Fixation device and method
First Claim
Patent Images
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 said wedges have respective wedges axes midway between edges of said wedges generally along respective directions of motion of said wedges and a linear actuator having a linear actuator longitudinal axis wherein the linear actuator longitudinal axis extends in a straight line, wherein the linear actuator extends through the first wedge and the second wedge, wherein said linear actuator longitudinal axis forms non-zero angles with respect to said wedge axes 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 device at 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.
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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.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of using an orthopedic support device comprising:
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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 said wedges have respective wedges axes midway between edges of said wedges generally along respective directions of motion of said wedges and a linear actuator having a linear actuator longitudinal axis wherein the linear actuator longitudinal axis extends in a straight line, wherein the linear actuator extends through the first wedge and the second wedge, wherein said linear actuator longitudinal axis forms non-zero angles with respect to said wedge axes 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 device at 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An implantable orthopedic device comprising:
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a first plate having a longitudinal axis having a radius of curvature less than about 40 cm, wherein the radius of curvature is parallel to a second plane coincidental with a top or bottom surface of the first plate; 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; a second wedge between the first plate and the second plate at a second longitudinal end of the device; and a linear actuator having a straight linear actuator longitudinal axis, wherein the linear actuator extends through the first wedge and the second wedge wherein said wedges have respective wedge axes midway between edges of said wedges generally along respective directions of motion of said wedges, and wherein said linear actuator longitudinal axis forms non-zero angles with respect to said wedge axes; 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. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. An implantable orthopedic device comprising:
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a top plate; a bottom plate; a first wedge between said first plate and said second plate at a first end of said device, and a second wedge between said first plate and said second plate at a second end of said device, wherein said wedges have respective wedge axes midway between edges of said wedges generally along respective directions of motion of said wedges; and an actuation mechanism between said top plate and said bottom plate for adjusting a vertical distance between said top plate and said bottom plate, said actuation mechanism comprising a linear actuator having a linear actuator longitudinal axis wherein said linear actuator longitudinal axis extends in a straight line, wherein said linear actuator extends through said first wedge and said second wedge, wherein said linear actuator longitudinal axis forms non-zero angles with respect to said wedge axis, wherein said top plate and said bottom plate each have a respective long direction and have a respective graft window therethrough defined by a respective graft window perimeter, wherein said graft window perimeter comprises a first curved side running generally along said long direction of said top plate, and a second curved side opposed to said first curved side and running generally along said long direction of said top plate, and a first end segment generally connecting said first curved side and said second curved side, and comprises a second end segment opposed to said first end segment and generally connecting said first curved side and said second curved side, and wherein the first curved side has a radius of curvature, and wherein the radius of curvature is parallel to a plane of the top surface of the top plate and/or a bottom surface of the bottom plate. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An implantable orthopedic device comprising:
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a top plate; a bottom plate; a first wedge between said first plate and said second plate at a first end of said device, and a second wedge between said first plate and said second plate at a second end of said device, wherein said wedges have respective wedge axes midway between edges of said wedges generally along respective directions of motion of said wedges; and an actuation mechanism located between said top plate and said bottom plate for adjusting a vertical distance between said top plate and said bottom plate, said actuation mechanism comprising a linear actuator for moving said wedges relative to said plates, said linear actuator having a linear actuator longitudinal axis wherein said linear actuator longitudinal axis extends in a straight line, wherein said linear actuator extends through said first wedge and said second wedge, wherein said linear actuator longitudinal axis forms non-zero angles with respect to said wedge axes, and wherein said device has a longitudinal direction and a longitudinal device axis running generally centrally of said device in said long direction, wherein said longitudinal device axis is curved.
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13. An implantable orthopedic device comprising:
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a top plate; a bottom plate, said top plate and said bottom plate having respective long directions and having respective longitudinal axes running generally in said long direction along said plates, said longitudinal axes being curved; and an actuation mechanism located between said top plate and said bottom plate for adjusting a vertical distance between said top plate and said bottom plate, said actuation mechanism comprising a first wedge and a second wedge located between said first plate and said second plate and comprising a linear actuator for moving said wedges relative to said plates, wherein said linear actuator has a linear actuator longitudinal axis wherein said linear actuator longitudinal axis extends in a straight line, wherein said linear actuator extends through said first wedge and said second wedge, wherein said wedges have respective wedge axes midway between edges of said wedges generally along respective directions of motion of said wedges, and wherein said linear actuator longitudinal axis forms non-zero angles with respect to said wedge axes, and wherein said longitudinal axes are curved in respective planes that are perpendicular to a direction of said vertical distance between said top plate and said bottom plate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification