Patent · US Active

Artificial disc

US8956412B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
21References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 22, 2007
Grant dateFeb 17, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 12, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2220/0033
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An artificial disc includes an intermediate section which is disposed between upper and lower retainers. The intermediate section includes a first portion which resists rotation of one of the retainers, for example, the upper retainer, from a first position to a second position. A second portion of the intermediate section of the artificial disc resists rotation of the upper retainer from the second position to a third position. The second portion of the intermediate section of the artificial disc is ineffective to provide significant resistance to relative rotation between the retainers during rotation of the upper retainer relative to the lower retainer from the first position to the second position. The artificial disc may be provided with projections which engage protrusions on the intermediate section to resist rotation of the upper retainer relative to the lower retainer from the second position to the third position.

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