Patent ID: 8202322
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A prosthetic device for appproximating spinal disc movement, the device comprising: a spring-dashpot system having a superior end and an inferior end that includes, a superior hydraulic cylinder plate having a top and bottom side, wherein the bottom side is fixedly attached to the superior end of the spring-dashpot system and wherein the top side comprises a first slider joint raceway; a first rotation cylinder comprising a linear bearing structure that is slidably connected to the first slider joint raceway; an inferior hydraulic cylinder base having a top and bottom side, wherein the top side is fixedly attached to the inferior end of the spring-dashpot system and the bottom side comprises a second slider joint raceway; a second rotation cylinder comprising a linear bearing structure that is slidably connected to the second slider joint raceway; at least one means for attachment to a first vertebra being operably connected to the first rotation cylinder; and at least one means for attachment to a second vertebra being operably connected to the second rotation cylinder, such that when said device is implanted in a spine with said means for attachment engaged with a first and second vertebra, said device forms a kinematic chain of inseparably connected, articulating components between said first and second vertebra, wherein said device can provide at least one and up to three independent rotational degrees of freedom and at least one and up to three independent linear degrees of freedom.