Artificial intervertebral disc
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to the field of prosthetic devices. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to an artificial disc that can be used as a replacement for an intervertebral disc (e.g., a human intervertebral lumbar disc, a human intervertebral cervical disc and/or a human intervertebral thoracic disc).
1. A method of constructing an artificial intervertebral disc, comprising:
providing an artificial intervertebral disc, the artificial intervertebral disc including
a column comprising a first polymeric material,
a column filler comprising a second polymeric material,
a first crimped-ring set comprising a first inner ring and a first outer ring, the first crimped-ring set being disposed adjacent a first end of the column,
a second crimped-ring set comprising a second inner ring and a second outer ring, the second crimped-ring set being disposed adjacent a second end of the column, and at least a portion of the column being held between the second inner ring and the second outer ring,
a first anchor member, and
a second anchor member; and
assembling the first crimped-ring set and the column such that at least a portion of the column is held between the first inner ring and the first outer ring;
wherein at least one of the first inner ring and the first outer ring of the first crimped-ring set provides a mechanism to attach the column to the first anchor member, and
at least one of the second inner ring and the second outer ring of the second crimped-ring set provides a mechanism to attach the column to the second anchor member.