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:
Apr. 11, 2017
Filed:
Sep. 15, 2009
William Frasier, New Bedford, MA (US);
Narendren Renganathan, Burlington, MA (US);
Glen Presbrey, Mapleville, RI (US);
Michael a Fisher, Middleboro, MA (US);
John Riley Hawkins, Cumberland, RI (US);
William Frasier, New Bedford, MA (US);
Narendren Renganathan, Burlington, MA (US);
Glen Presbrey, Mapleville, RI (US);
Michael A Fisher, Middleboro, MA (US);
John Riley Hawkins, Cumberland, RI (US);
DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US);
Abstract
An expandable tube having a substantially semicircular unexpanded shape is inserted into the disc space after the disc material has been removed therefrom. A plurality of expandable lockable rings are passed over this tube in their unexpanded states and positioned along the anterior edge of the endplates. The tube is then expanded, thereby forcing the rings to expand. The rings hold their final expanded configuration via a one-way locking mechanism. Once sufficient distraction is achieved and the rings locked, the tube is collapsed and removed, thereby leaving the expanded, locked rings behind to support the disc space.