Patent ID: 9320611
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: A61F

Claim Text:
1. A surgically implantable spacer comprising: a spacer member formed of a material having martensitic properties, said spacer member having an orientation reference defined by a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, and a thickness; a pair of segment defining slots formed through said spacer member, each slot routed generally parallel to said longitudinal centerline, extending from a location proximate a first end of said spacer member to a location proximate a second end of said spacer member, each slot being located between said longitudinal centerline and a respective edge of said spacer member; said pair of slots segmenting said spacer member into at least one circumferentially located, implanted spacer peripheral segment and a centrally located implanted spacer inner segment; a threaded shaping passage extending inward from said first spacer member end oriented along said spacer member longitudinal centerline; and a blind receptacle in linear alignment with said threaded shaping passage initiating at a blind receptacle orifice and extending towards said second spacer member end oriented along said spacer member longitudinal centerline; wherein said spacer member is shaped into an undeformed, operating temperature configuration having said at least one implanted spacer peripheral segment forming an arch in a first direction and said implanted spacer inner segment forming an arch in a second direction, wherein said first direction is opposite of said second direction.