Granted Patent B2

US 8,163,025 · App. 12/096,312 · Granted Apr 24, 2012

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A disc prosthesis for vertebrae, said disc prosthesis comprising:

a first assembly; and

a second assembly,

wherein the first assembly comprises a first plate;

wherein the second assembly comprises a second plate,

wherein the first plate comprises a first active face and a first anchor face;

wherein the second plate comprises a second active face and a second anchor face,

wherein the first anchor face is configured to anchor the first assembly to a first vertebra, wherein the second anchor face is configured to anchor the second assembly to a second vertebra,

wherein the first assembly comprises a first insert;

wherein the second assembly comprises a second insert;

wherein the first and second plates are made of a first material, said first material being biocompatible and substantially transparent to medical imaging;

wherein the first and second inserts are made of a second material, said second material being biocompatible and substantially transparent to medical imaging;

wherein the first plate comprises a cavity for receiving the first insert,

wherein the first insert comprises a concave spherical cap,

wherein the second plate comprises an opening that connects the second active face to the second anchor face,

wherein the second insert comprises a fastener portion, said fastener portion is configured to friction fit in the opening,

wherein the second insert comprises a convex spherical cap, wherein the outside diameter of the convex spherical cap is greater than the diameter of the opening so as to form a shoulder configured to bear on the second active face;

wherein the first assembly and the second assembly each comprise anchor fins,

wherein said anchor fins comprise a material that is biocompatible and not transparent to medical imaging,

wherein said anchor fins each comprises a fastener extension configured to engage by force into a fastener hole formed in the first plate or the second plate,

wherein a first fastener hole and a second fastener hole of the first plate lie in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the first insert, the first fastener hole and the second fastener hole lying in a region of the first plate outside the periphery of the cavity formed in the first plate, and

wherein a third fastener hole and a fourth fastener hole of the second plate lie in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the second insert, the third fastener hole and the fourth fastener hole lying in a region of the second plate outside the periphery of the convex spherical cap of the second plate.

2. A prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second plates are made of PEEK.

3. A prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second inserts are made of ceramic.

4. A prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the anchor fins are made of titanium.

5. A prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second anchor faces each comprise anchoring portions.

6. The prosthesis according to claim 5 ,

wherein the first and second plates have a plane of symmetry, and

wherein the anchoring portions are disposed on either side of the plane of symmetry, leaving a central zone on the anchor faces that does not have anchoring portions.

7. A prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the first active face surrounds the first insert to form a frustoconical shape.

8. A prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the first insert is engaged in the cavity of the first plate.

9. A prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein each anchor fin is generally triangular in shape and comprises two extensions, each extension extending from an end of the base of the triangle.

10. A prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein when the prosthesis is in placed between two adjacent vertebral bodies, the first assembly forms a top assembly and the second assembly forms a bottom assembly.

Assignments (9)