What does it mean when neural foramina are patent?

What does it mean when neural foramina are patent?

The nerve roots travel through the foramen to reach the rest of your body. There are two neural foramina between each pair of vertebrae – one on each side. Without nerve signals, your body would not be able to function. If they are widely patent, that means that there is no impingement, collapse, bulging, etc.

What are neural foramina?

Introduction. Neural foramina are critical structures in the spine that contain exiting nerve roots. Narrowing of these foramina leads to compression of nerve roots, which results in the clinical syndrome of radiculopathy (1).

What does bilateral foraminal encroachment mean?

Foraminal encroachment is a term used to describe degeneration of the spinal column which has caused an obstruction of the foramina. The foramina are open spaces on either sides of the vertebra where the spinal nerves pass on their way to other parts of the body.

What causes neural Foraminal narrowing?

Foraminal narrowing can develop when degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, bone spurs or a herniated disc causes changes in the spine that narrow or tighten open spaces. Many people have spinal narrowing and don’t know it.

How much is a medical patent?

Cost for the Utility Patent Application Applications for simple mechanical inventions are usually between $8,000 and $10,000, while medical device and software inventions generally cost between $12,000 and $14,000.

Can you patent a medical procedure?

Under the law of some jurisdictions medical procedures are patentable. Patents on medical procedures are often called medical procedure patents. A medical procedure patent or patent claim is one that only confers rights over procedural steps and does not confer rights over any new devices.

What is the cheapest way to get a patent?

One strategy startups with a limited budget use is to file the provisional patent themselves for the $70-$140, test the product/invention out in the market during that year period to see if it is valuable, and if it is, have a patent attorney prepare the non-provisional patent application.

Are surgeries patented?

In Europe and the UK, patenting “of methods of treatment, of the human or animal body by surgery” are excluded from patent protection. The United States is one of the few highly developed countries that allow patenting of surgical procedures.

What does the word patent?

1 : an official document conferring a right or privilege : letters patent. 2a : a writing securing for a term of years the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention. b : the monopoly or right so granted. c : a patented invention. 3 : privilege, license.