FIXATION DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20110282453A1
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P. (Alphatec Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P. (Alphatec Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: ROMANO, John-Paul, GREENHALGH, E. Skott
• Granted Patent: US 8,535,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8858 laterally or radially expansible inflatable A61B17/8855
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30242 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30448 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• 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 2002/3052 unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30779 arcuate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30825 arcuate
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 : connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4677 : using a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 : using adhesives

Abstract

An implantable orthopedic stability device is disclosed. The device can have a contracted and an expanded configuration. A method of using the device between adjacent vertebral body surfaces surfaces for support and/or fixation of either or both of the adjacent vertebrae is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of using an orthopedic support device comprising:

positioning the device at a target site, wherein the device has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis has a radius of curvature less than about 40 cm, and wherein the device comprises a first plate, a second plate opposite to the first plate, a first wedge between the first plate and the second plate at a first end of the device, and a second wedge between the first plate and the second plate at a second end of the device, wherein the first plate has a first extension extending in the direction of the second plate, and wherein the second plate has a first receiver configured to receive the first extension; and

expanding the device at the target site, wherein expanding the target site comprises longitudinally moving the first wedge and the second wedge toward the longitudinal middle of the device, and wherein the first extension slides in the first receiver during the expansion of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein expanding further comprises restricting longitudinal translation between the first plate and the second plate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the restricting longitudinal translation comprises sliding of the first extension in the first receiver.

4. An implantable orthopedic device having a longitudinal axis comprising:

a first plate having a longitudinal axis having a radius of curvature less than about 40 cm;

a second plate opposite to the first plate;

a first wedge between the first plate and the second plate at a first longitudinal end of the device; and

a second wedge between the first plate and the second plate at a second longitudinal end of the device;

wherein the first plate has a first extension extending in the direction of the second plate, and wherein the second plate has a first receiver configured to slidably receive the first extension; and

wherein the first wedge is longitudinally translatable toward the second wedge, and wherein the first extension slides.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first plate has a first plate face substantially defining a first plane, and wherein the first extension extends away from the first plate face in a direction perpendicular to the first plane.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second plate has a second plate face substantially defining a second plane, and wherein the first receiver is configured to slidably receive the first extension in a slidable direction perpendicular to the second plane.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the second plane is parallel with the first plane.