CORRECTIVE ARTIFICIAL DISC
An artificial disc is provided having a rigid pre-formed phase. The disc is implanted in an elastic phase and activated to the pre-formed phase. The pre-formed shape provides corrective forces to stabilize or correct spinal abnormalities.
1 . A method to correct spinal deformities, comprising the steps of:
pre-forming an artificial disc with a corrective shape;
moving the artificial disc from the corrective shape to a non-corrective shape;
implanting the artificial disc in the non-corrective shape into an intervertebral disc space;
moving the artificial disc from the non-corrective shape to the corrective shape, wherein
the artificial disc provides corrective force between a superior and 10 inferior vertebral body.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the corrective shape is a rigid austenite phase and the non-corrective shape is an elastic, martensite phase.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of moving the artificial disc comprises applying thermal activation.
4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the pre-formed rigid shape is an austenite shape and the elastic shape is a martensite shape.
5 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of moving the artificial disc from the elastic shape to the rigid shape occurs after implantation.
6 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of fusing the artificial disc to at least one of a superior vertebral body and an inferior vertebral body.
7 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of moving the artificial disc from the elastic shape to the rigid shape causes the application of force.
8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the application of force apply force in at least one of the medial, lateral, and torsional direction.
9 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of subsequently moving the artificial disc from the pre-formed rigid, austenite phase to the elastic, martensite phase.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spinal abnormality treated is scoliosis.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein steps of pre-forming an artificial disc with a corrective shape, moving the artificial disc from the corrective shape to a non-corrective shape, implanting the artificial disc in the non-corrective shape into an intervertebral disc space, moving the artificial disc from the non-corrective shape to the corrective shape comprises performing the steps on a plurality of artificial discs.
12 . An artificial disc comprising:
at least one superior endplate;
at least one inferior endplate;
at least one core extending between the at least one superior endplate and the at least one inferior endplate;
the at least one core comprising a material movable from an elastic phase to an inelastic phase, the material having a pre-defined shape in at least the inelastic phase, such that transitioning the at least one core from the elastic phase to the inelastic phase applies corrective force to a spine.
13 . The artificial disc according to claim 12 , wherein the pre-defined shape is designed to apply corrective force between an superior vertebral body and an inferior vertebral body.
14 . The artificial disc according to claim 12 , wherein the material comprises at least one shaped memory alloy.
15 . The artificial disc according to claim 14 , wherein the artificial disc is unbalanced and application of corrective force moves the artificial disc to a balanced configuration.
16 . The artificial disc according to claim 12 , further comprising at least one fusion cage on an endplate selected from the group of endplates consisting of: superior endplate and inferior endplate.
17 . The artificial disc according to claim 12 , wherein the material comprises a plurality of element.
18 . The artificial disc according to claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of elements is different from the others.
19 . The artificial disc according to claim 12 , further comprising a support wall to repair a disc annulus.
20 . The artificial disc according to claim 19 , further comprising pharmaceuticals contained in the support wall.