Check reins for artificial disc replacements

a technology of artificial discs and reins, applied in the field of artificial disc replacements, can solve the problems of spinal cord injury, spinal cord injury, spinal cord injury, etc., and achieve the effect of restoring motion limiting functions and preventing excessive spinal motion
US20070106386A1Inactive Publication Date: 2007-05-10FERREE BRET A
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
FERREE BRET A
Publication Date
2007-05-10
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

Check reins in the form of elongated members are used to limit the extreme range of motion which would otherwise be permitted by some ADR designs. The check reins serve two main purposes. First, they retain disc spacers, if present. Additionally, the wedge shape of ADRs and the removal of the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament (ALL) and a portion of the Annulus Fibrosus (AF) to insert the ADR from an anterior approach, favor anterior extrusion of disc spacers. In preferred embodiments the check reins are therefore limited to the anterior portion of the periphery of the ADR. Second, check reins serve to prevent excessive spinal motion. Again, although they may be helpful in other locations, anterior check reins help restore the motion limiting functions of the ALL and AF that were removed in anterior approaches to the spine.
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Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 375,286, filed Apr. 24, 2002, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application entitled “Methods And Apparatus For Placing Intradiscal Devices,” filed Apr. 23, 2003. The entire content of each application is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to artificial disc replacements (ADRs) and, more particularly, to check reins for ADRs. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Replacement of cervical discs with synthetic devices that preserve motion could destabilize the cervical spine. Trauma to a destabilized cervical spine could cause spine cord injury. Insertion of most types of artificial disc replacements (ADR) requires cutting the anterior longitudinal ligament and removal of a portion of the anterior half of the annulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus. Weakening the supporting structures on the ante...

Claims

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