US6387130B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Segmented linked intervertebral implant systems
Assignee: Nuvasive Inc
•
Filing: 2000-04-14
•
Granted: 2002-05-14
•
Expires: 2020-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of positioning a plurality of intervertebral implants in a patient's intervertebral space, comprising: introducing an elongated member into the patient's intervertebral space; and sequentially advancing a plurality of intervertebral implants over the elongated member and into the patient's intervertebral space, the plurality of intervertebral implants each having at least one hole passing therethrough, with the elongated member received through the holes passing through each of the plurality of implants.
Inventors
- 👤 Corbett W. Stone
- 👤 James F. Marino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61F2/46; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61F2/442; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30131; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30462; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30604; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/4415; A61F2002/4625; A61F2002/4627; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0075; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0013; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants, wherein the plurality of implants are slidingly movable over the elongated member, and wherein the plurality of implants can be positioned to abut against one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants, wherein the plurality of implants are slidingly movable over the elongated member, and wherein the plurality of implants can be positioned to abut against one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein, the elongated member is selected from the group consisting of a cord, string, tether or suture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein, the elongated member comprises braided suture material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein, the elongated member comprises a flexible wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 4 , wherein, the wire is made of a shape-memory metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein, the at least one hole comprises two holes passing through each of the intervertebral implants.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 6 , wherein, the two holes pass through each of the intervertebral implants in parallel to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 7 , wherein, a single elongated member is threaded through both of the holes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein, at least some of the plurality of intervertebral implants have ends which are angled to a central longitudinal axis extending through the implant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 9 , wherein, the plurality of intervertebral implants form a curved assembly when the angled ends of the implants are abutted together end-to-end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein, at least some of the plurality of intervertebral implants have top and bottom surfaces which are angled to one another such that the plurality of intervertebral implants form an assembly which tapers in a lordotic angle when the implants are abutted together end-to-end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein, each implant has two curved sides, and wherein one of the curved sides is concave and the other curved side is convex.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , further comprising: a positioning rod for adjusting the position of each of the intervertebral implants.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 13 , further comprising: first and second operating cannula, wherein the elongated member and the plurality of implants are dimensioned to be received through the first operating cannula, and the positioning rod is dimensioned to be received through the second operating cannula.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The intervertebral implant system of claim 14 , further comprising: a surgical guideframe adapted to support the first and second operating cannula.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of positioning a plurality of intervertebral implants in a patient's intervertebral space, comprising: introducing an elongated member into the patient's intervertebral space; and sequentially advancing a plurality of intervertebral implants over the elongated member and into the patient's intervertebral space, the plurality of intervertebral implants each having at least one hole passing therethrough, with the elongated member received through the holes passing through each of the plurality of implants.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of positioning a plurality of intervertebral implants in a patient's intervertebral space, comprising: introducing an elongated member into the patient's intervertebral space; and sequentially advancing a plurality of intervertebral implants over the elongated member and into the patient's intervertebral space, the plurality of intervertebral implants each having at least one hole passing therethrough, with the elongated member received through the holes passing through each of the plurality of implants.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein sequentially advancing the plurality of intervertebral implants comprises: advancing the plurality of intervertebral implants over the elongated member such that they abut one against another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the elongated member passes through two holes in each implant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein advancing the plurality of intervertebral implants over the elongated member such that they abut one against another, comprises: distally pushing on the last of the sequence of intervertebral implants, thereby causing the implants to abut together, forming a curved implant assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein distally pushing on the last of the sequence of intervertebral implants comprises pushing with a positioning rod.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein advancing the plurality of intervertebral implants over the elongated member such that they abut one against another, comprises: drawing back on the elongated member, thereby causing the plurality of intervertebral implants to abut together, forming a curved implant assembly.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 19 or 21 , wherein, at least some of the plurality of intervertebral implants have ends which are angled to a central longitudinal axis extending through the implant.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the curved implant assembly is positioned around a portion of the perimeter of the patient's intervertebral space.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising: positioning at least some of the plurality of intervertebral implants with a positioning rod.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising: cutting the elongated member such that a portion of the elongated member passing through the plurality of intervertebral implants remains disposed therein after the remainder of the elongated member has been removed from the intervertebral space.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 25 , further comprising: forming a knot in an end of the portion of the elongated member passing through the plurality of intervertebral implants such that the plurality of intervertebral implants are held together.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 25 , further comprising: connecting together separate ends of the portion of the elongated member passing through the plurality of intervertebral implants such that the plurality of intervertebral implants are held together.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein, the elongated member and the plurality of intervertebral implants are advanced through a first operating cannula into the intervertebral space, the first operating cannula being supported in a surgical guideframe.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein, a positioning rod is advanced through a second operating cannula into the intervertebral space, the second operating cannula being supported in a surgical guideframe.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
64 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants, wherein, the at least one hole comprises two parallel holes passing through each of the intervertebral implants, and wherein the elongated member is threaded through both of the holes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
64 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants, wherein, the at least one hole comprises two parallel holes passing through each of the intervertebral implants, and wherein the elongated member is threaded through both of the holes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
82 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants, and wherein at least some of the plurality of intervertebral implants have ends which are angled to a central longitudinal axis extending through the implant, and wherein the plurality of intervertebral implants form a curved assembly when the angled ends of the implants are abutted together end-to-end.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
82 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants, and wherein at least some of the plurality of intervertebral implants have ends which are angled to a central longitudinal axis extending through the implant, and wherein the plurality of intervertebral implants form a curved assembly when the angled ends of the implants are abutted together end-to-end.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
58 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants, wherein each implant has two curved sides, and wherein one of the curved sides is concave and the other curved side is convex.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
58 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants, wherein each implant has two curved sides, and wherein one of the curved sides is concave and the other curved side is convex.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
87 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants; a positioning rod for adjusting the position of each of the intervertebral implants; and first and second operating cannula, wherein the elongated member and the plurality of implants are dimensioned to be received through the first operating cannula, and the positioning rod is dimensioned to be received through the second operating cannula.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
87 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants; a positioning rod for adjusting the position of each of the intervertebral implants; and first and second operating cannula, wherein the elongated member and the plurality of implants are dimensioned to be received through the first operating cannula, and the positioning rod is dimensioned to be received through the second operating cannula.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
99 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants; a positioning rod for adjusting the position of each of the intervertebral implants; first and second operating cannula, wherein the elongated member and the plurality of implants are dimensioned to be received through the first operating cannula, and the positioning rod is dimensioned to be received through the second operating cannula; and a surgical guideframe adapted to support the first and second operating cannula.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
99 words
An intervertebral implant system, comprising: a plurality of implants, each implant having at least one hole passing therethrough; and an elongated member dimensioned to pass through the holes in each of the plurality of implants; a positioning rod for adjusting the position of each of the intervertebral implants; first and second operating cannula, wherein the elongated member and the plurality of implants are dimensioned to be received through the first operating cannula, and the positioning rod is dimensioned to be received through the second operating cannula; and a surgical guideframe adapted to support the first and second operating cannula.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5217497A
Cited
US5192327A
Cited
US5702454A
Cited
US5755797A
Cited
US5571190A
Cited
US5954769A
Cited
US6159211A
Cited
US6200347B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-05-13 | 2005-11-12 | 2006-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-05-13 | 2009-11-12 | 2010-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-05-13 | 2013-11-12 | 2014-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |