US6533818B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Artificial spinal disc
Assignee: Pearl Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 2000-07-26
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Granted: 2003-03-18
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Expires: 2020-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A multi layered artificial spinal disc that can be surgically implanted to replace a damaged natural spinal disc. The top and bottom layers being comprised of bone permeable material that when implanted would fuse to the vertebrae and form a permanent bond. The middle layer is a polymer with mechanical properties similar to natural spinal discs.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul J. Weber
- 👤 Luiz B. Da Silva
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/441; A61F2/442; A61F2/30767; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/30004; A61F2002/30006; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30563; A61F2002/30581; A61F2/30721; A61F2002/30733; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30879; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0015; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00365
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
An artificial spinal disc, comprising: a first annular layer of biocompatible bone permeable material, wherein said first annular layer comprises a first central opening; a second annular layer of biocompatible bone permeable material, wherein said second annular layer comprises a second central opening; a core having a first end affixed within said first central opening and having a second end affixed within said second central opening, wherein said core comprises biocompatible material; and an outer support surrounding and constraining said core, wherein said outer support comprises a tensile strength that is greater than the tensile strength of said core, wherein said outer support limits the compressibility and prevents the outer surface of said outer support from excessive bulging that could put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer comprises an annular region of bone permeable material, wherein said annular region is designed to bond to the hard cortical bone of a vertebra, wherein said core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a compressible biocompatible polymer and a biocompatible hydrogel, wherein said outer support comprises high strength polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and composite material, and wherein said composite material comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with embedded carbon fibers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
An artificial spinal disc, comprising: a first annular layer of biocompatible bone permeable material, wherein said first annular layer comprises a first central opening; a second annular layer of biocompatible bone permeable material, wherein said second annular layer comprises a second central opening; a core having a first end affixed within said first central opening and having a second end affixed within said second central opening, wherein said core comprises biocompatible material; and an outer support surrounding and constraining said core, wherein said outer support comprises a tensile strength that is greater than the tensile strength of said core, wherein said outer support limits the compressibility and prevents the outer surface of said outer support from excessive bulging that could put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer comprises an annular region of bone permeable material, wherein said annular region is designed to bond to the hard cortical bone of a vertebra, wherein said core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a compressible biocompatible polymer and a biocompatible hydrogel, wherein said outer support comprises high strength polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and composite material, and wherein said composite material comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with embedded carbon fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer is planar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer comprises biocompatible bone permeable material selected from the group consisting of porous titanium, ceramic, glass ceramic, hydroxyapatite and metal coated with polycrystalline alumina (Al 2 O 3 ).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein said core comprises biocompatible polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 4 , wherein said biocompatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polydimethyl siloxane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene and teflon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein said core comprises a plurality of materials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein said core comprises a central disc of material that diverges from the center of said artificial spinal disc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 7 , wherein said central disc of material comprises material selected from the group consisting of silicon rubber, polyurethane/silicon composite and hydrogel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer comprises a uniform thickness.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , further comprising bone growth factors applied to at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein said core comprises compressible biocompatible polymer selected from the group consisting of polydimethyl siloxane, polyethylene, polyurethane, silicon rubber compounds and teflon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein said core comprises biocompatible hydrogel selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA), polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohol, PNVP and hydrogel that uses methacrylic acid as monomers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein said core comprises biocompatible hydrogel having a compressibility that can be varied to achieve the desired mechanical properties.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein the orientation of said embedded carbon fibers is varied to simulate the properties of the natural disc annulus fibrosus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The artificial spinal disc of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer is contoured to substantially correspond to a surface of a vertebrae against which at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer will be located.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising surgically shaping the vertebrae above and/or below said first annular layer and said second annular layer to substantially correspond to at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for making an artificial spinal disc, comprising: forming a first annular layer of biocompatible bone permeable material, wherein said first annular layer comprises a first central opening; forming a second annular layer of biocompatible bone permeable material, wherein said second annular layer comprises a second central opening; forming a core of biocompatible material; affixing a first end of said core within said first central opening; affixing a second end of said core within said second central opening; and forming an outer support surrounding and constraining said core, wherein said outer support comprises a tensile strength that is greater than the tensile strength of said core, wherein said outer support limits the compressibility and prevents the outer surface of said outer support from excessive bulging that could put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer comprises is designed to bond to the hard cortical bone of a vertebra, wherein said core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a compressible biocompatible polymer and a biocompatible hydrogel, wherein said outer support comprises high strength polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and composite material, and wherein said composite material comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with embedded carbon fibers.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for making an artificial spinal disc, comprising: forming a first annular layer of biocompatible bone permeable material, wherein said first annular layer comprises a first central opening; forming a second annular layer of biocompatible bone permeable material, wherein said second annular layer comprises a second central opening; forming a core of biocompatible material; affixing a first end of said core within said first central opening; affixing a second end of said core within said second central opening; and forming an outer support surrounding and constraining said core, wherein said outer support comprises a tensile strength that is greater than the tensile strength of said core, wherein said outer support limits the compressibility and prevents the outer surface of said outer support from excessive bulging that could put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer comprises is designed to bond to the hard cortical bone of a vertebra, wherein said core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a compressible biocompatible polymer and a biocompatible hydrogel, wherein said outer support comprises high strength polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and composite material, and wherein said composite material comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with embedded carbon fibers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer is planar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer comprises biocompatible bone permeable material selected from the group consisting of porous titanium, ceramic, glass ceramic, hydroxyapatite and metal coated with polycrystalline alumina (Al 2 O 3 ).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said core comprises biocompatible polymer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said biocompatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polydimethyl siloxane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene and teflon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said core comprises a plurality of materials.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said core comprises a central disc of material that diverges from the center of said artificial spinal disc.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein said central disc of material comprises material selected from the group consisting of silicon rubber, polyurethane/silicon composite and hydrogel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer comprises a uniform thickness.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising applying bone growth factors to said at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer comprises.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer comprises is designed to bond to the hard cortical bone of a vertebra, wherein said core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a compressible biocompatible polymer and a biocompatible hydrogel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein said compressible biocompatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of polydimethyl siloxane, polyethylene, polyurethane, silicon rubber compound and teflon.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein said biocompatible hydrogel is selected from a group consisting of polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) and polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohols, PNVP and hydrogels that use methacrylic acid as monomers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein said biocompatible hydrogel comprises a compressibility that can be varied to achieve the desired mechanical properties.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 27 , further comprising forming an outer support surrounding and constraining said core, wherein said outer support comprises a tensile strength that is greater than the tensile strength of said core, wherein said outer support limits the compressibility and prevents the outer surface of said outer support from excessive bulging that could put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein said outer support comprises high strength polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and composite material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said composite material comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with embedded carbon fibers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the orientation of said embedded carbon fibers is varied to simulate the properties of the natural disc annulus fibrosus.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer is contoured to substantially correspond to a surface of a vertebrae against which said top and bottom layer will be located.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 35 , further comprising obtaining values for contouring at least one of said first annular layer and said second annular layer, wherein said values are obtained with a machine selected from the group consisting of a magnetic resonance imaging machine, a computed tomography machine and an ultrasound imaging machine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-17 | 2006-09-16 | 2007-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-17 | 2010-09-16 | 2011-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-17 | 2014-09-16 | 2015-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |