Human spinal disc prosthesis with hinges

United States Patent [w]

Bryan et al.

US006001130A [ii] Patent Number: 6,001,130 [45] Date of Patent: *Dec. 14,1999

[54] HUMAN SPINAL DISC PROSTHESIS WITH HINGES

[76] Inventors: Vincent Bryan, 4624 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island, Wash. 98040; Alex Kunzler, 422 140th SE., Bellevue, Wash.

[ * ] Notice: This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

[21] Appl. No.: 08/944,378 [22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1997

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/681,230, Jul. 22, 1996, Pat. No. 5,674,296, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/339,490, Nov. 14, 1994, abandoned.

[51] Int. C I. A61F 2/44

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Primary Examiner—Mickey Yu
Assistant Examiner—-Tram A. Nguyen
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Hill & Simpson

The invention relates to a spinal disc endoprosthesis. The endoprosthesis has a resilient body formed ol one or more materials which may vary in stiffness from a relatively stiff exterior annular gasket portion to a relatively supple central nucleus portion. Concaval-convex elements at least partly surround that nucleus portion so as to retain the nucleus portion and gasket between adjacent vertebral bodies in a patient's spine. Assemblies ol endoprosthetic discs, endoprosthetic vertebral bodies, and endoprosthetic longitudinal ligaments may be constructed. To implant this endoprosthesis assembly, information is obtained regarding the size, shape, and nature ol a patient's damaged spine. Thereafter, one or more prosthetic vertebral bodies and disc units are constructed in conformity with that information. Finally, the completed and conformed vertebral body and disc assembly is implanted in the patient's spine.

20 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets

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