Patent ID: 7811328
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: forming a cavity between a first vertebra and a second vertebra of a patient's spine; implanting a spinal disk prosthesis in the cavity, the prosthesis including a first end portion to engage the first vertebra and a second end portion to engage the second vertebra, the first end portion and the second end portion being connected together by a prosthetic linking structure and wherein the first end portion includes a first electrically conductive coil, and wherein the second end portion includes a second electrically conductive coil; and providing a first magnetic field with the first electrically conductive coil of the first end portion and a second magnetic field with the second electrically conductive coil of the second end portion, and wherein the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field are configured to provide a repulsive magnetic force to maintain the first end portion and the second end portion in a spaced apart relationship while engaged in a load bearing relationship with the first vertebra and the second vertebra; and electrically adjusting at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field with an electronic magnetic field controller in operative communication with the first electrically conductive coil and the second electrically conductive coil of the spinal disk prosthesis, the electrically adjusting occurring after the implanting of the spinal disk prosthesis when the spinal disk prosthesis is implanted between the first vertebra and the second vertebra with the spinal disk prosthesis maintained in the cavity to adjust the repulsive magnetic force between the first and second portions to a desired load bearing level; determining a level of patient physical activity relative to the prosthesis; and changing at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field in response to the level of patient physical activity.