Coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism

• US 10,117,757 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SpineX Tec, LLC
• Original Assignee: SpineX Tec, LLC
• Inventors: Jimenez, Omar F., Powley, Nicholas Ransom, Fischer, Andrew G., Safris, Yefim
• Primary Examiner(s): MacArthur, Victor L
• Application Number:
  US15/174,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20160356368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 74 8923, 74 8927, 74 8934, 74 8914, 74 8935, 254425, 254 89 R, 254 92, 254 98, 254102, 254103
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7065 Devices with changeable shape, e.g. collapsible or having retractable arms to aid implantation; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/681 Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/385 also provided with condylar bearing surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3868 with sliding tibial bearing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/482 Electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30426 Bayonet coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30525 Worm gears
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 : telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30624 : Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30639 : having rolling elements between both articulating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3082 : Grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30925 : etched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3631 : with an integral complete or partial peripheral collar or bearing shoulder at its base
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4628 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 : connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5041 : having bearing bushes between the rotating parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5069 : Ball bearings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/507 : Roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 : Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 : for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00976 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00982 : Coating made of collagen
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00988 : Coating made of fibrin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00994 : Coating made of gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/2046 : with gears arranged perpendicular to screw shaft axis, e.g. helical gears engaging tangentially the screw shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/2084 : Perpendicular arrangement of drive motor to screw axis
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/209 : using worm gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/20 : Screw mechanisms with automatic reversal F16H25/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2056 : Telescopic screws with at least three screw members in coaxial arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2214 : with elements for guiding the circulating balls
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18608 : Single input split into two intermediate outputs that are subsequently superposed into a single output
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18672 : Plural screws in series [e.g., telescoping, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19702 : Screw and nut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19749 : Recirculating rolling elements

Abstract

An improved mechanism for expanding or lifting a device in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is a coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms includes a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing a device utilizing such a mechanism to expand or lift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

Claims

1. A lifting mechanism comprising:

a base member having an inner surface;

an upper member having an inner surface configured to face the inner surface of the base member;

a size-adjustable support engaging the base member and the upper member to provide an adjustable expansion height of the upper member with respect to the base member, the size-adjustable support comprising;

a first post;

a second post, each of the first and second posts non-rotatably extending from the upper member and having a threaded exterior surface;

a first sleeve configured to surround the first post; and

a second sleeve configured to surround the second post, each sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to directly interface with the threaded exterior surface of the corresponding first or second post, and a helically geared exterior surface; and

a drive mechanism having a surface configured to interface with and drive the helically geared exterior surfaces of the first and second sleeves, such that selective operation of the drive mechanism telescopically expands the upper member with respect to the base member by the first sleeve and the second sleeve axially translating relative to the base member simultaneously with the first post and the second post translating relative to the first sleeve and the second sleeve.

2. The lifting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is a worm drive having a pair of threaded sections, each threaded section configured to interface with only one of the first and second sleeves when the drive mechanism is operated.

3. The lifting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the base member includes a unitary body defining a pair of sleeve openings in the inner surface, each sleeve opening sized to rotatingly accommodate one of the first or second sleeves therein.

4. The lifting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the base member includes a unitary body defining a drive mechanism aperture sized to rotatingly contain the drive mechanism therein.

5. The lifting mechanism of claim 4, wherein the drive mechanism interfaces with the first sleeve and the second sleeve through respective sleeve openings in the unitary body between the drive mechanism aperture and the respective first and second sleeves.

6. The lifting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the base member and the inner surface of the upper member are configured to contact each other when the size-adjustable support is at a minimum expansion.

7. The lifting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the threaded interior surface and the helically geared exterior surface of each sleeve are formed on unitary bodies of the respective first and second sleeves.

8. The lifting mechanism of claim 1, wherein the base member and the upper member each have a length that is greater than a height of the lifting mechanism when the lifting mechanism is in a compressed state.

9. A lifting mechanism comprising:

a base member having an inner surface;

an upper member having an inner surface configured to face the inner surface of the base member;

a first coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism and a second coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism movable between the base member and the upper member, each coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism comprising;

a post having a threaded exterior surface, the post non-rotatably secured with the upper member; and

a sleeve configured to surround the post, the sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to directly interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post, and a helically geared exterior surface; and

a drive mechanism having a surface configured to interface with and drive the helically geared exterior surfaces of the sleeves, such that selective operation of the drive mechanism telescopically expands the upper member with respect to the base member by the sleeves axially translating relative to the base member simultaneously with the first post and the second post translating relative to the first sleeve and the second sleeve.

10. The lifting mechanism of claim 9, wherein the drive mechanism is a worm drive having a pair of threaded sections, each threaded section configured to interface with only one of the sleeves when the drive mechanism is operated.

11. The lifting mechanism of claim 9, wherein the base member includes a unitary body defining a pair of sleeve openings in the inner surface, each sleeve opening sized to rotatingly accommodate one of the sleeves therein.

12. The lifting mechanism of claim 9, wherein the base member includes a unitary body defining a drive mechanism aperture sized to rotatingly contain the drive mechanism therein.

13. The lifting mechanism of claim 12, wherein the drive mechanism interfaces with the sleeves through respective sleeve openings in the unitary body between the drive mechanism aperture and the respective sleeves.

14. The lifting mechanism of claim 9, wherein the inner surface of the base member and the inner surface of the upper member are configured to contact each other when the first and second coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms are at a minimum expansion.

15. The lifting mechanism of claim 9, wherein the threaded interior surface and the helically geared exterior surface of each sleeve are formed on a unitary body of the respective sleeve.

16. The lifting mechanism of claim 9, wherein the base member and the upper member each have a length that is greater than a height of the lifting mechanism when the lifting mechanism is in a compressed state.

17. A lifting mechanism comprising:

a base; and

a size-adjustable support configured to be adjustably expanded with respect to the base member, the size-adjustable support comprising;

a first post and a second post each having a threaded exterior surface, at least one post of the first or second posts being non-rotatable;

a first sleeve configured to surround the first post;

a second sleeve configured to surround the second post, each sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to directly interface with the threaded exterior surface of the corresponding post, and a helically geared exterior surface; and

a drive mechanism having a surface configured to interface with and drive the helically geared exterior surfaces of the first and second sleeves, such that selective operation of the drive mechanism telescopically expands the size-adjustable support with respect to the base member by the first sleeve and the second sleeve axially translating relative to the base member simultaneously with the first post and the second post translating relative to the first sleeve and the second sleeve.

18. The lifting mechanism of claim 17, wherein the drive mechanism is a worm drive having a pair of threaded sections, each threaded section configured to interface with only one of the first and second sleeves when the drive mechanism is operated.

19. The lifting mechanism of claim 17, wherein the base member includes a unitary body defining a pair of sleeve openings in the inner surface, each sleeve opening sized to rotatingly accommodate one of the first and second sleeves therein.

20. The lifting mechanism of claim 19, wherein the base member includes a unitary body defining a drive mechanism aperture sized to rotatingly contain the drive mechanism therein.

21. The lifting mechanism of claim 17, wherein the size-adjustable support is transitionable relative to the base between a first position, in which, the size-adjustable support engages the base, and a second position, in which, the size-adjustable support is spaced apart from the base.

22. The lifting mechanism of claim 21, wherein the first and second sleeves are disposed within the base when the size-adjustable support is in the first position.

23. The lifting mechanism of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the first or second sleeves is configured to extend out of the base when the size-adjustable support is in the second position.