respect to said end cap; and, a base plate member having opposed annular surfaces, each of said annular surfaces being fixedly secured to a second end of said collapsible, extendable bellows, said base plate member having a fluid channel formed therethrough for allowing said bellows to be filled with a fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said second bearing surface of each of said vertebra engaging members has an annular groove formed therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 2 wherein said pair of thrust bearing members each have a plurality of ball bearings annularly positioned thereon and received within said annular groove of said second bearing surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said end caps has an end cap annular groove formed thereon for receiving said plurality of ball bearings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid is an incompressible fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said first vertebra engaging surfaces includes a plurality of engaging members projecting therefrom for securing said pair of vertebra engaging members to a pair of vertebrae.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said pair of opposed vertebra engaging members has a plurality of fixing openings formed therethrough for receiving a plurality of securing members to secure said vertebra engaging members to said vertebrae.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said pair of collapsible, extendable bellows is formed from a plurality of washer members joined each to the other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid is a combination of compressible and incompressible fluids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid is a mixture of incompressible and compressible fluids.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said base plate member includes a valve member in fluid communication with said fluid channel for selectively sealing said fluid channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 1 wherein an extension hose is coupled with said base plate member for fluid adjustment of said pair of collapsible, extendable bellows.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
204 words
A collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device comprising: a pair of opposed vertebra engaging members, each having a first vertebra engaging surface for joining said vertebra engaging member to a vertebra, each of said vertebra engaging members having a second bearing surface; a pair of thrust bearing members, each of said thrust bearing members including a radial bearing assembly, said pair of radial bearing assemblies being fixedly secured to said vertebra engaging members, each of said thrust bearing members being contiguous and rotatable with respect to said second bearing surfaces; a pair of collapsible, extendable bellows, each having an end cap formed on a first end thereof, said end cap having a bearing recess formed therein, said bearing recess receiving said radial bearing assembly of said thrust bearing member, said thrust bearing member being contiguous and rotatable with respect to said end cap; and, a base plate member including opposing annular surfaces, each of said annular surfaces being fixedly secured to a second end of said collapsible, extendable bellows, said base plate member having a fluid channel formed therethrough for permitting said bellows to be filled or unfilled with a fluid, said fluid channel being in fluid communication with a valve assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
204 words
A collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device comprising: a pair of opposed vertebra engaging members, each having a first vertebra engaging surface for joining said vertebra engaging member to a vertebra, each of said vertebra engaging members having a second bearing surface; a pair of thrust bearing members, each of said thrust bearing members including a radial bearing assembly, said pair of radial bearing assemblies being fixedly secured to said vertebra engaging members, each of said thrust bearing members being contiguous and rotatable with respect to said second bearing surfaces; a pair of collapsible, extendable bellows, each having an end cap formed on a first end thereof, said end cap having a bearing recess formed therein, said bearing recess receiving said radial bearing assembly of said thrust bearing member, said thrust bearing member being contiguous and rotatable with respect to said end cap; and, a base plate member including opposing annular surfaces, each of said annular surfaces being fixedly secured to a second end of said collapsible, extendable bellows, said base plate member having a fluid channel formed therethrough for permitting said bellows to be filled or unfilled with a fluid, said fluid channel being in fluid communication with a valve assembly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said second bearing surface of each of said vertebra engaging members includes an annular groove formed therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 14 wherein said pair of thrust bearing members each include a plurality of ball bearings annularly positioned thereon and received within said annular groove of said second bearing surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 15 wherein each of said end caps has an end cap annular groove formed therein for receiving said plurality of ball bearings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said fluid is an incompressible fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein each of said first vertebra engaging surfaces includes a plurality of engaging members projecting therefrom for securing said pair of vertebra engaging members to a pair of vertebrae.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein each of said pair of opposed vertebra engaging members includes a plurality of fixing openings formed therethrough for receiving a plurality of securing members to secure said vertebra engaging members to said vertebrae.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein each of said pair of collapsible, extendable bellows is formed from a plurality of washer members joined each to the other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said fluid is a mixture of incompressible and compressible fluids.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said valve assembly is positioned remotely from said base plate member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 22 wherein said valve assembly is fluidly connected to said base plate member by an extension hose.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said fluid is a combination of compressible and incompressible fluids.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein adjacent vertebrae are adjustably distracted by selective in situ hydraulic filling of said pair of collapsible, expandable bellows.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said device is implanted within the space formerly occupied by the nucleus pulposis of said spinal disc, leaving the annulus fibrosis intact.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The collapsible, rotatable and expandable spinal hydraulic prosthetic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said device replaces entirely said spinal disc when the annulus fibrosis of said spinal disc is removed.
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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) | 2005-04-22 | 2005-10-22 | 2006-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-04-22 | 2009-10-22 | 2010-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-04-22 | 2013-10-22 | 2014-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |