Intervertebral spacer having a flexible wire mesh vertebral body contact element
US6863689B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 8, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2310/00365
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A porous intervertebral spacer having a flexible wire mesh as a vertebral body contact surface, the flexible wire mesh preferably being a convex titanium mesh laser-welded at its perimeter to the spacer. The mesh is domed in its initial undeflected conformation, but deflects as necessary during insertion of the spacer between vertebral bodies, and, once the spacer is seated between the vertebral bodies, deforms as necessary under anatomical loads to reshape itself to the concave surface of the vertebral endplate, providing gripping and holding strength upon initial implantation, and an osteoinductive surface through which the bone may ultimately grow, making the fixation of the spacer between the vertebral bodies secure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.