Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Implantable prosthesis – Bone
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-11
2002-09-10
McDermott, Corrine (Department: 3738)
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Implantable prosthesis
Bone
C623S017110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06447546
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an implant for use in surgical procedures for fusing adjacent bone structures and more specifically adjacent vertebrae.
2. Description of the Related Art
The fusion of adjacent bone structure is commonly performed to provide for long-term replacement to compensate for degenerative and or deteriorated disorders in bone. In many cases, low back pain can be avoided by preventing relative motion between spinal vertebrae. By fusing the contiguous vertebrae in the lumbar region, lower back pain can be abated.
Surgical techniques are known for use in spinal stabilization. Surgical techniques seek to rigidly join the vertebrae that are separated by a degenerated disk. Ideally, the surgery effectively replaces the vertebra-disk-vertebra combination with a single rigid vertebra. Various surgical techniques have been developed to approximate this ideal.
Many of the techniques begin by partially removing the degenerative disk material. Where the techniques differ is in their strategy for replacing the disc material. Some procedures fill the void left between the contiguous vertebra with bone graft. Other techniques rely on the use of an implant acting alone or in combination with bone fragments. Usually, initial stabilization is achieved by making the implant diameter slightly larger than the void between the vertebrae. Eventual fusion of the opposing bone segments results from bone growth into and through the implant.
In some cases, the above procedures have failed due to shifting of the implant between the adjacent vertebrae during the initial stabilization period, i.e., prior to fusion taking place. This translation of the implant can lead to discomfort and serious consequences for the patient due to the proximity of nerves and blood vessels in the implanted area.
Therefore, it is desirable that an improved apparatus and method be provided for fusing opposing spinal vertebrae.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention for a spinal implant includes a body assembly and a retention member coupled to the body assembly. The retention member includes a tang where the tang is extendible from the body assembly.
In a method of the present invention, the method includes the step of inserting an implant between adjacent vertebrae with a retention member of the implant in a first retracted configuration. The method also includes the step of configuring the retention member in a second extended configuration wherein when the retention member is in its second extended configuration, a portion of a tang of the retention member extends from the implant and into one of the adjacent vertebrae.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3374786 (1968-03-01), Callender, Jr.
patent: 3791380 (1974-02-01), Dawidowski
patent: 3892232 (1975-07-01), Neufeld
patent: 4009712 (1977-03-01), Burstein et al.
patent: 4175555 (1979-11-01), Herbert
patent: 4237875 (1980-12-01), Termanini
patent: 4379451 (1983-04-01), Getscher
patent: 4409974 (1983-10-01), Freedland
patent: 4432358 (1984-02-01), Fixel
patent: 4488543 (1984-12-01), Tornier
patent: 4494535 (1985-01-01), Haig
patent: 4519100 (1985-05-01), Wills et al.
patent: 4561432 (1985-12-01), Mazor
patent: 4612920 (1986-09-01), Lower
patent: 4621629 (1986-11-01), Koeneman
patent: 4632101 (1986-12-01), Freedland
patent: 4653489 (1987-03-01), Tronzo
patent: 4657001 (1987-04-01), Fixel
patent: 4721103 (1988-01-01), Freedland
patent: 4759352 (1988-07-01), Loxier
patent: 4787378 (1988-11-01), Sodhi
patent: 4791918 (1988-12-01), Von Hasselbach
patent: 4898156 (1990-02-01), Gatturna et al.
patent: 4946468 (1990-08-01), Li
patent: 4964403 (1990-10-01), Karas et al.
patent: 4968315 (1990-11-01), Gatturna
patent: 4969887 (1990-11-01), Sodhi
patent: 4973332 (1990-11-01), Kummer
patent: 4973333 (1990-11-01), Treharne
patent: 5002550 (1991-03-01), Li
patent: 5007910 (1991-04-01), Anapliotis et al.
patent: 5032125 (1991-07-01), Durham et al.
patent: 5041114 (1991-08-01), Chapman et al.
patent: 5041116 (1991-08-01), Wilson
patent: 5046513 (1991-09-01), Gatturna et al.
patent: 5057103 (1991-10-01), Davis
patent: 5062851 (1991-11-01), Branemark
patent: 5087266 (1992-02-01), Fixel
patent: 5098433 (1992-03-01), Freedland
patent: 5116336 (1992-05-01), Frigg
patent: 5129901 (1992-07-01), Decoste
patent: 5176681 (1993-01-01), Lawes et al.
patent: 5192303 (1993-03-01), Gatturna et al.
patent: 5207679 (1993-05-01), Li
patent: 5217486 (1993-06-01), Rice et al.
patent: 5300074 (1994-04-01), Frigg
patent: 5324292 (1994-06-01), Meyers
patent: 5356410 (1994-10-01), Pennig
patent: 5356413 (1994-10-01), Martins et al.
patent: 5372599 (1994-12-01), Martins
patent: 5417692 (1995-05-01), Goble et al.
patent: 5417712 (1995-05-01), Whittaker et al.
patent: 5429641 (1995-07-01), Gotfried
patent: 5437674 (1995-08-01), Worcel et al.
patent: 5456721 (1995-10-01), Legrand
patent: 5458601 (1995-10-01), Young, Jr. et al.
patent: 5472452 (1995-12-01), Trott
patent: 5478342 (1995-12-01), Kohrs
patent: 5489210 (1996-02-01), Hanosh
patent: 5522845 (1996-06-01), Wenstrom, Jr.
patent: 5531792 (1996-07-01), Huene
patent: 5534004 (1996-07-01), Santangelo
patent: 5571104 (1996-11-01), Li
patent: 5578035 (1996-11-01), Lin
patent: 5591168 (1997-01-01), Judet et al.
patent: 5593409 (1997-01-01), Michelson
patent: 5643321 (1997-07-01), McDevitt
patent: 5702449 (1997-12-01), McKay
patent: 5766253 (1998-06-01), Brosnahan, III
patent: 5800550 (1998-09-01), Sertich
patent: 5895427 (1999-04-01), Kuslich et al.
patent: 5968098 (1999-10-01), Winslow
patent: 5980522 (1999-11-01), Koros et al.
patent: 6129763 (2000-10-01), Chauvin et al.
patent: 6214050 (2001-04-01), Huene
patent: 0 637 439 (1995-02-01), None
patent: 0 697 200 (1996-02-01), None
patent: 0 951 879 (1999-10-01), None
“Anchorlok™ Questus™ Leading Edge™ Soft Tissue Anchor System,” Brochure, Wright Medical Technology, Inc., 1995.
Bramlet Dale G.
Godsted Jeffrey W.
Sterghos Peter
Bramlet Dale G.
Kenyon & Kenyon
McDermott Corrine
Phan Hieu
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for fusing opposing spinal vertebrae does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for fusing opposing spinal vertebrae, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for fusing opposing spinal vertebrae will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2898587