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:
Sep. 10, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 25, 2000
William R. Krause, Charlottesville, VA (US);
Garland U. Edwards, Midlothian, VA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An improved flexible shaft used in the reaming of the medullary space in bones is described. The shaft is comprised of a solid element with a longitudinal bore the entire length and an appropriately formed slot which extends spirally around the shaft either continuously or segmentally. Attached to the shaft's opposite ends respectively, are a cutting head and a means of connecting the shaft to a driving mechanism. Additionally, an improved anthropomorphic spinal element and vertebral body replacement implant are described. The anthropomorphic spinal element is composed of a solid element with a longitudinal bore and an appropriately formed slot that extends spirally around the shaft either continuously or segmentally and is completely or partially filled with an elastomeric material. The vertebral body replacement implant is composed of a suitable implant material with a longitudinal bore the entire length and an appropriately formed slot which extends spirally around the shaft either continuously or segmentally. Attached to the central section's opposite ends are a means of attachment to the adjacent vertebra allowing for height and angular adjustment.