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:
Oct. 16, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 25, 2006
Edward Vresilovic, Ardmore, PA (US);
Michele S. Marcolongo, Aston, PA (US);
Anthony M. Lowman, Wallingford, PA (US);
Alastair J. T. Clemow, Princeton, NJ (US);
Michael F. Keane, Downington, PA (US);
Edward Vresilovic, Ardmore, PA (US);
Michele S. Marcolongo, Aston, PA (US);
Anthony M. Lowman, Wallingford, PA (US);
Alastair J. T. Clemow, Princeton, NJ (US);
Michael F. Keane, Downington, PA (US);
Synthes USA, LLC, West Chester, PA (US);
Abstract
A prosthesis for replacing or supplementing a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disk is an expandable container having flexible walls, the container being adapted to be inserted into a central cavity of an intervertebral disk through a narrow cannula, and the flexible walls are made from a biocompatible hydrogel. A preferred hydrogel is a cryogel formed from an aqueous solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone). The prosthesis may be prepared by dip-coating a mandrel with an aqueous solution of a hydrogel-forming polymer or mixture of such polymers, gelling the coated solution by chilling, and subjecting the gelled coating to a series of repeated freeze-thaw treatments. In use, the prosthesis is inserted into a central cavity of an intervertebral disk and filled with biocompatible material, e.g., a biocompatible liquid, a biocompatible polymer, and a biocompatible hydrogel, particularly a thermogelling hydrogel.