Patent ID: 9510953
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: A61F

Claim Text:
1. A modular disc nucleus prosthesis adapted for implantation in an evacuated disc nucleus space, the prosthesis comprising: a plurality of modular segments wherein each modular segment is formed of a single, soft compliant material, wherein the compressive modulus and shore hardness are uniform through the plurality of modular segments, each modular segment including a superior side, an inferior side, a proximal end, and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the superior and inferior sides being disposed on opposing faces of a transverse plane of the respective modular segment with said superior and inferior sides configured to contact the periphery of the evacuated disc nucleus space with the single, soft compliant material, said transverse plane being orthogonal to a superior/inferior coordinate of the respective modular segment when in an implanted configuration, each of said plurality of modular segments being adapted to interlock with an adjacent one of said plurality of modular segments in a side-by-side arrangement on said transverse plane when in said implanted configuration, said plurality of modular segments including: a first end modular segment including a first end body portion and a first end rail portion, said first end body portion configured to contact the periphery of the evacuated disc nucleus space with the single, soft compliant material, said first end rail portion extending from a flanking face of said first end body portion said first end rail portion defining a first end rail axis that passes through the proximal end and the distal end of said first end modular segment, said first end rail axis lying on said transverse plane of said first end modular segment, said first end rail portion including a plurality of diametrically opposed barbs that extend radially outward relative to said first end rail axis and parallel to the superior/inferior coordinate of said first end modular segment, said first end rail portion having a first end rail cross-section that is normal to said first end rail axis, wherein said first end rail portion includes a web and a rail head, said web being disposed between said rail head and said flanking face and extending along said transverse plane, wherein said rail head includes planar faces that intersect said web at one of a right angle and an acute angle; an opposing end modular segment including an opposing end body portion and an opposing end elongate slot having an interior surface, said opposing end body portion configured to contact the periphery of the evacuated disc nucleus space with the single, soft compliant material, said opposing end elongate slot passing through said body portion of said opposing end modular segment to define an opposing end slot axis, said opposing end slot axis lying on a transverse plane that is normal to the superior/inferior coordinate of said opposing end modular segment, said body portion of said opposing end modular segment defining an opposing end body cross-section normal to said opposing end slot axis, said body portion of said opposing end modular segment further defining a plurality of recesses that are recessed from said interior surface of said opposing end elongate slot, each of said plurality of recesses extending radially outward relative to said opposing end slot axis and parallel to the superior/inferior coordinate of said opposing end modular segment, wherein said body portion of said opposing end modular segment includes a superior lip portion and an inferior lip portion, each of the lip portions being adjacent said opposing end elongate slot and extending parallel to said first end flanking face and each protruding toward said transverse plane of said opposing end modular segment, each of said superior lip portion and said inferior lip portion of said opposing end modular segment defining an interior face that complements said planar faces of said rail head, wherein said diametrically opposed barbs and said plurality of recesses are defined by the single, soft compliant material such that the diametrically opposed barbs are adapted for capture and retention within said plurality of recesses with said single, soft compliant material facilitating affirmative interlocking when in an implanted configuration.