Patent ID: 7491238
Filing Date: 2009-02-17
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus comprising: a first spinal prosthetic member attachable to a first spinal structure; and a second spinal prosthetic member attachable to a second spinal structure, said first and second spinal prosthetic members being movably attached to one another with a fastening device, said fastening device having a non-tightened position which permits rotational movement of said first and second spinal prosthetic members with respect to one another at a desired rotational orientation, and a tightened position which fixes said first and second spinal prosthetic members at the desired rotational orientation; wherein said first and second spinal prosthetic members are pivotable with respect to one another about a first pivot axis to define an angle between said first and second spinal prosthetic members that corresponds to a lordotic angle between the first and second spinal structures, and wherein said first and second spinal prosthetic members articulate with respect to one another along curved surfaces thereof and said fastening device, in its tightened position, fixes said first and second spinal prosthetic members at a desired rotational orientation along the curved surfaces, said fastening device comprising a threaded fastener and a spacer member, said spacer member having a curved surface that interfaces with and is tightened by said threaded fastener against the curved surfaces of said first and second spinal prosthetic members, and wherein said first spinal prosthetic member comprises a flexure assembly positioned between first and second attachment members, wherein flexure of said flexure assembly permits movement of the first attachment member relative to the second attachment member, said first attachment member comprising at least one attachment point attachable to the first spinal structure, and said second attachment member being movably attached to said second spinal prosthetic member with said fastening device, and wherein said second spinal prosthetic member comprises a unitary body that includes laterally extending arms comprising mounting hardware positioned along said arms.