Expandable interbody implant
First Claim
1. A spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising:
- a first member having a first surface for engaging a first vertebral body;
a second member having a second surface for engaging a second vertebral body;
at least one extendable support element having a contracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant between the first and second vertebral bodies, and the extendable support element having at least one extended configuration to extend the first and second members away from one another so that the first and second surfaces are positioned further apart from one another than in the contracted configuration; and
a locking system comprising at least one locking element movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein the locking element prevents movement of the extendable support element towards the contracted configuration when the locking element is in the locked configuration, and the locking element permits movement of the extendable support element towards the contracted configuration when the locking element is in the unlocked configuration;
wherein the locking element includes a pinion, such that movement of the locking element between the locked and unlocked configuration is actuated by rotation of the pinion;
further comprising a linear rack extending along an axis, the linear rack being linearly translatable along the axis to induce rotation of the pinion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable interbody implant is expandable from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration by moving opposing first and second vertebral-engaging surfaces apart from one another. The implant includes a locking system for restraining contraction of the implant. The locking system may have a locked configuration, in which the first and second surfaces are prevented from moving back towards the contracted configuration, and the locking system may have an unlocked configuration, in which the first and second surfaces are permitted to move back towards the contracted configuration. The locking system may be controlled by rotation of one or more pinions. The pinions may, in turn, be controlled by linear movement of a rack. The rack may be configured so as to bias the locking system towards the locked configuration. The implant may also include a stop for constraining the maximum expansion of the implant.
239 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising:
- a first member having a first surface for engaging a first vertebral body;
a second member having a second surface for engaging a second vertebral body;
at least one extendable support element having a contracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant between the first and second vertebral bodies, and the extendable support element having at least one extended configuration to extend the first and second members away from one another so that the first and second surfaces are positioned further apart from one another than in the contracted configuration; and
a locking system comprising at least one locking element movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein the locking element prevents movement of the extendable support element towards the contracted configuration when the locking element is in the locked configuration, and the locking element permits movement of the extendable support element towards the contracted configuration when the locking element is in the unlocked configuration;
wherein the locking element includes a pinion, such that movement of the locking element between the locked and unlocked configuration is actuated by rotation of the pinion;
further comprising a linear rack extending along an axis, the linear rack being linearly translatable along the axis to induce rotation of the pinion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- a first member having a first surface for engaging a first vertebral body;
Specification