Spinalmotion, Inc.

De Villiers, Malan

Ulrich Reinhard Hähnle

Malan De Villiers

David C Hovda

A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower plates, a core disposed between the plates, and at least one projection extending from at least one of the upper and lower curved surfaces of the core into at least one recess of one of the inner surfaces of the plates. The recess is oversize with respect to the projection to allow sliding movement of the plate over the core while retaining the core between the plates during such sliding movement. The projection(s) may include a rod extending through an axial hole in the core, multiple surface features of the core, or the like.

Intervertebral prosthetic disc

The invention concerns an intervertebral prosthesis placement instrument which can be used to facilitate accurate positioning of a spinal disc prosthesis between adjacent spinal vertebrae. The instrument () has opposed jawsformed with tips () that are shaped for insertion between the vertebrae. The jaws can be moved apart from one another to distract the vertebrae, allowing the prosthesis to enter between the vertebrae. The jaws also have opposed surfaces which are shaped to embrace the prosthesis between them and to guide the prosthesis into position.

Intervertebral prosthesis placement instrument

A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces, upper and lower plates, and peripheral restraining structure on at least one of the upper plate, the lower plate and the core. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and an inner curved surface which slides over the curved surface of the core. The peripheral restraining structure serves to hold the core against a curved surface of at least one of the plates during sliding movement of the plates over the core.

Prosthetic disc for intervertebral insertion

An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower prosthesis plates locatable against respective vertebrae and having opposing, concavely curved recesses therein, and a core located between the plates. The core has opposed, convexly curved surfaces received in the recesses of the plates to allow the plates to slide in articulated manner over the core. The opposed surfaces of the core and the recesses of the plates have cooperating spherical curvatures. The recess of each plate surrounds a locating peg projecting centrally from the base of the recess and is bounded by an annular rim, such that the annular rims of the plates are arranged to contact one another at a predetermined limit of sliding movement of the plates over the core. The peg locates loosely in an opening located centrally in a curved surface of the core, whereby the plates can slide over the core in all directions while the peg holds the core captive.

Intervertebral prosthesis

A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces and upper and lower plates. At least one of the curved surfaces of the core is metallic, and in some embodiments the entire core is metallic. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and a metallic inner curved surface which is shaped to slide over one of the curved surfaces of the core. In some embodiments, the center of rotation of the core is free to move relative to the upper and lower metallic plates. In some embodiments, one or more channels extend across one or both of the curved surfaces of the core for allowing passage of bodily fluid to promote lubrication between the core and at least one of the plates.

Intervertebral prosthetic disc with metallic core

A spinal midline indicator () has a body () of radiolucent material for insertion between adjacent vertebrae () and a radiographic marker () located centrally with the body to indicate the position of the spinal midline () in anterior-posterior images when the body is centrally located between the vertebrae. The radiographic marker is typically an elongate metal handle. The body may carry secondary radiographic markers () on opposite sides of and equidistant from the handle so that the handle indicates the position of the spinal midline when the body is placed centrally between the vertebrae.

Growing community of inventors

Saxonwold, South Africa

Ulrich Reinhard Hähnle