Minimally invasive expanding spacer and method
First Claim
1. A device for spacing vertebral members comprising:
- a plurality of linkages each comprising an elongated shape with a first end and a second end, at least one end having teeth;
a pull arm pivotally connected to the first end of each of the plurality of linkages; and
a first plate connected to the second end of at least one of the plurality of linkages and a second plate connected to the second end of at least one of the plurality of linkages;
the pull arm being positioned in a first orientation with the linkages having a first link angle, and a second orientation with the plurality of linkages having a second link angle, with the second link angle being greater than the first link angle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A minimaly invasive spacer for positioning between vertebral members. The spacer is adjustable between a first orientation having a reduced size to facilitate insertion between the vertebral members. A second orientation has an enlarged size for contacting the vertebral members. The spacer includes linkages that are attached to a pair of plates. A pull arm is operatively connected to the linkages for adjusting the spacer from the first orientation to the second orientation. A delivery device is attached to the spacer for insertion between the vertebral members. In one embodiment, the delivery device is detachable to be removed from the spacer once positioned between the vertebral members. Methods of using the spacer include positioning the spacer between the vertebral members while in the first orientation. The spacer is then enlarged to the second orientation, and the delivery device is removed with only the spacer remaining within the patient.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A device for spacing vertebral members comprising:
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a plurality of linkages each comprising an elongated shape with a first end and a second end, at least one end having teeth; a pull arm pivotally connected to the first end of each of the plurality of linkages; and a first plate connected to the second end of at least one of the plurality of linkages and a second plate connected to the second end of at least one of the plurality of linkages; the pull arm being positioned in a first orientation with the linkages having a first link angle, and a second orientation with the plurality of linkages having a second link angle, with the second link angle being greater than the first link angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A device for spacing vertebral members comprising:
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a first plate and a second plate; a pull arm; and a first linkage and a second linkage each having a first end and a second end, each of the first ends being pivotally connected to the pull arm, the second end of the first linkage being pivotally connected to the first plate, and the second end of the second linkage pivotally connected to the second plate; the first linkage and the second linkage being positionable between a first orientation and a second orientation, a distance between the second ends being less in the first orientation than in the second orientation; wherein each of the first linkage and the second linkage comprise teeth on the first ends that mate together when moving between the first orientation and the second orientation. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A device for spacing vertebral members comprising:
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a first plate and a second plate; a first linkage pair pivotally attached to the first plate and the second plate; a second linkage pair pivotally attached to the first plate and the second plate; when a distance between the first plate and the second plate changes, a first toothed end of the first linkage pair attached to the first plate mates with a first toothed end of the second linkage pair, and a second toothed end of the first linkage pair attached to the second plate mates with a second toothed end of the second linkage pair when a distance between the first plate and the second plate increases. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A device for spacing vertebral members comprising:
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a first plate; a second plate; a pull arm positioned between the first plate and the second plate; a first linkage pair and a second linkage pair each comprising a first end connected to the first plate, a second end connected to the second plate, the first linkage pair connected to the pull arm at a first connection point, and the second linkage pair connected to the pull arm at a second connection point; the device positionable between a first orientation having a first height and a second orientation having a second height greater than the first height, a distance between the first connection point and the second connection point being greater in the first orientation than in the second orientation; the first ends each having teeth that mate together as the device moves between the first orientation and the second orientation. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method of spacing vertebral members comprising the steps of:
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inserting a spacer in a first orientation with a first height between the vertebral members; applying an axial force in a proximal direction to a pull arm to axially move the pull arm; and pivoting linkages attached to the pull arm and increasing the spacer to a second height larger than the first height. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of spacing vertebral members comprising the steps of:
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positioning a spacer between the vertebral members, the spacer being in a first orientation with a first height and a linkage having a first link angle; and expanding the spacer from the first orientation to a second orientation with a second height greater than the first height and a second link angle greater than the first link angle; with a distance between first attachment points between first and second linkages with a pull arm being greater in the first orientation than in the second orientation, and second attachment points between the first and second linkages with a plate being equal in both the first and second orientations.
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37. A method of spacing vertebral members comprising the steps of:
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inserting a spacer between the vertebral members; applying an axial force to move a pull arm in a proximal direction; pivoting at least one pair of linkages from a first orientation having a first link angle to a second orientation having a second link angle greater than the first link angle; and moving a pair of plates from the first orientation sized to fit between the vertebral members to a second orientation having a height greater than the first orientation to contact the pair of plates against the vertebral members. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method of spacing vertebral members comprising the steps of:
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inserting a spacer between the vertebral members, the spacer being in a closed orientation and having a closed height; applying a first deployment force and moving an arm in a proximal direction to move the spacer from the closed orientation to a first opened orientation and increasing the spacer to a first height larger than the closed height; and applying a second deployment force less than the first deployment force and moving the spacer from the first opened orientation to a second opened orientation and increasing the spacer to a second height greater than the first height. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A method of spacing vertebral members comprising the steps of:
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positioning a spacer between the vertebral members; applying a deployment force in a proximal direction; pivoting a pair of linkages each attached to a pull arm; separating a pair of plates from a first orientation having a first height to a second height greater than the first height; and applying a disc space load to the vertebral members, the disc space load being greater at the second height than at the first height. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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Specification