1347 results about "Intervertebral disk" patented technology

Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve. Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted to restore the normal angular relationship of the vertebrae adjacent to that disc space. An extended outer sleeve having extended portions capable of maintaining the vertebrae distracted in their normal angular relationship is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve.

A spinal implant for intervertebral disc replacement. The implant is formed from two hemicylindrical elements, each engaging one of an adjacent pair of vertebrae. An articulating ball-and-socket joint between the two elements resists compression and lateral movement between the vertebra, but allows pivotal movement, thereby preserving mobility. Fusion chambers are provided for allowing bone ingrowth to fuse the elements to the vertebrae. Biocompatible, bioreabsorbable struts, shims, fillers and/or end caps are provided for temporary stabilization of the first and second hemicylindrical elements. Bone chips removed from the vertebrae during implantation or bone growth stimulators can be inserted into the fusion chamber or otherwise applied to the implant to enhance bone ingrowth.

An expandable interbody spacer (IBS) device designed to restore the disc height between vertebral bodies. The expandable interbody spacer device has an integral, moveable expansion member or spreader, provided between two plates. The plates are connected by one or more connecting members that retain the plates in a position proximate to one another while allowing the plates to move from a first unexpanded position to a second expanded position upon activation of the expansion member. According to aspects of the invention, the interbody spacer device can be implanted in an unexpanded or collapsed configuration, and then expanded to full height by engaging the expansion member. In other embodiments, the interbody spacer device may take various forms, for example, it may be cashew, rectangular or annular.

Spinal stabilizing elements and spinal stabilization systems composed of spinal stabilizing elements in combination with disc prostheses or disc nucleus replacements are provided. The stabilizing elements and stabilization systems are designed to preserve the natural mobility of vertebral discs and facet joints in patients with facet joint disease or patients who has undergone a prior destabilizing procedure, such as a facetectomy. The stabilizing elements may be pivoting elements or dynamic elements.

An intervertebral disc space implant includes spaced-apart bone engagement portions that define an intermediate chamber that holds bone growth inducing material into contact with adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant is expandable to establish and maintain desired intervertebral spacing during fusion. The implant includes a first member and a second member arranged to move relative to each other by action of an expansion member, the first member being engageable with the vertebral body below the disc space.

The present invention discloses devices and methods for performing intravascular procedures with out: cardiac bypass. The devices include various embodiments of temporary filter devices, temporary valves, and prosthetic valves. The temporary filter devices have one or more cannulae which provide access for surgical tools for effecting repair of the cardiac valves. A cannula may have filters of various configurations encircling the distal region of the cannula, which prevent embolitic material from entering the coronary arteries and aorta. The temporary valve devices may also have one or more cannulae which guide the insertion of the valve into the aorta. The valve devices expand in the aorta to occupy the entire flow path of the vessel. In one embodiment, the temporary valve is a disc of flexible, porous, material that acts to filter blood passing therethrough. A set of valve leaflets extend peripherally from the disc. These leaflets can alternately collapse to prevent blood flow through the valve and extend to permit flow. The prosthetic valves include valve fixation devices which secure the prosthetic valve to the wall of the vessel. In one embodiment, the prosthetic valves have at least one substantially rigid strut, at least two expandable fixation rings located about the circumference of the base of the apex of the valve, and one or more commissures and leaflets. The prosthetic valves are introduced into the vascular system a compressed state, advanced to the site of implantation, expanded and secured to the vessel wall.

An artificial functional spinal unit is provided comprising, generally, an expandable artificial intervertebral implant that can be placed via a posterior surgical approach and used in conjunction with one or more artificial facet joints to provide an anatomically correct range of motion. Expandable artificial intervertebral implants in both lordotic and non-lordotic designs are disclosed, as well as lordotic and non-lordotic expandable cages for both PLIF (posterior lumber interbody fusion) and TLIF (transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion) procedures. The expandable implants may have various shapes, such as round, square, rectangular, banana-shaped, kidney-shaped, or other similar shapes. By virtue of their posteriorly implanted approach, the disclosed artificial FSU's allow for posterior decompression of the neural elements, reconstruction of all or part of the natural functional spinal unit, restoration and maintenance of lordosis, maintenance of motion, and restoration and maintenance of disc space height.

An articulating spinal implant for intervertebral disc replacement. The articulating spinal implant is formed from two elements, each engaging one of an adjacent pair of vertebra. Articulation features between the two elements resist compression and lateral movement between the vertebra, but allow the adjacent vertebra to articulate about an instantaneous axis of rotation.

A method and apparatus for fixation and correction of spondylolisthesis anteriorly includes a disk cage which is inserted into the space between adjacent vertebrae, a drill guide for guiding and aligning a drill bit to angle an opening anteriorly between adjacent vertebrae, a distractor for temporarily aligning the vertebrae to position a disk cage and an elongated hollow screw positioned in said drilled opening through one vertebra, said disk cage and into said adjacent vertebra.

A spinal implant may be used to stabilize a portion of a spine. The implant may promote bone growth between adjacent vertebrae that fuses the vertebrae together. An implant may include an opening through a height of a body of the implant. The body of the implant may include curved sides. A top and/or a bottom of the implant may include protrusions that contact and/or engage vertebral surfaces to prevent backout of the implant from the disc space. A variety of instruments may be used to prepare a disc space and insert an implant. The instruments may include, but are not limited to, a distractor, a rasp, and one or more guides. The implant and instruments may be supplied in an instrument kit.

An expandable intervertebral implant (20) is provided for insertion into an intervertebral space defined by adjacent vertebrae. The expandable intervertebral implant includes a pair of outer sleeve portions (30A, 30B) and an inner core (50) disposed between the outer sleeve portions. Movement of the inner core relative to the outer sleeve portions causes the outers sleeve portions to deflect away from each other, thereby engaging the expandable intervertebral implant with the vertebrae and adjusting the height of the intervertebral space.

Disclosed herein are spinal implants particularly useful in interbody fusion surgery. One embodiment pertains to a plate configured to establish desired lordosis and/or disc height that may be implanted and secured to a superior and inferior vertebral body. The plate may be interlocked with a spacer component to form a single implant. Also disclosed is an anti-backout mechanism that helps prevent fixators from backing out upon securement of the plate in the spine. Kits comprising different sizes and inclination angles of components are disclosed, which can assist the surgeon in preoperatively assembling an implant to best fit in the surgical site of the patient.

A prosthetic is provided for replacing a vertebral disc. The prosthesis can comprise first and second endplates formed of a ceramic material, each including an articulating contact surface and a bone facing surface. The contact surface of the first endplate can have a shape complementary to the contact surface of the second endplate, thereby facilitating articulation of the first and second endplates while in contact with one another. The device can further include at least one non-ceramic bone attachment element mated with at least one of the bone facing surfaces, such that the bone attachment element covers less than a full area of the bone facing surface.

A spinal implant for intervertebral disc replacement. The implant is formed from two hemicylindrical elements, each engaging one of an adjacent pair of vertebrae. An articulating ball-and-socket joint and/or rocker and channel between the two elements resists compression and lateral movement between the vertebra, but allows pivotal movement, thereby preserving mobility. Fusion chambers are provided for allowing bone ingrowth to fuse the elements to the vertebrae. Biocompatible, bioreabsorbable struts, shims, fillers and/or end caps are provided for temporary stabilization of the first and second hemicylindrical elements. Bone chips removed from the vertebrae during implantation or bone growth stimulators can be inserted into the fusion chamber or otherwise applied to the implant to enhance bone ingrowth.