Hydraulically actuated expanding spine cage with extendable locking anchor
First Claim
1. A spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising:
- a. a first member having a surface for engaging an end of a first vertebral body;
b. a second member having a surface for engaging an end of a second vertebral body;
c. at least one extendable support element having a contracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant between the superior and inferior vertebral bodies and at least one extended configuration to extend the first member so that the surface thereof engages the end of the first vertebral body; and
d. a locking system comprising a locking element that mechanically engages or interlocks with the extendable support element of the first member in a locked position to lock the implant between the first and second vertebral bodies in an expanded configuration, and a locking actuator disposed within the implant that moves the locking element into the locked position in response to deployment of the implant to said at least one extended configuration.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one extendable support element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to expand the implant and effectively distract the disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. Angular deformities can also be corrected, and natural curvatures restored. Preferably, the implant has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it typically passes to be deployed within the intervertebral space. The implant is provided with a locking system preferably having a plurality of locking elements to lock the implant in an extended configuration. Bone engaging anchors also may be provided to ensure secure positioning.
200 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a. a first member having a surface for engaging an end of a first vertebral body; b. a second member having a surface for engaging an end of a second vertebral body; c. at least one extendable support element having a contracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant between the superior and inferior vertebral bodies and at least one extended configuration to extend the first member so that the surface thereof engages the end of the first vertebral body; and d. a locking system comprising a locking element that mechanically engages or interlocks with the extendable support element of the first member in a locked position to lock the implant between the first and second vertebral bodies in an expanded configuration, and a locking actuator disposed within the implant that moves the locking element into the locked position in response to deployment of the implant to said at least one extended configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a. a first member having a surface for engaging an end of a first vertebral body; b. a second member having a surface for engaging an end of a second vertebral body; c. at least one extendable support element having a contracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant between the superior and inferior vertebral bodies and at least one extended configuration to extend the first member so that the surface thereof engages the end of the first vertebral body; and d. a locking system which has a locking element that mechanically engages or interlocks with the extendable support element of the first member to lock the implant between the first and second vertebral bodies in an expanded configuration;
said spinal implant further comprising;
at least two said first members;
at least two said extendable support elements, one each supporting one of said first members; and
at least two locking elements, at least one each engaging or interlocking with each said extendable support element or first member. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A spinal implant for placement between adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
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a. a top end plate for engaging an end of a first adjacent vertebral body; b. a bottom end plate for engaging an end of a second adjacent vertebral body; c. at least one extendable piston member having a contracted configuration within the implant to facilitate deployment of the implant between the first and second vertebral bodies and an extended configuration to extend the top end plate into engagement with the end of the first adjacent vertebral body; d. an upper lock support member having a multi-stepped support surface; e. a lower lock support member having a multi-stepped support surface configured to engage the multi-stepped support surface of the upper lock support member; and f. a locking actuator which causes relative motion between the upper and lower lock support members when the at least one extendable member is extended so as to lock the implant in an expanded configuration by engaging the multi-stepped support surfaces of the upper lock support members and the lower lock support members. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A spinal implant with hydraulically actuatable, locking bone anchors, comprising:
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an implant housing defining a cylindrical opening with an inner wall surface; a cylinder wall defining a cylinder disposed within said opening, the cylinder wall spaced from the inner wall surface of said opening to form an annular space therebetween; a hydraulic piston disposed within the circular opening and received within the cylinder, said piston having an outer end movable from a contracted position to an extended position; a bone engaging anchor including a screw member with bone cutting threads centrally disposed on the piston outer end and extending outward therefrom, said anchor being moveable with said outer end from a contracted position within said housing to an extended position out of said housing; inner wall screw threads disposed on at least a part of said inner wall surface; a piston flange extending from the piston outer end, over the cylinder wall and into said annular space; flange screw threads disposed on an outer surface of said piston flange and cooperating with the inner wall screw threads to rotate the bone engaging anchor in response to linear movement of the piston in the cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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56. A spinal implant with hydraulically actuatable, locking bone engaging surfaces, comprising:
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a housing defining at least one laterally spaced circular opening having a cylinder wall defining a base cylinder within said at least one circular opening, the cylinder wall being spaced from the housing to provide an annular space between the cylinder wall and housing; a first hydraulic piston disposed in said at least one opening, each said first piston having an outer end movable from a contracted position within said housing to an extended position out of said housing; an intermediate piston disposed between the first piston and the housing, each intermediate piston received within said base cylinder, and also defining an intermediate cylinder receiving the first piston therein; a bone engaging surface disposed at said first piston outer end; and a locking mechanism cooperating with said piston to lock the piston in the extended position, said locking mechanism including at least one locking member slidably disposed in said annular space. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
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Specification