Patent · US Expired

Hydrogel bead intervertebral disc nucleus

US5192326A · kind A · utility

842Cited by
5References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 9, 1991
Grant dateMar 9, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 9, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61L2430/38
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A prosthetic nucleus for implantation in the disc space after removal of a damaged or degenerated nucleus is formed from a multiplicity of hydrogel beads having a water content of at least 30%. The beads are covered by a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane has porosity less than the size of the beads to thereby retain the beads therein but permit fluids to flow in and out of the prosthetic nucleus.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.