Load-bearing spinal interbody device

Abstract

A spinal interbody device includes a compliant inner dampener in combination with a rigid outer material of outer shells. An inner dampener includes a rim with pillars and heads coupled to a complimentary inner structure of the outer shells.

1 . An interbody device comprising a first curved vertebral body contact surface, a second curved vertebral body contact surface opposite the first vertebral body contact surface and an inner dampener having at least one convex core portion with a pillar extending outward toward an outer surface of the interbody device from the at least one convex core portion. 
     
     
         2 . The interbody device of  claim 1 , wherein said pillar terminates at a head having a greater diameter than the pillar. 
     
     
         3 . The interbody device of  claim 2 , wherein the interbody device is an ellipsoidal shape. 
     
     
         4 . The interbody device of  claim 3 , wherein said ellipsoidal shape is a sphere. 
     
     
         5 . The interbody device of  claim 4 , further comprising an upper outer shell and a bottom outer shell coupled to the inner dampener. 
     
     
         6 . The interbody device of  claim 5 , wherein the inner dampener includes an equatorial planar surface portion providing a thickness at a middle segment of the interbody device. 
     
     
         7 . The interbody device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner dampener includes an equatorial planar surface portion providing a thickness at a middle segment of the interbody device. 
     
     
         8 . The interbody device of  claim 2 , wherein the inner dampener includes an equatorial planar surface portion providing a thickness at a middle segment of the interbody device. 
     
     
         9 . The interbody device of  claim 3 , wherein the inner dampener includes an equatorial planar surface portion providing a thickness at a middle segment of the interbody device. 
     
     
         10 . The interbody device of  claim 4 , wherein the inner dampener includes an equatorial planar surface portion providing a thickness at a middle segment of the interbody device. 
     
     
         11 . The interbody device of  claims 1 - 10 , wherein the first and second curved vertebral contact surfaces each include polyetheretherketone molded to the inner dampener including thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. 
     
     
         12 . The interbody device of  claims 1 - 10 , wherein the first and second curved vertebral contact surfaces each include carbon reinforced polyetheretherketone molded to the inner dampener including thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. 
     
     
         13 . An interbody device comprising a smooth, ellipsoidal outer surface of rigid polymeric material molded to an elastomeric inner dampener. 
     
     
         14 . The interbody device of  claim 13  wherein the rigid polymeric material includes polyetheretherketone and the elastomeric inner dampener includes thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. 
     
     
         15 . The interbody device of  claim 13  wherein the rigid polymeric material includes carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone and the elastomeric inner dampener includes thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer.