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:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 06, 1997
Applicant:
Inventor:
Marc Richelsoph, Memphis, TN (US);
Assignee:
Spinal Innovations, L.L.C., Bartlett, TN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
623 17 ;
Abstract
A fusion implant for insertion between opposing vertebrae includes a body having an inner surface defining a hollow inner chamber for containing a graft material therein. The body includes a stress transfer mechanism for transferring stress from the vertebrae surrounding the implant to the graft material contained within the implant. A method is provided for implanting the fusion implant between opposing vertebrae by the steps of inserting an implant into a collapsed disc space between adjacent vertebrae, the implant including a collapsed body, and expanding the body to spread the adjacent vertebrae apart.