Vertebral Technologies, Inc.

Disc Dynamics, Inc.

John Sherman

Mark A Rydell

Robert Garryl Hudgins

Bruce R Bowman

Jeffrey C Felt

Qi-Bin Bao

Erik O Martz

Jean-Charles Lehuec

Dennis M Johnson

Michael Ahrens

Stephen H Crosbie

Rob Kohler

Dan Melink

Khin Myint

Scott Hook

A method and apparatus for fluidly coupling a reservoir containing a flowable biomaterial to a mold. The flow of the flowable biomaterial into the mold is controlled in accordance with a first operating parameter. At least one injection condition is monitored. The flow of the flowable biomaterial is controlled in accordance with a second operating parameter in response to one or more of the injection conditions reaching a threshold level. The second operating parameter is maintained during at least a portion of the curing of the flowable biomaterial. In some embodiments, the second operating parameter may optionally include permitting a portion of the flowable biomaterial to be expelled from the mold.

Multi-stage biomaterial injection system for spinal implants

A method and apparatus for repairing a damaged intervertebral disc nucleus in a minimally invasive manner utilizes a modular disc prosthesis preferably comprised of at least three modular segments and at least two rails that operably connect adjacent modular segments. In one embodiment, each modular segment includes a harder inner portion and a softer outer portion. Preferably, the rails operate to slidably connect and interlock adjacent modular segments. A stem portion of the rails that extends outside the periphery of the body of the prosthesis is removable after implantation such that the modular segments form an implanted unitary device that closely mimics the geometry of the disc nucleus cavity.

Rail-based modular disc nucleus prosthesis

Growing community of inventors

Wayzata, MN, United States of America

John Sherman