The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 28, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Gary Karlin Michelson, Venice, CA (US);
Sofamor Danek Group, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Abstract
The present invention discloses a spinal fusion implant that is at least partially cylindrical, made of material appropriate for human implantation and having preferably, but not necessarily, one closed end and one end capable of being closed, such that an internal chamber can be filled and hold any natural or artificial osteoconductive, osteoinductive, osteogenic, or other fusion enhancing material. The partially cylindrical implant directly participates and is incorporated in the ensuing fusion. In the preferred embodiment, the implant of the present invention relies on surface roughenings of the outer surface to enhance its stability and resist dislodgement from within the disc space between two adjacent vertebrae. The implant of the present invention incorporates at its rear end, an engagement means to facilitate insertion or extraction of the implant. The implant may be filled with, coated with, and/or composed of, fusion promoting substances. Finally, the implant of the present invention does not require rotation for its insertion and can be seated by linear advancement.