Patent ID: 6740117
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An intervertebral spacer device comprising:first and second plate members, each having an outwardly facing plate surface and an inwardly facing plate surfaces thereof, said plate members being disposed in a spaced apart relationship such that the inwardly facing ones of said plate surfaces oppose one another, and the outwardly facing ones of said plate surfaces face in opposite directions, the inwardly facing plate surface of the first plate member having a central post structure extending therefrom, the post structure having a ball-shaped head that is inwardly directed toward the second plate member; and at least one convex housing element disposed between the inwardly facing plate surfaces of said first and second plate members such that a wide end of the convex housing element faces the inwardly facing plate surface of the second plate member, the convex housing element having a curvate volume at a narrow end of the convex housing element; wherein the ball-shaped head is captured in the curvate volume, with the curvate volume accommodating the ball-shaped head for rotation and angulation of the ball-shaped head in the curvate volume about a central portion of the ball-shaped head; and wherein the inwardly facing plate surface of the second plate member includes a wall for limiting movement of the wide end of the convex housing element along the inwardly facing plate surface of the second plate member, in that the wide end of the convex housing element is disposed with the wide end adjacent the wall and said movement along the inwardly facing plate surface of the second plate member is limited by interterence between the wide end and the wall, and wherein the inwardly facing plate surface of the second plate member further includes a ring for limiting movement of the wide end of the convex housing element away from the inwardly facing plate surface of the second plate member, in that the wide end of the convex housing element is disposed adjacent the ring and said movement away from the inwardly facing plate surface of the second plate member is limited by interference between the wide end and the ring.