Granted Patent B2

US 12,708,523 · App. 18/757,000 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Inventor: Craig Blanchard (Whitney, TX)

Assignee: ESTATE OF CRAIG ALAN BLANCHARD

A61F2/4465A61F2/44A61F2002/443A61F2/4611A61F2310/00023

Abstract

Claims (28)

1 . A method for correcting spinal defects in a patient, the method comprising:

imaging a spine of the patient to generate a model specific to the patient; and

3D printing an implantable vertebral segment based on the model, wherein the implantable vertebral segment comprises:

a vertebral bone member comprising:

an outer unit, and

an inner unit,

wherein the outer unit is configured to be coupled to the inner unit through a fastening mechanism, the outer unit and the inner unit together forming a tunnel configured to receive a spinal cord, and the fastening mechanism comprising a plug and socket that interlock to secure the outer unit with the inner unit;

a vertebral disc member, wherein the vertebral disc member comprises a central disc portion, an upper triangular protrusion extending vertically from a central top area of the central disc portion, and a lower triangular protrusion extending vertically from a central bottom area of the central disc portion;

wherein the vertebral bone member comprises a first vertebral bone member and a second vertebral bone member, wherein the vertebral disc member is physically positioned between and mechanically interlocked with the first vertebral bone member and the second vertebral bone member; and

implanting the implantable vertebral segment at a location of a damaged vertebral bone and an adjacent vertebral disc, wherein the implantable vertebral segment is biocompatible and anatomically similar to the vertebral bone and disc before damage.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertebral bone member is made of titanium.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the vertebral disc member is made of a biocompatible hard rubber substance.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertebral bone member and the vertebral disc member comprise complementary interlocking features configured to mechanically couple the vertebral bone member and the vertebral disc member.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a lumbar vertebral portion of the patient is replaced with the implantable vertebral segment.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the implantable vertebral segment further comprises a capping vertebral disc member configured to cap an outer end of one of the first vertebral bone member or the second vertebral bone member.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the upper triangular protrusion and the lower triangular protrusion is configured to fit into a respective triangular groove formed in the inner units of the first vertebral bone member and the second vertebral bone member.

8 . A method for correcting spinal defects in a patient, the method comprising:

imaging a spine of the patient to generate a model specific to the patient; and

3D printing an implantable vertebral segment based on the model, wherein the implantable vertebral segment comprises:

a vertebral bone member comprising:

an outer unit, and

an inner unit,

wherein the outer unit is configured to be coupled to the inner unit through a fastening mechanism, the outer unit and the inner unit together forming a tunnel configured to receive a spinal cord, and the fastening mechanism comprising a plug and socket that interlock to secure the outer unit with the inner unit;

a vertebral disc member;

wherein the vertebral bone member comprises a first vertebral bone member and a second vertebral bone member and a second vertebral bone member, wherein the vertebral disc member is physically positioned between and mechanically interlocked with the first vertebral bone member and the second vertebral bone member; and

a capping vertebral disc member configured to cap an outer end of one of the first vertebral bone member or the second vertebral bone member, the capping vertebral disc member comprising a central disc portion and an upper triangular protrusion extending vertically from a central top area of the central disc portion; and

implanting the implantable vertebral segment at a location of a damaged vertebral bone and an adjacent vertebral disc, wherein the implantable vertebral segment is biocompatible and anatomically similar to the vertebral bone and disc before damage.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the upper triangular protrusion is configured to fit into a triangular groove formed in the inner unit of the first vertebral bone member or the second vertebral bone member.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (10)