US6440169B1 — Interspinous stabilizer to be fixed to spinous pr…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 118 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two anchor members adapted to be anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and having a body extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being resiliently compressible under forces acting in the alignment direction from a first configuration to a second configuration and reverting to the first configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body comprising a leaf spring having geometrically shaped walls defining an opening, the anchor members are adapted to fix the stabilizer to the processes so that walls of the leaf spring and the opening extend substantially in the anterior/posterior direction with reference to the body of the patient the walls closed in the medial-lateral direction.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 118 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two anchor members adapted to be anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and having a body extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being resiliently compressible under forces acting in the alignment direction from a first configuration to a second configuration and reverting to the first configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body comprising a leaf spring having geometrically shaped walls defining an opening, the anchor members are adapted to fix the stabilizer to the processes so that walls of the leaf spring and the opening extend substantially in the anterior/posterior direction with reference to the body of the patient the walls closed in the medial-lateral direction.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The stabilizer according to claim 1 , wherein the body comprises two leaf spring parts extending parallel to each other in the alignment direction.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The stabilizer according to claim 2 , wherein the wall of each leaf spring, part has a U-shaped section.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The stabilizer according to any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the body comprises at least one leaf spring part forming at least two successive U-shapes in a plane perpendicular to the generatrix and oriented alternatively in opposite directions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

The stabilizer according to any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the leaf spring forms a closed loop.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 12 words

The stabilizer according to claim 5 , wherein the loop is elliptical.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The stabilizer according to any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the body includes at least one viscoelastic material member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

The stabilizer according to any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the body includes two leaf springs bearing on each other.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The stabilizer according to any of claims l to 3 , wherein the leaf spring has at least two sections of different thickness.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The stabilizer according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the anchor members comprises two toothed jaws mobile axially towards each other to form a clamp.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

The stabilizer according to claim 1 , which includes at least two bodies which are parallel to each other in the alignment direction.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 91 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two members for being anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and a body extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being compressible in the alignment direction and from a given configuration by the application of a force, the body being adapted to revert to the given configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body having slots disposed to render the body compressible in the alignment direction, wherein the body is cylindrical and is hollowed out along an axis of the cylinder.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 91 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two members for being anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and a body extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being compressible in the alignment direction and from a given configuration by the application of a force, the body being adapted to revert to the given configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body having slots disposed to render the body compressible in the alignment direction, wherein the body is cylindrical and is hollowed out along an axis of the cylinder.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 42 words

The stabilizer according to claim 12 , wherein the slots form at least one series of at least two adjacent slots symmetrically disposed about an axis of the cylinder and each slot subtends an angle (a) greater than 180° about the axis.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The stabilizer according to claim 12 , which includes at least two bodies which are parallel to each other in the alignment direction.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 86 words

An interspinal vertebral implant comprising: first and second anchor members, for fixing the implant to spinous processes of adjacent first and second vertebrae; and a body having walls extending in an anterior/posterior direction, said walls forming a closed outer surface in the medial-lateral direction defining a shaped cavity therein, said cavity having two open ends, with a first end open in the anterior direction and a second end open in the posterior direction, said closed outer surface being resiliently deformable under pressure to compress said cavity.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 86 words

An interspinal vertebral implant comprising: first and second anchor members, for fixing the implant to spinous processes of adjacent first and second vertebrae; and a body having walls extending in an anterior/posterior direction, said walls forming a closed outer surface in the medial-lateral direction defining a shaped cavity therein, said cavity having two open ends, with a first end open in the anterior direction and a second end open in the posterior direction, said closed outer surface being resiliently deformable under pressure to compress said cavity.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

The implant according to claim 15 wherein the body comprises two spring parts extending parallel to each other in the anterior-posterior direction.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

The implant according to claim 16 , wherein the closed outer surface has an oval cross-section.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

The implant as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the closed outer surface defines a cavity having at least two U-shaped portions extending in an anterior-posterior direction.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The implant as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said cavity has at least one viscoelastic element therein.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The implant as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said cavity has tightly curved portions which include said at least one viscoelastic member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 128 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two anchor members adapted to be anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and having a body extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being resiliently compressible under forces acting in the alignment direction from a first configuration to a second configuration and reverting to the first configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body comprising a leaf spring having geometrically shaped walls defining an opening, the anchor members are adapted to fix the stabilizer to the processes so that walls of the leaf spring and the opening extend substantially in the anterior/posterior direction with reference to the body of the patient, wherein the body comprises two leaf spring parts extending parallel to each other in the alignment direction.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 128 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two anchor members adapted to be anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and having a body extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being resiliently compressible under forces acting in the alignment direction from a first configuration to a second configuration and reverting to the first configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body comprising a leaf spring having geometrically shaped walls defining an opening, the anchor members are adapted to fix the stabilizer to the processes so that walls of the leaf spring and the opening extend substantially in the anterior/posterior direction with reference to the body of the patient, wherein the body comprises two leaf spring parts extending parallel to each other in the alignment direction.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 120 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two anchor members adapted to be anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and having a body extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being resiliently compressible under forces acting in the alignment direction from a first configuration to a second configuration and reverting to the first configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body comprising two leaf springs having geometrically shaped walls defining an opening, the anchor members are adapted to fix the stabilizer to the processes so that walls of the leaf spring and the opening extend substantially in the anterior/posterior direction with reference to the body of the patient, wherein the two leaf springs bear on each other.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 120 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two anchor members adapted to be anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and having a body extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being resiliently compressible under forces acting in the alignment direction from a first configuration to a second configuration and reverting to the first configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body comprising two leaf springs having geometrically shaped walls defining an opening, the anchor members are adapted to fix the stabilizer to the processes so that walls of the leaf spring and the opening extend substantially in the anterior/posterior direction with reference to the body of the patient, wherein the two leaf springs bear on each other.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 114 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two members for being anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and a body having at least one portion extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being compressible in the alignment direction and from a given configuration by the application of a force, the body being adapted to revert to the given configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body portion having slots disposed to render the body compressible in the alignment direction wherein the body is cylindrical and is hollowed out along an axis of the cylinder which includes as least two body portions which are parallel to each other in the alignment direction.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 114 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two members for being anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and a body having at least one portion extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being compressible in the alignment direction and from a given configuration by the application of a force, the body being adapted to revert to the given configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body portion having slots disposed to render the body compressible in the alignment direction wherein the body is cylindrical and is hollowed out along an axis of the cylinder which includes as least two body portions which are parallel to each other in the alignment direction.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 96 words

An interspinal implant comprising: first and second anchor members, for fixing the implant to spinous processes of adjacent first and second vertebrae; and a body having walls extending in an anterior/posterior direction, said walls forming closed outer surface defining a shaped cavity therein, said cavity having two open ends, with a first end open in the anterior direction and a second end open in the posterior direction, said closed outer surface being resiliently deformable under pressure to compress said cavity wherein the body comprises two spring parts extending parallel to each other in the anterior-posterior direction.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 96 words

An interspinal implant comprising: first and second anchor members, for fixing the implant to spinous processes of adjacent first and second vertebrae; and a body having walls extending in an anterior/posterior direction, said walls forming closed outer surface defining a shaped cavity therein, said cavity having two open ends, with a first end open in the anterior direction and a second end open in the posterior direction, said closed outer surface being resiliently deformable under pressure to compress said cavity wherein the body comprises two spring parts extending parallel to each other in the anterior-posterior direction.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 18 words

The implant as set forth in claim 24 , wherein the closed outer surface has an oval cross-section.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

The implant as set forth in claim 25 , wherein the closed outer surface defines a cavity having at least two U-shaped portions extending in an anterior-posterior direction.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 106 words

An interspinal vertebral implant comprising: first and second anchor members, for fixing the implant to spinous processes of adjacent first and second vertebrae; a body having walls extending in an anterior/posterior direction, said walls forming closed outer surface defining a shaped cavity therein, said cavity having two open ends, with a first end open in the anterior direction and a second end open in the posterior direction, said closed outer surface being resiliently deformable under pressure to compress said cavity wherein the body comprises two spring parts extending parallel to each other in the anterior-posterior direction; and said cavity has at least one viscoelastic element therein.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 106 words

An interspinal vertebral implant comprising: first and second anchor members, for fixing the implant to spinous processes of adjacent first and second vertebrae; a body having walls extending in an anterior/posterior direction, said walls forming closed outer surface defining a shaped cavity therein, said cavity having two open ends, with a first end open in the anterior direction and a second end open in the posterior direction, said closed outer surface being resiliently deformable under pressure to compress said cavity wherein the body comprises two spring parts extending parallel to each other in the anterior-posterior direction; and said cavity has at least one viscoelastic element therein.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

The implant as set forth in claim 27 , wherein said cavity has tightly curved portion which include said at least one viscoelastic member.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 144 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two anchor members adapted to be anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and having a body extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being resiliently compressible under forces acting in the alignment direction from a first configuration to a second configuration and reverting to the first configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body comprising a leaf spring having geometrically shaped walls defining an opening, the anchor members are adapted to fix the stabilizer to the processes so that walls of the leaf spring and the opening extend substantially in the anterior/posterior direction with reference to the body of the patient, wherein the body comprises two leaf spring parts extending parallel to each other in the alignment direction which includes at least two bodies which are parallel to each other in the alignment direction.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 144 words

An interspinous stabilizer comprising two anchor members adapted to be anchored to spinous processes of respective vertebrae and having a body extending in a direction of alignment of the members, the body being resiliently compressible under forces acting in the alignment direction from a first configuration to a second configuration and reverting to the first configuration spontaneously after the force is removed, the body comprising a leaf spring having geometrically shaped walls defining an opening, the anchor members are adapted to fix the stabilizer to the processes so that walls of the leaf spring and the opening extend substantially in the anterior/posterior direction with reference to the body of the patient, wherein the body comprises two leaf spring parts extending parallel to each other in the alignment direction which includes at least two bodies which are parallel to each other in the alignment direction.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-08-26	2006-02-25	2006-08-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-08-26	2010-02-25	2010-08-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-08-26	2014-02-25	2014-08-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Interspinous stabilizer to be fixed to spinous processes of two vertebrae

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