Expandable intervertebral fusion device

• US 10,507,116 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrity Implants, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Integrity Implants, Inc.
• Inventors: Shoshtaev, Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Beccia, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US16/219,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20190117409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30156 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30176 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30266 wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30398 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30411 having two threaded end parts connected by a threaded central part with opposite threads at its opposite ends, i.e. for adjusting the distance between both end parts by rotating the central part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30476 locked by an additional locking mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30482 using a locking cam
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30515 using a locking wedge or block
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30518 with possibility of relative movement between the prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30528 Means for limiting said movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30537 : adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30545 : for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 : for adjusting length
• 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 2002/30624 : Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 : having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component

Abstract

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. The fusion device described herein is capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space at a minimum to no distraction height and for a fusion device capable of maintaining a normal distance between adjacent vertebral bodies when implanted.

Claims

1. A method for implanting an expandable fusion device between two adjacent vertebrae comprising:

obtaining an expandable fusion device for implantation between two adjacent vertebrae, the device comprising

an actuator comprising a drive feature and a longitudinal axis;

a wedge assembly coupled to the actuator;

a ramp assembly slidably coupled with the wedge assembly;

an upper endplate assembly slidably coupled with the ramp assembly; and

a lower endplate assembly slidably coupled with the ramp assembly;

wherein, the device has a width comprising an external width of at least one of the upper endplate assembly and the lower endplate assembly;

wherein, the device has a height comprising an external distance between the upper endplate assembly and the lower endplate assembly;

wherein, actuation of the drive feature by a first number of actuations in a first actuation direction increases the width without increasing the height; and

,

wherein, actuation of the drive feature by a second number of actuations beyond the first number of actuations in the first actuation direction increases at least one of the height and the width;

inserting the device, having the width and the height, between two adjacent vertebrae;

actuating the drive feature by the first number of actuations in the first actuation to increase the width without increasing the height; and

,

actuating the drive feature by the second number of actuations beyond the first number of actuations in the first actuation direction to increase at least one of the height and the width;

attaching an inserter to the expandable fusion device, the device having the width and the height and comprising the drive feature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein actuation of the drive feature by the second number of actuations beyond the first number of actuations in the first actuation direction increases both the height and the width.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein actuation of the drive feature by a third number of actuations beyond the first and second number of actuations in the first actuation direction increases the height without increasing the width.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the width of the device reaches an apex once the drive feature is actuated by at least the first number of actuations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the height of the device reaches an apex once the drive feature is actuated by at least the first and second number of actuations.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein actuating the drive feature in the first actuation direction beyond the first number of actuations increases the height of the device by at most about 400%.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein actuating the drive feature in the first actuation direction by at least the first and the second number of actuations increases the width of the device by at most about 150%.