Expandable Fusion Device and Method of Installation Thereof

• US 20140067071A1
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Weiman, Mark, Gahman, Kevin, Seifert, Jody L., Iott, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,561,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• 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 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 2002/30266 wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• 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 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• 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 2002/30482 using a locking cam
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30484 Mechanically expandable devices located on the first prosthetic part for locking into or onto the second prosthetic part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30495 using a locking ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 using a locking plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30522 releasable, e.g. using a releasable ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 : for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30558 : Force-limiting means
• 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 2002/30828 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30843 : Pyramidally-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4662 : for measuring penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures

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. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a central ramp, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the central ramp capable of being moved in a first direction to move the first and second endplates outwardly and into an expanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed down an endoscopic tube.

Claims

1. An expandable implant comprising:

a first endplate;

a second endplate opposed to the first endplate;

a central ramp positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate, the central ramp including a first ramp in contact with the first endplate and a second ramp in contact with the second endplate; and

a driving ramp positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the driving ramp is operably connected with the central ramp,

wherein the driving ramp includes a bore positioned adjacent a graft delivery hole.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the bore of the driving ramp is offset from a central longitudinal axis that extends through the driving ramp.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the through-bore of the driving ramp is configured to receive an actuator assembly having a head portion and a shaft portion.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the central ramp further comprises a through-bore and a graft delivery hole.

5. The implant of claim 4, wherein the through-bore of the central ramp is aligned with the bore of the driving ramp.

6. The implant of claim 4, wherein the graft delivery hole of the central ramp is aligned with the graft delivery hole of the driving ramp.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the first endplate comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, a first through opening extending through the upper surface to the lower surface, and a second through opening extending through the upper surface to the lower surface.

8. The implant of claim 7, wherein the first through opening extending through the upper surface to the lower surface is of a different size from the second through opening extending through the upper surface to the lower surface.

9. The implant of claim 1, further comprises an upper plate member removably attachable to the first endplate.

10. The implant of claim 9, wherein the upper plate member comprises a recess for receiving a ledge of the first endplate.

11. The implant of claim 9, wherein the upper plate member is configured to receive a bone screw for attachment to a first vertebra.

12. The implant of claim 9, wherein the upper plate member is attached to the first endplate via one or more screws.

13. The implant of claim 1, further comprising a washer positioned between the central ramp and the driving ramp.

14. An expandable implant comprising:

a first endplate;

a second endplate opposed to the first endplate;

a central ramp positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate, the central ramp including a first ramp in contact with the first endplate and a second ramp in contact with the second endplate;

a driving ramp positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the driving ramp is operably connected with the central ramp;

a first plate member attached to the first endplate; and

a second plate member attached to the second endplate.

15. The implant of claim 14, wherein the driving ramp comprises a bore adjacent a graft delivery hole.

16. The implant of claim 15, wherein the central ramp comprises a through bore adjacent a graft delivery hole.

17. The implant of claim 16, wherein the through bore of the central ramp aligns with the bore of the driving ramp, and the graft delivery hole of the central ramp aligns with the graft delivery hole of the driving ramp.

18. The implant of claim 14, wherein the first endplate and the second endplate comprise a pair of through openings extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of each endplate.

19. The implant of claim 14, wherein the first plate member is attachable to the first endplate by a plurality of screws.

20. The implant of claim 14, wherein the first plate member comprises a bone screw and a blocking member for preventing back-out of the bone screw.