Patent ID: 7060098
Filing Date: 2006-06-13
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An intervertebral spacer device, comprising: a first baseplate having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing concave surface, the inwardly facing concave surface having a central post extending therefrom, the post having a longitudinal axis and a head end; a second baseplate having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface, the second baseplate's inwardly facing surface having a curvate pocket formed by a central portion of the second baseplate's inwardly facing surface concaving outwardly to define a semispherical contour, and a curvate recess adjacent the curvate pocket, the head end of the post being directed toward the second baseplate; a convex structure having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface, the convex structure further having a central bore extending from the convex structure's inwardly facing surface to the convex structure's outwardly facing surface, the convex structure's central bore having an opening on the convex structure's outwardly facing surface that is surrounded by a curvate taper defining a semispherical contour, the convex structure further having a curvate recess adjacent the curvate taper; a ball defining a spherical contour, the ball having a central bore and a protrusion, the ball being seatable in the curvate pocket; wherein the convex structure's outwardly facing surface is securable to the second baseplate's inwardly facing surface, the securing of the convex structure to the second baseplate establishing a curvate socket formed by the second baseplate's curvate pocket and the convex structure's curvate taper, the curvate socket defining a spherical contour, and establishing a combined curvate recess formed by the second baseplate's curvate recess and the convex structure's curvate recess, into which combined curvate recess the ball's protrusion extends, the convex structure's inwardly facing surface being directed towards the first baseplate's inwardly facing concave surface; wherein the ball is thereby capturable in the curvate socket, with the curvate socket's spherical contour accommodating the ball's spherical contour for rotation and angulation of the ball in the curvate socket about a central portion of the ball, and with the combined curvate recess accommodating the ball's protrusion to limit rotation of the ball in the curvate socket; and wherein the post is disposable through the convex structure's central bore and the post's head end is securable to the ball's central bore, such that the post is accommodated for rotation in the convex structure's central bore about the post's longitudinal axis as the ball rotates in the curvate socket, such that the post is accommodated for angulation in the convex structure's central bore about the ball's central portion as the ball angulates in the curvate socket.