Patent ID: 7824445
Filing Date: 2010-11-02
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A height adjustable prosthetic system for placement between adjacent vertebrae comprising: at least one upper member and at least one corresponding lower member, each member having corresponding outer and inner bearing surfaces, each of said outer bearing surfaces adapted to face an adjacent vertebra; a connecting member interposed between each of said upper member and corresponding lower member, said connecting member having opposite first and second ends, each first end of said connecting member engages said inner bearing surface of said upper member and each second end of said connecting member engages said inner bearing surface of corresponding lower member; means for adjusting the height of said prosthetic system; and a connecting and stabilizing assembly adapted to attach each of said upper and lower members to an adjacent vertebra; and wherein said height adjusting means comprises: a plurality of inclined cam surfaces having teeth extending substantially vertically from the inner bearing surfaces of said upper and lower members; a plurality of inclined cam surfaces having teeth corresponding to said plurality of inclined cam surfaces of said upper and lower members on each of first and second ends of said connecting member; wherein relative movement of said inclined cam surfaces of said upper and lower members with said inclined cam surfaces of said connecting member increases or decreases the height of said prosthetic system; and further comprising means for maintaining said upper member in axial alignment with each first end of said connecting member and for maintaining said lower member in axial alignment with each second end of said connecting member, when the height of the prosthetic system is increased or decreased by relative movement of said inclined cam surfaces of said upper and lower members with said inclined cam surfaces of said connecting member.