Prosthetic spinal disk nucleus

摘要

This specification describes technologies relating to an intervertebral disc prosthesis used to strengthen and stabilize the spine. Implementations of the technology described herein comprise a surgical device that is implanted through a small surgical incision into a portion of a human intervertebral disc, various support tools used to insert such a surgical device, and a method by which the device is used to strengthen and stabilize the spine.

主权项

1. An implantable prosthetic device comprising:
an inner chamber; an outer chamber fluidly isolated from the inner chamber; and a sealing valve in fluid communication with the inner chamber and the outer chamber, the sealing valve comprising
a first sealing mechanism comprising a fill tube with a first aperture between an interior of the fill tube and an exterior of the fill tube, the fill tube being movable between an open position and a closed position,a second sealing mechanism comprising a fill channel with a second aperture between an interior of the fill channel and an interior of the outer chamber, and a stopper element, the stopper element being slidable within the fill channel between an open position and a closed position, anda biasing element for applying force to the stopper element to slide the stopper element into the closed position; wherein when the sealing valve is in an open position, the first aperture of the first sealing mechanism is open to allow the inflow of a first material into the inner chamber and the stopper element is positioned so that the second aperture of the second sealing mechanism is open to allow fluid communication between the interior of the fill channel and the interior of the outer chamber to allow the inflow of a second material into the outer chamber; wherein when the sealing valve is in a closed position, the first aperture of the first sealing mechanism is blocked to prevent outflow of the first material from within the inner chamber and the stopper element blocks the second aperture of the second sealing mechanism to prevent outflow of the second material from within the outer chamber; wherein a force applied to the stopper element slides the stopper element into the open position to allow fluid communication between the interior of the fill channel and the interior of the outer chamber; and; wherein the biasing element slides the stopper element toward the closed position to cause the sealing valve to enter the closed position when the force is released.