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 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.   
     
     
         2 . 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.