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Publication Number
US-9545321-B2
Publication Date
2017-01-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
This specification describes technologies relating to an intervertebral disc prosthesis used to strengthen and stabilize the spine. Implementations of the technology described herein comprise a surgical device that is implanted through a small surgical incision into a portion of a human intervertebral disc, various support tools used to insert such a surgical device, and a method by which the device is used to strengthen and stabilize the spine.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an implantable prosthetic device having an inner chamber and an outer chamber fluidly isolated from the inner chamber. The device includes a sealing valve in fluid communication with the inner chamber and the outer chamber, and the sealing valve comprises first and second sealing mechanisms.
The first sealing mechanism comprises a fill tube with a first aperture between an interior of the fill tube and an exterior of the fill tube, where the fill tube is movable between an open position and a closed position. The second sealing mechanism comprises a fill channel with a second aperture between an interior of the fill channel and an interior of the outer chamber, and a stopper element slidable within the fill channel between an open position and a closed position.
A biasing element applies force to the stopper element to slide the stopper element into the closed position. When the sealing valve is in an open position, the first aperture allows inflow of a first material into the inner chamber, and the stopper element positions the second aperture so fluid communication exists to allow inflow of a second material into the outer chamber. When the sealing valve is in a closed position, the first aperture is blocked to prevent outflow of the first material and the stopper element blocks the second aperture to prevent outflow of the second material.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes four independent claims: three for the implantable prosthetic device and one for an implanting method. They cover a sealing-valve architecture that alternately opens and blocks fluid communication for an inflatable inner chamber and a fluidly isolated outer chamber, with coordinated first and second sealing mechanisms.
Fluidly isolated inner and outer chambers with sealing valve
An implantable prosthetic device comprising an inner chamber; an outer chamber fluidly isolated from the inner chamber; and a sealing valve in fluid communication with the inner chamber and the outer chamber, the sealing valve comprising a first sealing mechanism and a second sealing mechanism, with open and closed positions that allow inflow of a first material into the inner chamber and inflow of a second material into the outer chamber, and that prevent outflow of the first and second materials.
Open and closed positioning of first sealing mechanism and biasing of stopper
An implantable prosthetic device with a first sealing mechanism comprising a fill tube movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively allow or block fluid communication between the fill tube and the inner chamber, and a second sealing mechanism comprising a fill channel with a stopper element slidably mounted to slide between an open position and a closed position to selectively allow or block fluid communication between the fill channel and the outer chamber, wherein a biasing element applies force to the stopper element so that release returns the stopper element toward the closed position.
Selective fluid communication control via fill channel stopper and fill tube aperture
An implantable prosthetic device comprising an inner chamber and an outer chamber fluidly isolated from the inner chamber, a fill channel with an aperture for selectively allowing fluid communication between an interior of the outer chamber and the fill channel, and a stopper element slidably mounted to block or allow fluid communication by movement between a closed position and an open position, and a fill tube with an aperture slidably mounted between a closed position and an open position to block or allow fluid communication between the interior of the inner chamber and the fill tube.
Implanting an inflatable device after annular fibrosus penetration and nucleus pulposus removal
A method of implanting a prosthetic device comprising penetrating the annular fibrosus; removing the nucleus pulposus; and implanting an inflatable device within the annular fibrosus, the inflatable device comprising an inner chamber; an outer chamber fluidly isolated from the inner chamber; and a sealing valve in fluid communication with the inner chamber and the outer chamber that alternates between an open position allowing inflow and a closed position blocking outflow for first and second materials, including force applied to the stopper element to allow fluid communication and biasing element returning the valve toward the closed position when force is released.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive coverage is a sealing-valve structure using coordinated, position-based open and closed states to alternately allow inflow and prevent outflow for first material to the inner chamber and second material to the outer chamber, with an implanting method that includes penetrating the annular fibrosus, removing the nucleus pulposus, and implanting the inflatable device within the annular fibrosus.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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