Expandable vertebral implant and methods of use
First Claim
1. An implant for insertion between vertebral members in a patient comprising:
- an outer member including a first end to contact a first of the vertebral members;
an inner member including a second end to contact a second of the vertebral members;
an intermediate member disposed so as to overlap within the outer member and the inner member at a common position along a longitudinal axis of the implant to form a three-layer arrangement, the intermediate member being displaceable longitudinally in first and second directions relative to the outer member, the intermediate member further having a longitudinal channel to contain the inner member and a lateral opening that extends through the intermediate member into the channel; and
a locking element disposed at least partly within the lateral opening and movable with respect thereto, the locking element being positioned within an interior of the outer member;
displacement of the intermediate member in the first direction forces the locking element inward toward the inner member;
displacement of the intermediate member in the second direction allows the locking element to be outwardly displaced away from the inner member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implant for insertion between vertebral members in which an inner member, intermediate member, and outer member are concentrically disposed. The inner and outer members may comprise end plates to contact the vertebral members. The outer member may include a tapered interior wall. A locking element is movably contained within an opening that extends through a sidewall of the intermediate member. The intermediate member is displaceable longitudinally in first and second directions relative to the outer member. Displacement of the intermediate member in the first direction tends to force the locking element laterally into contact with the inner and outer members. A biasing member may urge the intermediate member in the first direction. Displacement of the intermediate member in the second direction allows the locking element to be laterally displaced out of contact with the inner member.
135 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An implant for insertion between vertebral members in a patient comprising:
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an outer member including a first end to contact a first of the vertebral members; an inner member including a second end to contact a second of the vertebral members; an intermediate member disposed so as to overlap within the outer member and the inner member at a common position along a longitudinal axis of the implant to form a three-layer arrangement, the intermediate member being displaceable longitudinally in first and second directions relative to the outer member, the intermediate member further having a longitudinal channel to contain the inner member and a lateral opening that extends through the intermediate member into the channel; and a locking element disposed at least partly within the lateral opening and movable with respect thereto, the locking element being positioned within an interior of the outer member; displacement of the intermediate member in the first direction forces the locking element inward toward the inner member; displacement of the intermediate member in the second direction allows the locking element to be outwardly displaced away from the inner member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An implant for insertion between vertebral members in a patient comprising:
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a first member including a first end to contact a first of the vertebral members; a second member concentrically coupled to the first member and including a second end to contact a second of the vertebral members; and a sphere movably contained within the implant, positioned fully between the first end and an opposite end of the first member, and disposed in contact with the second member and a tapered surface of the first member; the second member being displaceable longitudinally in first and second directions relative to the first member with displacement of the second member in the first direction forcing the sphere to move relative to the tapered surface to provide a clearance between the first member, the second member, and the sphere, and displacement of the second member in the second direction forcing the sphere to move relative to the tapered surface to create an interference between the first member, the second member, and the sphere. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An implant for insertion between vertebral members in a patient comprising:
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a first member including a first end to contact a first of the vertebral members, the first member including an interior section formed by a sidewall, the interior section having a tapered portion that extends between a first level having a first width and a second level having a reduced second width; a second member movably disposed within the interior section and having a channel; a third member including a second end to contact a second of the vertebral members, the third member movably disposed within the channel; a locking element sized to move within an opening in the second member, the locking element having a width greater than the opening, the locking element positioned at a longitudinal location where each of the first, second, and third members overlap; the second member movable relative to the first member between an unlocked position with the opening positioned in proximity to the first level with the locking element freely movable within the opening, and a locked position with the opening positioned in proximity to the second level with the locking element being forced into contact with the sidewall and the third member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An implant for insertion between vertebral members in a patient comprising:
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an outer member including a first end to contact a first of the vertebral members and a tapered inner diameter; an inner member including a second end to contact a second of the vertebral members, each of the inner and outer members including a cross section shape with a linear sidewall, the cross section shapes each being normal to a longitudinal axis of the implant; an intermediate member disposed at least partially within the outer member and around the inner member with each of the members being aligned along the longitudinal axis; a locking element disposed at least partly within an opening within the intermediate member and movable with respect thereto, the locking element including a flattened shape that is complementary to the linear sidewalls; the intermediate member being displaceable along the longitudinal axis in first and second directions relative to the outer member, displacement of the intermediate member in the first direction forces the locking element against the tapered inner diameter of the outer member and radially inward toward the inner member, displacement of the intermediate member in the second direction allows the locking element to be outwardly displaced away from the inner member. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An implant for insertion between vertebral members in a patient comprising:
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a first cylindrical member including a first end to contact a first of the vertebral members and including a tapered inner diameter; a second cylindrical member concentrically coupled to the first cylindrical member and including a second end to contact a second of the vertebral members, each of the first and second cylindrical members including a cross section shape with a linear section, the cross section shapes being normal to a longitudinal axis of the implant; and a locking element movably contained between the first and second cylindrical members and positioned to contact the linear sections of the first and second cylindrical members; the second cylindrical member being displaceable longitudinally in first and second directions relative to the first cylindrical member with displacement of the second cylindrical member in the first direction forcing the locking element to contact a reduced section of the tapered inner diameter of the first cylindrical member to create an interference between the first cylindrical member, the second cylindrical member, and the locking element, and displacement of the second cylindrical member in the second direction positions the locking element at an enlarged section of the tapered inner diameter of the first cylindrical member to provide a clearance between the first cylindrical member, the second cylindrical member, and the locking element. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification