|Número de publicación||US8167886 B2|
|Tipo de publicación||Concesión|
|Número de solicitud||US 12/643,693|
|Fecha de publicación||1 May 2012|
|Fecha de prioridad||17 Ene 2002|
|También publicado como||EP1471854A1, EP1471854A4, US7105023, US7534267, US7674295, US20030135276, US20050075645, US20070016299, US20100100140, WO2003061533A1|
|Número de publicación||12643693, 643693, US 8167886 B2, US 8167886B2, US-B2-8167886, US8167886 B2, US8167886B2|
|Inventores||Walter W. Eckman|
|Cesionario original||Concept Matrix, Llc|
|Exportar cita||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Citas de patentes (84), Otras citas (17), Clasificaciones (25), Eventos legales (2)|
|Enlaces externos: USPTO, Cesión de USPTO, Espacenet|
The present application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/463,056, filed Aug. 8, 2006 and entitled “Vertebral Defect Device,” which is a is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/988,830, filed Nov. 15, 2004 and entitled “Methods of Installing a Vertebral Defect Device,” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,267, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/345,591, filed Jan. 16, 2003 and entitled “Vertebral Defect Device,” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,105,023. This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/369,510, filed Apr. 2, 2002 and entitled “Intervetebral Fusion Cage,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/349,730, filed Jan. 17, 2002 and entitled “Intervetebral Fusion Cage.”
The present invention relates generally to intervertebral defect devices, and more particularly, to an insertion tool for inserting an intervertebral defect device into an intervertebral space using minimally invasive techniques.
Referring to prior art
The natural aging process can cause a deterioration of the intervertebral disks, and therefore, their intrinsic support strength and stability is diminished. Sudden movements may cause a disk to rupture or herniate. A herniation of the disk is primarily a problem when the nucleus pulposus protrudes or ruptures into the spinal canal 108 placing pressure on nerves which in turn causes spasms, tingling, numbness, and/or pain in one or more parts of the body, depending on the nerves involved. Further deterioration of the disk can cause the damaged disk to lose height and as bone spurs develop on the vertebrae 100, result in a narrowing of the spinal canal 108 and foramen 111 (not shown clearly), and thereby causes pressure on the nerves emanating from the spinal cord 128.
Presently, there are several techniques, in addition to non-surgical treatments, for relieving the symptoms related to intervertebral disk deterioration. Surgical options include chemonucleolysis, laminectomy, diskectomy, microdiskectomy, and spinal fusion.
Chemonucleolysis is the injection of an enzyme, such as chymopapain, into the disk to dissolve the protruding nucleus pulposus. The enzyme is a protein-digesting enzyme and is used to dissolve the disk material. Since the enzyme is essentially a tissue-dissolving agent, it is indiscriminate in the protein-based matter it dissolves. Should the enzyme be injected into the wrong place, or if there is a breach in the disk capsule that would allow the solution to enter the spinal canal or to contact nerve tissue or the like, the resultant damage to nerve tissue could not be reversed. Even worse, about half of the patients who receive chemonucleolysis treatments experience increased back pain and muscle spasms immediately after the injection and more than half have incapacitating back pain for durations up to three months after such treatments.
A laminectomy is performed to decompress the spinal canal by open surgical techniques under general anesthesia. In this procedure, the lamina 110, (the bone that curves around and covers the spinal canal 108 as shown in
Diskectomy is a form of spinal surgery wherein part of an intervertebral disk is excised typically through open surgical techniques. Recently, less invasive techniques referred to as percutaneous diskectomy or microdiskectomy have been developed to reduce the surgical trauma to the patient. In microdiskectomy, a much smaller incision is made than in normal open surgeries. A small retractor, working channel or tube is inserted through the posterior muscles (not shown) to allow access to the damaged or herniated disk. Surgeons utilize special surgical instruments modified to work in such small openings such as curettes, osteotomes, reamers, probes, retractors, forceps, and the like to cut and remove part of the disk while monitoring their technique using a microscope, a fluoroscope (real-time X-ray monitoring), and/or an endoscope (a miniature TV camera with associated viewing monitor). While this technique is much less invasive than conventional open surgeries, due to their design the instruments presently available tend to extend the length of time of the surgery and may cause possible damage to areas other than the herniated disk.
A spinal fusion is a procedure that involves fusing together two or more vertebrae in the spine using bone grafts and sometimes using metal fixation with screws, plates or metal rods. The removal of a significant amount of disk material or numerous surgeries often increases the instability of the spine 120 thereby necessitating spinal fusion surgery. The fusion procedure is often used to correct kyphosis or scoliosis, in addition to those patients who require spine stabilization due to vertebral damage from ruptured disks, fractures, osteomyelitis, osteoarthritis or tumors, and the like. In a fusion procedure, a damaged disk may be completely removed. Parts of a bone from another part of the body, such as the pelvis, are harvested, and the bone parts or grafts are subsequently placed between the adjacent vertebrae 100 so that the adjacent vertebrae 100 grow together in a solid mass. In the fusion surgery, which is presently performed as an open surgical technique, the posterior lamina 110 and the centers of the vertebral bodies 106 may both be cut. The surgery often involves consequential damage to the associated posterior ligaments, muscles and joints in addition to the removal of part or all of the lamina 110.
In general, small pieces of bone are placed into the space between the vertebrae to be fused, but sometimes larger pieces of bone are used to provide immediate structural support. The source of the bone may be the patient, (autologous or autograft bone) or a bone bank harvested from other individuals, i.e. allograft bone. While autologous bone is generally considered better for promoting fusion between the vertebrae, it also necessitates extra surgery to remove bone from the patient's body. As with any surgery, risks can include bleeding, infection, adverse reactions to drugs, and difficulty under anesthesia. Additionally, the site of the bone graft harvest may cause pain in addition to the pain the patient is already suffering due to the difficulties associated with the vertebrae 100 or disk. Due to the nature of the conventional spinal fusion surgery, typically an open surgery wherein muscles and ligaments are cut and bone is chiseled away to allow access to the intervertebral space, recovery following fusion surgery is generally longer than any other type of spinal surgery. Patients typically stay in the hospital for three or four days or more and may require significantly greater time to return to normal activities since the surgeon normally requires evidence of bone healing. The recovery time for a normal spinal fusion surgery is significant due not only to the fact that normal movement cannot be allowed until detectable bone growth has occurred between the bone grafts and the adjacent vertebrae 100, but the associated ligaments, muscles and the location where the bone grafts were harvested must also recover. Oftentimes portions of the spine 120 must be immobilized during the recovery period causing added discomfort and inconvenience to the patient.
The concept of using a cage device for spinal fusion is not new. Several fusion cages are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,961,740, 5,702,449, 5,984,967, and 6,039,762, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
One prior art fusion cage device, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,740 of Ray et al. (hereinafter “Ray”), is a large cylindrically shaped fusion cage that has a deep helical thread around the outer surface. In order to install the fusion cage of Ray, laminectomies must be performed on each side of the overlying lamina in order to provide access for the large cylindrically shaped fusion cage and if the disk space has narrowed as a result of degeneration, a scissors jack-type spreader or hydraulically inflated bladder is inserted on each side and opened to allow access to the disk space. A pilot cutter and pilot rod are used to cut female bone threads through the opposing vertebral endplates prior to threading the fusion basket into the now threaded interdiskal bore. Obviously the surgery is lengthy, highly intrusive and traumatic, and as noted in the Ray specification takes several weeks for recovery.
Other prior art devices, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,702,449 and 6,039,762 of McKay (hereinafter, “McKay”), are cylindrically shaped spinal implants with perforations or apertures located through the outside walls. While the implants of McKay provide for a non-metal, bone graft substitute, they still require open surgical techniques for implantation due to their size and geometric shape.
Further, the concept of using an implant device for spinal support and stability is not new. Implants were used by Dr. Fernstrom in the 1960's including stainless steel spherical ball bearings (see “Spine Arthroplasty,” Spine Industry Analysis Series, Viscogliosi Bros., LLC, November 2001).
What is needed, but not provided in the prior art, is a stand alone vertebral defect device that can be inserted into the intervertebral space with minor open surgery in a procedure utilizing minimally invasive techniques. Further, there is a need for such a vertebral defect device which can be used either to assist with fusion or can be used to maintain support and stability while preserving motion of the involved spine segment.
Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to an insertion tool for a vertebral defect device having upper and lower openings. The insertion tool includes a first finger sized and shaped to cooperatively engage the upper opening and a second finger is sized and shaped to cooperatively engage the lower opening. An outer surface of each finger is shaped to match a contoured shape of the vertebral defect device proximate to the respective finger to allow a smooth insertion of the vertebral defect device between a pair of adjacent vertebrae. A driving member is sized and shaped to engage a body of the vertebral defect device, such that during insertion the driving member is driven to push the vertebral defect device between the pair of adjacent vertebrae.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a combination of a vertebral defect device and an insertion tool. The vertebral defect device includes a convexly tapered distal end, a proximal end, a top, a bottom, a first, a second side and an outer surface having generally rounded edges thereby facilitating insertion into an intervertebral space between a pair of adjacent vertebrae. The top has an upper opening and the bottom has a lower opening The insertion tool includes a first finger sized and shaped to cooperatively engage the upper opening and a second finger sized and shaped to cooperatively engage the lower opening. A driving member is sized and shaped to engage a body of the vertebral defect device. An outer surface of each finger is shaped to match a contoured shape of the vertebral defect device proximate to the respective finger to allow a smooth insertion of the vertebral defect device into the pair of adjacent vertebrae. During insertion the driving member is driven to push the vertebral defect device into the intervertebral space. The combination has generally smooth and rounded edges on exterior surfaces exposed during insertion into an intervertebral space.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, and “upper” designate directions in the drawing to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer direction toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the vertebral defect device and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. Additionally, the word “a”, as used in the claims and in the corresponding portions of the specification, means “at least one.”
The term “vertebral defect device” as used herein may be applicable to a fusion cage device, a partial disk replacement device or a nuclear replacement device without departing from the present invention, and should be construed to broadly encompass any device for use in correcting defects in the spine.
Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
The vertebral defect device 10 is generally lens-shaped or ovoid-shaped with rounded or contoured edges on all sides. In particular, the proximal end 10 b preferably is rounded but more bluntly-shaped than the distal end 10 a which preferably is sloped into a bullet-shaped tip. The proximal end 10 b is preferably generally ovoid-shaped. Thus, the distal end 10 a has a lesser average radius of curvature than the proximal end 10 b. The lower wall 10 c and upper wall 10 d preferably are generally convex in order to cooperatively mate within the natural concavities of adjacent vertebral bodies 100. Similarly, the first sidewall 10 e and second sidewall 10 f of the vertebral defect device 10 preferably are similarly convex for similar reasons and to facilitate installation of the vertebral defect device 10 into an intervertebral space 121. The shape of the vertebral defect device 10 is ideally suited for insertion through a small opening, and therefore, the vertebral defect device 10 is well suited for minimally invasive and/or outpatient procedures.
Distributed evenly about the surface 12 of the vertebral defect device 10 are perforations or apertures 11. The apertures 11 are intended to promote rapid bone ingrowth while the vertebral defect device 10 maintains a stiff support structure between the vertebrae 100 during the growth process. While in the presently preferred embodiment, the apertures 11 are shown as circular in shape, the apertures 11 could be any shape including ovals, squares, rectangles, triangles, diamonds, crosses, X-shapes, and the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. But, there need not be apertures 11. Preferably in the first preferred embodiment of the vertebral defect device, the lower wall 10 c defines a lower opening 16 a and the upper wall 10 d of the vertebral defect device 10 defines an upper opening 16 b at the point of vertebral contact to encourage successful fusion. The lower opening 16 a and the upper opening 16 b may be rectangular, circular, elliptical, or the like and may or may not be symmetrically-shaped. The openings 16 a, 16 b are preferably identically-shaped with respect to one another and are preferably symmetrically-shaped, but need not be. Further, the size of openings 16 a and 16 b may be varied to accommodate patient variations.
The length of the vertebral defect device as measured from the distal end 10 a to the proximal end 10 b preferably is approximately 10-30 mm, depending on the particular intervertebral space 121 in which the vertebral defect device 10 is to be inserted. For example, the intervertebral space between lumbar vertebra LIII and lumbar vertebra LIV for an average male would accommodate a vertebral defect device 10 of a length between approximately 25-30 mm. But, the length of the vertebral defect device 10 could vary from the aforementioned range without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The width of the vertebral defect device 10 as measured between the first sidewall 10 e and the second sidewall 10 f of the vertebral defect device 10 will vary from approximately 10 mm to 25 mm depending upon the particular intervertebral space 121 in which the vertebral defect device 10 is to be inserted. For example, the intervertebral space between vertebra LIII and vertebra LIV in an average male would accommodate a vertebral defect device 10 having a width of approximately 15-20 mm. But, the width of the vertebral defect device 10 could vary from the aforementioned range without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The height of the vertebral defect device 10 as measured between the upper wall 10 d and the lower wall 10 c of the vertebral defect device 10 will vary from approximately 5 mm to 25 mm depending upon the particular intervertebral space 121 in which the vertebral defect device 10 is to be inserted. For example, the intervertebral space between vertebra LIII and vertebra LIV in an average male would accommodate a vertebral defect device 10 having a height of approximately 8-16 mm. But, the height of the vertebral defect device 10 could vary from the aforementioned range without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The overall shape of the vertebral defect device 10 is designed for insertion using minimally invasive techniques through a special portal or channel allowing a procedure to be implemented on an outpatient basis. Further, the vertebral defect device 10 is a self centering device because the shape of the vertebral defect device 10 will encourage it to settle within the natural concavities of adjacent vertebral bodies 100. As such, placement of the vertebral defect device 10 is much faster than that of prior art devices, thereby effectively reducing the duration of a procedure and the associated risks therewith. The smooth contour and edges of the vertebral defect device 10 provide for a safe and easy entrance into the intervertebral space 121.
The convex, bullet-like shape of the distal end 10 a of the vertebral defect device 10 will allow it to be driven into the intervertebral space by merely temporarily distracting the vertebrae with minimal removal of the vertebral rim or annulus (not shown clearly) at the point of entry, thereby reducing the chance of dislodging the device post-surgery. Additionally, the self-centering feature of the vertebral defect device 10 will allow rapid settling of the vertebral defect device 10 into adjacent bone to promote rapid bone ingrowth while retention of most of the annulus and peripheral rim of the bodies (vertebrae) would provide good load sharing support to prevent excessive subsidence, where subsidence results from the natural settling of intervertebral matter into a softer central portion of the vertebral bodies 108.
Further, the vertebral defect device 190 includes at least one upper arch 150 and at least one lower arch 152, but preferably the vertebral defect device 190 includes three upper arches 150 and three lower arches 152. The arches 150, 152 are generally disposed symmetrically along and about a centerline of the longer axis of the vertebral defect device 190 and are secured to the body of the vertebral defect device 190. Of course the arches 150, 152 may be secured to the vertebral defect device 190 by other means and may be disposed in other orientations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Preferably, the arches 150, 152 protrude above the top and bottom 190 d, 190 c of the vertebral defect device 190, respectively. The arches 150, 152 are configured to settle into bone matter, and therefore, the arches 150, 152 have sharpened edges 150 a, 152 a. The sharpened edges 150 a, 152 a may include serrations, pins, sharpened cones or a simple knife-like edge, but need not be. Preferably, the sharpened edges 150 a, 152 a are partially knife like proximate the ends of the arches and partially covered with sharpened cones 153. The arches 150, 152 are preferably about 0.5 mm to about 2.0 mm wide. The arches 150, 152 also serve to center the vertebral defect device 190 during placement and prevent the vertebral defect device from rolling or canting thereafter.
It should be obvious to one skilled in the art that arches 150, 152 could be utilized in any of the embodiments of the vertebral defect devices 10, 70, 80, 90, or 190, as described herein.
The insertion tool 220 further includes a driving member 226 that is configured to engage the body of the vertebral defect device 10. The driving member 226 is configured to be impacted such that during insertion a surgeon may tap or hammer the driving member 226 to push the vertebral defect device 10 through a small opening. Preferably, the first and second fingers 222, 224 are retractable relative to the driving member 226. Thus, after the defect device 10 is inserted to a desired position, the first and second fingers 222, 224 are retracted while the driving member 226 holds the defect device 10 in place. Optionally, the vertebral defect device 10 may have grooves 166 (shown in phantom in
The vertebral defect device 10 has a maximum height H and/or maximum width W, preferably in the range of 6 to 15 mm, at an axial location intermediate the distal end 10 a and the proximal end 10 b. The vertebral defect device 10 has a length L, preferably in the range of 10 to 30 mm, along a longitudinal axis 42. An outer profile of the vertebral defect device 10 is characterized by a relatively gradual slope, such that the diameter (height and width) of the vertebral defect device 10 preferably changes no more than about 2 mm for every 1 mm change in length. Preferably, the distal end 10 a, in particular, has a slope that changes by no more than about 2 mm for every 1 mm change in length. The distal end 10 a is preferably relatively small, for example, less than 2.5 mm in diameter over the terminal 1 mm T of the distal end 10 a along the longitudinal axis 42 or approximately 5-20% of the maximum height H and/or maximum width W of the vertebral defect device 10. However, the distal end 10 a should not be so pointed such that it would easily drive through or penetrate the opposite side of the annulus on the opposite side of the disk space. The taper and slope of the distal end 10 a of the vertebral defect device 10 permit the vertebral defect device 10 to be at least partially self-distracting. Generally, the vertebral defect device 10 is intended to be impacted into the disk space while providing such distraction of the periphery of the vertebral bodies 100 to permit entry into nuclear center of the disk. The vertebral defect device 10 may be dimensioned in accordance with the requirements of specific applications, and other dimensional characteristics of the vertebral defect device 10 are included within the scope of this invention.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
|Patente citada||Fecha de presentación||Fecha de publicación||Solicitante||Título|
|US4349921||16 Jun 1980||21 Sep 1982||Kuntz J David||Intervertebral disc prosthesis|
|US4545374||3 Sep 1982||8 Oct 1985||Jacobson Robert E||Method and instruments for performing a percutaneous lumbar diskectomy|
|US4936848||22 Sep 1989||26 Jun 1990||Bagby George W||Implant for vertebrae|
|US4961740||17 Oct 1988||9 Oct 1990||Surgical Dynamics, Inc.||V-thread fusion cage and method of fusing a bone joint|
|US5258031||14 Dic 1992||2 Nov 1993||Danek Medical||Intervertebral disk arthroplasty|
|US5425773||5 Abr 1994||20 Jun 1995||Danek Medical, Inc.||Intervertebral disk arthroplasty device|
|US5484437||10 Jun 1993||16 Ene 1996||Michelson; Gary K.||Apparatus and method of inserting spinal implants|
|US5522899||7 Jun 1995||4 Jun 1996||Sofamor Danek Properties, Inc.||Artificial spinal fusion implants|
|US5549679||1 Mar 1995||27 Ago 1996||Kuslich; Stephen D.||Expandable fabric implant for stabilizing the spinal motion segment|
|US5562738||12 Ene 1995||8 Oct 1996||Danek Medical, Inc.||Intervertebral disk arthroplasty device|
|US5571189||20 May 1994||5 Nov 1996||Kuslich; Stephen D.||Expandable fabric implant for stabilizing the spinal motion segment|
|US5593409||17 Feb 1995||14 Ene 1997||Sofamor Danek Group, Inc.||Interbody spinal fusion implants|
|US5609635||7 Jun 1995||11 Mar 1997||Michelson; Gary K.||Lordotic interbody spinal fusion implants|
|US5609636||11 Ene 1996||11 Mar 1997||Spine-Tech, Inc.||Spinal implant|
|US5645596||6 Jul 1994||8 Jul 1997||Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha||Ceramic vertebrae prosthesis|
|US5653761||7 Jun 1995||5 Ago 1997||Pisharodi; Madhavan||Method of lumbar intervertebral disk stabilization|
|US5669909||30 Mar 1995||23 Sep 1997||Danek Medical, Inc.||Interbody fusion device and method for restoration of normal spinal anatomy|
|US5674296||22 Jul 1996||7 Oct 1997||Spinal Dynamics Corporation||Human spinal disc prosthesis|
|US5702449||7 Jun 1995||30 Dic 1997||Danek Medical, Inc.||Reinforced porous spinal implants|
|US5766252||24 Ene 1995||16 Jun 1998||Osteonics Corp.||Interbody spinal prosthetic implant and method|
|US5776199||2 May 1997||7 Jul 1998||Sofamor Danek Properties||Artificial spinal fusion implants|
|US5785710||7 Jun 1995||28 Jul 1998||Sofamor Danek Group, Inc.||Interbody spinal fusion implants|
|US5888226||12 Nov 1997||30 Mar 1999||Rogozinski; Chaim||Intervertebral prosthetic disc|
|US5906616||15 Ene 1997||25 May 1999||Surgical Dynamics, Inc.||Conically shaped anterior fusion cage and method of implantation|
|US5980522||21 Nov 1997||9 Nov 1999||Koros; Tibor||Expandable spinal implants|
|US5984967||19 Feb 1996||16 Nov 1999||Sdgi Holdings, Inc.||Osteogenic fusion devices|
|US6039762||11 Jun 1997||21 Mar 2000||Sdgi Holdings, Inc.||Reinforced bone graft substitutes|
|US6102950||19 Ene 1999||15 Ago 2000||Vaccaro; Alex||Intervertebral body fusion device|
|US6113637||22 Oct 1998||5 Sep 2000||Sofamor Danek Holdings, Inc.||Artificial intervertebral joint permitting translational and rotational motion|
|US6136031||17 Jun 1998||24 Oct 2000||Surgical Dynamics, Inc.||Artificial intervertebral disc|
|US6174334||31 Mar 1999||16 Ene 2001||Loubert Suddaby||Expandable intervertebral fusion implant and applicator|
|US6193757||29 Oct 1998||27 Feb 2001||Sdgi Holdings, Inc.||Expandable intervertebral spacers|
|US6210412||7 Jun 1995||3 Abr 2001||Gary Karlin Michelson||Method for inserting frusto-conical interbody spinal fusion implants|
|US6245108||31 Ene 2000||12 Jun 2001||Spineco||Spinal fusion implant|
|US6270528||6 Ago 1999||7 Ago 2001||Sdgi Holdings, Inc.||Composited intervertebral bone spacers|
|US6309421||13 Abr 1999||30 Oct 2001||Madhavan Pisharodi||Rotating, locking intervertebral disk stabilizer and applicator|
|US6419705||23 Jun 1999||16 Jul 2002||Sulzer Spine-Tech Inc.||Expandable fusion device and method|
|US6425920||12 Oct 2000||30 Jul 2002||James S. Hamada||Spinal fusion implant|
|US6447544||4 Oct 1999||10 Sep 2002||Gary Karlin Michelson||Lordotic interbody spinal fusion implants|
|US6447547||22 Ago 2000||10 Sep 2002||Sofamor Danek Group, Inc.||Artificial spinal fusion implants|
|US6454805||3 Sep 1999||24 Sep 2002||Dimso (Distribution Medicale Du Sud-Ouest)||Interbody cavity implant, in particular for cervical vertebrae|
|US6468311||22 Ene 2001||22 Oct 2002||Sdgi Holdings, Inc.||Modular interbody fusion implant|
|US6478822||24 May 2001||12 Nov 2002||Spineco, Inc.||Spherical spinal implant|
|US6478823||30 May 2000||12 Nov 2002||Sofamor Danek Holdings, Inc.||Artificial spinal fusion implants|
|US6520991||9 Abr 2001||18 Feb 2003||Donald R. Huene||Expandable implant for inter-vertebral stabilization, and a method of stabilizing vertebrae|
|US6558424||28 Jun 2001||6 May 2003||Depuy Acromed||Modular anatomic fusion device|
|US6582433||9 Abr 2001||24 Jun 2003||St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.||Spine fixation device and method|
|US6607558||3 Jul 2001||19 Ago 2003||Axiomed Spine Corporation||Artificial disc|
|US6648917||17 Oct 2001||18 Nov 2003||Medicinelodge, Inc.||Adjustable bone fusion implant and method|
|US6824564||14 Jun 2002||30 Nov 2004||Stryker France, Sas||Two-part intersomatic implant|
|US6852129||5 Mar 2003||8 Feb 2005||Movdice Holding, Inc.||Adjustable bone fusion implant and method|
|US6855168||23 Abr 2002||15 Feb 2005||Stryker France||Intersomatic implants in two parts|
|US6902581||24 Oct 2001||7 Jun 2005||Kowmedica Osteonics Corp.||Apparatus for fusing adjacent bone structure|
|US6923810||7 Jun 1995||2 Ago 2005||Gary Karlin Michelson||Frusto-conical interbody spinal fusion implants|
|US7011684||16 Ene 2003||14 Mar 2006||Concept Matrix, Llc||Intervertebral disk prosthesis|
|US7046714||10 Sep 2003||16 May 2006||Intel Corporation||Method and apparatus for Raman ring resonator based laser/wavelength converter|
|US7112222||31 Mar 2003||26 Sep 2006||Depuy Spine, Inc.||Anterior lumbar interbody fusion cage with locking plate|
|US7125425||28 Ene 2004||24 Oct 2006||Sdgi Holdings, Inc.||Systems and techniques for restoring and maintaining intervertebral anatomy|
|US7156877||24 May 2002||2 Ene 2007||The Regents Of The University Of California||Biodegradable/bioactive nucleus pulposus implant and method for treating degenerated intervertebral discs|
|US7163561||4 May 2004||16 Ene 2007||Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.||Flanged interbody spinal fusion implants|
|US7503933||9 Sep 2002||17 Mar 2009||Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.||Lordotic interbody spinal fusion implants|
|US20010018614||28 Dic 2000||30 Ago 2001||Bianchi John R.||Implants for orthopedic applications|
|US20020116009||7 Dic 2001||22 Ago 2002||Fraser Robert D.||Medical installation tool|
|US20030004576||28 Jun 2001||2 Ene 2003||Thalgott John S.||Modular anatomic fusion device|
|US20040054412||28 Ago 2003||18 Mar 2004||Movdice Holding, Inc.||Methods for adjustable bone fusion implants|
|US20040254644||21 Oct 2003||16 Dic 2004||Taylor Brett Allison||Intervertebral disk prosthesis|
|US20050004672||18 Feb 2004||6 Ene 2005||John Pafford||Bone grafts|
|US20050159816||7 Ene 2005||21 Jul 2005||Howmedica Osteonics Corp.||Barrel-shaped apparatus for fusing adjacent bone structure|
|US20080015581||27 Abr 2007||17 Ene 2008||Concept Matrix, Llc||Cervical fixation device|
|US20080015695||27 Abr 2007||17 Ene 2008||Concept Matrix, Llc||Dual composition vertebral defect device|
|USD356129||9 Ago 1993||7 Mar 1995||Football|
|USD377095||3 Jun 1994||31 Dic 1996||Sofamor Danek Properties, Inc.||Interbody spinal implant|
|USD377096||3 Jun 1994||31 Dic 1996||Sofamor Danek Properties, Inc.||Interbody spinal implant|
|USD377527||3 Jun 1994||21 Ene 1997||Sofamor Danek Group, Inc.||Artificial spinal infusion implant|
|USD425989||15 Jul 1996||30 May 2000||Sofamor Danek Holdings, Inc.||Artificial spinal fusion implant|
|EP1099429A1||9 Nov 1999||16 May 2001||Laciter Management Limited||Interbody Fusion cage with crescent shaped lips (duckbill shaped)|
|EP1112753A1||2 Ene 2001||4 Jul 2001||Bioprofile||Mobile implant for interposition between two osseous surfaces|
|FR2742044A1||Título no disponible|
|FR2762779A1||Título no disponible|
|FR2794967A1||Título no disponible|
|GB2097594A||Título no disponible|
|WO1996040014A1||30 May 1996||19 Dic 1996||Sdgi Holdings, Inc.||Reinforced porous spinal implants|
|WO1997014377A1||8 Oct 1996||24 Abr 1997||Sdgi Holdings, Inc.||Intervertebral spacer|
|WO1999032054A1||18 Dic 1998||1 Jul 1999||Sofamor Danek Holdings, Inc.||Partial discal prosthesis|
|1||"Link SB Charitea Artificial Disc" Brochure, Maintaining Natural Mobility, Link Spine Group, Branford, Connecticut.|
|2||"Prodisc" Brochure, Spine Solutions: The Non-Fusion Technology Company.|
|3||"Prodisc" Brochure, Spine Soutions, New York, NY.|
|4||"Spine Arthroplasty", Spine Industry Analysis Series, Viscogliosi Bros., LLC, Nov. 2001.|
|5||Depraetere, P., et al., Interbody Cages in PLIF Surgery: A Multicentric Report, Journal of Musculoskeletal Research, vol. 2, No. 1 (1998) 9-14.|
|6||Helmut D. Link et al., "Link SB Charite Artificial Disc: History, Design & Biomechanics", Spinal Restabilization Proceddures, Edited by D.L. Kaech and J.R. Jinkins, 297-298 (2002), Berlin, Germany.|
|7||Int'l Search Report dated Jun. 30, 2003, in related PCT/US03/01508.|
|8||Office Action dated Jan. 26, 2005, in related U.S. Appl. No. 10/345,591.|
|9||Office Action dated Jan. 27, 2009, in related European Patent Application No. 03731980.3.|
|10||Office Action dated Jul. 2, 2008, in related U.S. Appl. No. 10/988,830.|
|11||Office Action dated Jul. 23, 2009, in related U.S. Appl. No. 11/741,200.|
|12||Office Action dated May 29, 2009, in related U.S. Appl. No. 11/741,200.|
|13||Office Action dated Nov. 30, 2005, in related U.S. Appl. No. 10/345,591.|
|14||Office Action Issued May 25, 2010 in EP Application No. 03731980.3.|
|15||Office Action Issued Sep. 2, 2010 in U.S. Appl. No. 12/141,702.|
|16||Paul C. McAfee, Artificial Disc Prosthesis: The Link SB Charite IIIa, Spinal Restabilization Procedures, edited by D.L. Kaech and J.R. Jinkins, 299-301 (202) Towson, MD.|
|17||Supplementary European Search Report dated Feb. 18, 2008, in European Paten Application No. 03731980.3.|
|Clasificación de EE.UU.||606/86.00A, 623/17.11, 606/246|
|Clasificación internacional||A61F2/46, A61F2/02, A61F2/00, A61F2/30, A61B17/56, A61F2/44|
|Clasificación cooperativa||A61F2002/30787, A61F2002/30062, A61F2002/4629, A61F2002/4475, A61F2002/30841, A61F2310/00023, A61F2002/4627, A61F2210/0004, A61F2/30907, A61F2/442, A61F2002/444, A61F2/4611, A61F2310/00179, A61F2002/30879|
|Clasificación europea||A61F2/46B7, A61F2/44D|
|6 Jul 2015||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: AMENDIA, INC., GEORGIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CONCEPT MATRIX, LLC;REEL/FRAME:035995/0228
Effective date: 20150610
|19 Oct 2015||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4