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. 31, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 05, 2002
Michael Castro, Seymour, CT (US);
Howmedica Corp., Allendale, NJ (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebral portions includes an implant member dimensioned for positioning between adjacent vertebral portions and defining a longitudinal axis. The implant member includes an outer member having an exterior wall defining an internal cavity and a clip receiving opening subtending a peripheral portion of the exterior wall, an inner member telescopically received within the internal cavity of the outer member to permit relative movement of the outer and inner members and a locking clip dimensioned for at least partial reception within the clip receiving opening of the outer member. The inner member includes an exterior wall defining an internal cavity and having a plurality of locking slots spaced along the longitudinal axis. The locking clip includes a clip base and locking clip legs depending from opposed ends of the clip base. The locking clip legs are dimensioned for reception within corresponding locking slots of the inner member to selectively secure a relative position of the outer and inner members to establish a predetermined height of the implant member.