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:
Mar. 18, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 05, 2000
Britt K. Norton, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Tara N. Sherman, Cottage Grove, MN (US);
Laura J. Bauer, Edina, MN (US);
Raymedica, Inc., Bloomington, MN (US);
Abstract
A packaged prosthetic disc nucleus including a prosthetic disc nucleus and a retainer. The prosthetic disc nucleus includes a hydrogel core formed to hydrate from a dehydrated state. Further, the prosthetic disc nucleus is configured to such that following implantation into a nucleus cavity, the hydrogel core hydrates to a final hydrated state. The retainer selectively contains the prosthetic disc nucleus. Further, upon contact with a hydration liquid, the retainer is configured to allow the hydrogel core to hydrate from the dehydrated state while preventing the hydrogel core from hydrating to the final hydrated state. Thus, the prosthetic disc nucleus is constrained by the retainer in a partially hydrated state. In one preferred embodiment, the combination prosthetic disc nucleus/retainer is sealed within an outer enclosure, such as a pouch, that also contains a hydration liquid for hydrating the hydrogel core. During use, the prosthetic disc nucleus is removed from the retainer and implanted in the partially hydrated state.