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:
Aug. 05, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 05, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Charles D. Ray, Williamsburg, VA (US);
Robert L. Assell, Mendota Heights, MN (US);
Assignee:
Raymedica, Inc., Bloomington, MN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61F 2/44 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
A61F 2/44 ;
Abstract
A prosthetic spinal disc nucleus comprising a hydrogel core surrounded by a constraining jacket. The hydrogel core is configured to expand from a dehydrated state to a hydrated state. In the dehydrated state, the hydrogel core has a shape selected to facilitate implantation through an anulus opening. Further, in the hydrated state, the hydrogel core has a shape corresponding generally to a portion of a nucleus cavity, the hydrated shape being different from the dehydrated shape. Upon hydration, the hydrogel core transitions from the dehydrated shape to the hydrated shape.