Surgical implant

Abstract

A surgical implant for repairing an intervertebral disk. The implant includes an inflatable bladder and an externally threaded inlet port connected to the bladder. The inlet port has a threaded bore through which a filler is admitted into the bladder to inflate it. A setscrew is screwed into the threaded bore for plugging the threaded bore to retain the filler in the bladder.

1 . A surgical implant, comprising: 
 an inflatable bladder;    an inlet port being affixed to said bladder, said inlet port having a first threaded bore through which a filler can be admitted into said bladder to inflate same, said inlet port being externally threaded;    a setscrew being threadably positioned within said first threaded bore for closing said first threaded bore; and,    a filler being positioned within said inflatable bladder for inflating same.    
     
     
         2 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1  wherein said inlet port is provided with a peripheral groove around the middle thereof for receiving therein the raised marginal edges of a pair of adjacent vertebrae.  
     
     
         3 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1  wherein said inlet port includes: 
 an inner end and an outer end remote from said inner end;    a convex hip being positioned adjacent to said inner end, said convex hip having an outwardly sloping surface tilting toward said inner end and an inwardly sloping surface canting away from said inner end;    a concave waist being connected to said inwardly sloping surface of said convex hip; and,    a shoulder being positioned adjacent to said outer end and being connected to said concave waist, and said shoulder flaring outwardly from said waist.    
     
     
         4 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1  wherein said inlet port is provided with a plurality of radial slots about said first threaded bore for screwing said surgical implant into an intervertebral void.  
     
     
         5 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1  wherein said inlet port is formed from a resilient material and said setscrew is tapered and is oversized with respect to said first threaded bore so as to serve as a wedge when screwed into said first threaded bore that enlarges the diameter of said inlet port.  
     
     
         6 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1  wherein said inflatable bladder includes a material-holding reservoir from which a tubular spout extends and said inlet port includes a peripheral channel at one end thereof, and said surgical implant further comprises a locking ring being positioned about said tubular spout and within said peripheral channel for connecting said inflatable bladder to said inlet port.  
     
     
         7 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1  wherein said filler is a polymeric gel.  
     
     
         8 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1  wherein 
 said inlet port includes: 
 a tubular sleeve being externally threaded and having a second threaded bore and a peripheral lip at one end of said second threaded bore;  
 a tubular insert being externally threaded and being screwed into said second threaded bore, said tubular insert having said first threaded bore therein; and,  
   said inflatable bladder includes: 
 a material-holding reservoir;  
 a tubular spout extending from said material-holding reservoir;  
 a tubular attachment portion being positioned within said tubular spout, said tubular attachment portion having a peripheral channel for receiving a portion of said tubular spout therein; and,  
 a locking ring being positioned about said tubular spout and within said peripheral channel for connecting said inflatable bladder to said tubular attachment portion,  
 whereby said tubular attachment portion is positioned in said second threaded bore between said peripheral lip and said tubular insert to affix said inlet ort to said inflatable bladder.  
   
     
     
         9 . The surgical implant according to  claim 8  wherein said tubular sleeve and said tubular insert are formed from a resilient material and said setscrew is tapered and is oversized with respect to said first threaded bore so as to serve as a wedge when screwed into said first threaded bore that enlarges the diameter of said inlet port.  
     
     
         10 . A surgical implant, comprising: 
 an inlet port including: 
 a tubular sleeve being externally threaded and having a first threaded bore therein and a peripheral lip at one end of said first threaded bore;  
 a tubular insert being externally threaded and being screwed into said first threaded bore, and said tubular insert having a second threaded bore therein; and,  
   an inflatable bladder being connected to said inlet port, said inflatable bladder including: 
 a material-holding reservoir;  
 a tubular spout extending from said material-holding reservoir and from said tubular sleeve adjacent said peripheral lip; and,  
 a tubular attachment portion being affixed within said tubular spout and being clamped within said first threaded bore between said peripheral lip and said tubular insert;  
   a setscrew being threadably positioned within said second threaded bore for closing said second threaded bore; and,    a filler being positioned within said inflatable bladder for inflating same.    
     
     
         11 . The surgical implant according to  claim 10  wherein said tubular sleeve is provided with a first plurality of radial slots about said first threaded bore for screwing said tubular sleeve into an intervertebral void and said tubular insert is provided with a second plurality of slots about said second threaded bore for screwing said tubular insert into said tubular sleeve.  
     
     
         12 . A method for repairing a spinal disk, having a nucleus pulposus contained within an annulus fibrosis, positioned between a pair of vertebrae having raised marginal edges, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a surgical implant including: 
 an inflatable bladder;  
 an inlet port being affixed to said bladder, said inlet port having a threaded bore through which a filler can be admitted into said bladder to inflate same, said inlet port being externally threaded and having a peripheral groove for receiving therein the raised marginal edges of said adjacent vertebrae;  
 a setscrew being for threadable positioning within said threaded bore for closing said threaded bore; and,  
 a filler for positioned within said inflatable bladder for inflating same, said filler being a self-hardening polymeric gel;  
   removing a portion of the nucleus pulposus to create an intervertebral void;    positioning said inflatable bladder and said inlet port within said intervertebral void with said raised marginal edges of said pair of vertebrae being positioned in said peripheral groove to lock said inlet port in place;    filling said inflatable bladder with said filler by directing such through said threaded bore to said inflatable bladder so that said inflatable bladder fills said intervertebral void; and,    plugging said inlet port so as to retain said filler within said bladder by screwing said setscrew into said threaded bore.