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. 22, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 24, 2008
Eric Steven Heinz, Mountain View, CA (US);
William Sears, Warrawee, AU;
Eric Steven Heinz, Mountain View, CA (US);
William Sears, Warrawee, AU;
Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US);
Abstract
Illustrative embodiments disclosed herein are directed to vertebral implants and methods of use. In one embodiment, the implant includes first and second end members with an intermediate cage. The cage may be inflatable such that the implant is positionable between a collapsed state with a first reduced height to facilitate insertion between the first and second vertebral members, and an extended state with a second height greater than the first height that positions the first end member against the first vertebral member and the second end member against the second vertebral member to maintain an intervertebral axial space.