Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for fusing adjacent bone structures

US6783547B2 · kind B2 · utility

91Cited by
72References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 5, 2002
Grant dateAug 31, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 4, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2310/00179
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebral portions includes an implant member dimensioned for positioning between adjacent vertebral portions and defining a longitudinal axis. The implant member includes an outer member having an exterior wall defining an internal cavity and a clip receiving opening subtending a peripheral portion of the exterior wall, an inner member telescopically received within the internal cavity of the outer member to permit relative movement of the outer and inner members and a locking clip dimensioned for at least partial reception within the clip receiving opening of the outer member. The inner member includes an exterior wall defining an internal cavity and having a plurality of locking slots spaced along the longitudinal axis. The locking clip includes a clip base and locking clip legs depending from opposed ends of the clip base. The locking clip legs are dimensioned for reception within corresponding locking slots of the inner member to selectively secure a relative position of the outer and inner members to establish a predetermined height of the implant member.

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