Intervertebral prosthesis and a process for implanting such a prosthesis
US5755797A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 26, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S623/908
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An implant consisting of several support members (7), which are produced from an elastic plastic, is provided as a replacement for a part, which is no longer capable of bearing loads, of the core region of an intervertebral disk (3). The support members (7) are inserted one after the other into a central cavity (5) constructed in the core region by means of a tube (6) passing through an outer annular region (4) of the intervertebral disk (3) until said cavity is filled. When the cavity (5) becomes clogged with the filling members (7), they become deposited on the boundary walls of the annular region (4) and against one another and are elastically deformed under stress. Accordingly a universal implant which can be adapted to cavities (5) of any shape, and which forms a relatively compact, elastic support structure, can be achieved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.