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. 20, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 28, 2006
Erasmo Lopez, Abington, MA (US);
Amie Borgstrom, North Attleboro, MA (US);
Seungkyu Daniel Kwak, Grafton, MA (US);
John Riley Hawkins, Cumberland, RI (US);
Charles M. Bartish, Jr., Providence, RI (US);
Erasmo Lopez, Abington, MA (US);
Amie Borgstrom, North Attleboro, MA (US);
SeungKyu Daniel Kwak, Grafton, MA (US);
John Riley Hawkins, Cumberland, RI (US);
Charles M. Bartish, Jr., Providence, RI (US);
DePuy Spine, Inc., Raynham, MA (US);
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for replacing a spinal disc. In an exemplary embodiment, artificial disc replacements and methods are provided wherein at least a portion of a disc replacement can be implanted using a posterolateral approach. With a posterolateral approach, the spine is accessed more from the side of the spinal canal through an incision formed in the patient's back. A pathway is created from the incision to the disc space between adjacent vertebrae. Portions of the posterolateral annulus, and posterior lip of the vertebral body may be removed to access the disc space, leaving the remaining annulus and the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments in tact. The disc implant can be at least partially introduced using a posterolateral approach, yet it has a size that is sufficient to restore height to the adjacent vertebrae, and that is sufficient to maximize contact with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae.