Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof

• US 8,888,854 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2013
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Glerum, Chad, Suh, Sean, Weiman, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weiss, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US13/951,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 411/75, 411/80, 403/297, 403373-3744, 254/11
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30207 Double convex cones, i.e. element having two convex cones, one at each of its opposite ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3021 frustoconical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30265 Flat parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30365 with additional means for limiting said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30367 with additional means for preventing said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30372 with additional means for limiting said translation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30373 with additional means for preventing said translation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• 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 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• 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 2002/3052 unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 : having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• 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 2002/30594 : slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 : telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• 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 body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.

Claims

1. A method of stabilizing a spine comprising:

providing an intervertebral implant comprising;

a first endplate having an upper side and a lower side;

a second endplate having an upper side and a lower side;

a body portion having a first end, a second end, a first side portion connecting the first end and the second end, and a second side portion connecting the first end and the second end;

a translation member received between the first endplate and the second endplate, the translation member including at least two first angled surfaces of which at least one of the two first angled surfaces is configured to engage a contact surface of the first endplate and at least two second angled surfaces of which at least one of the two second angled surfaces is configured to engage a contact surface of the second endplate,

wherein the at least two first angled surfaces are sloped generally in a same direction,

actuating an actuation member to move the translation member causing at least one of two first angled surfaces to push against the contact surface of the first endplate and at least one of the two second angled surfaces to push against the contact surface of the second endplate, thereby causing outward expansion of the first endplate and second endplate; and

positioning the intervertebral implant in an intervertebral disc space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuation member is engaged with the translation member.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the actuation member comprises a threaded member.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein rotation of the actuation member causes translational movement of the translation member.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endplate includes a pair of ramped surfaces.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the translation member comprises a pair of ramped surfaces connected by a bridge portion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the translation member includes a central opening.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces of the first and second endplates comprise dovetail grooves.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a PEEK interference nut positioned within a rear section of the body portion.

10. A method of stabilizing a spine comprising:

providing an intervertebral implant comprising;

a first endplate having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the first endplate includes a first opening;

a second endplate having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the second endplate includes a second opening;

a body portion having a first end, a second end, a first side portion connecting the first end and the second end, and a second side portion connecting the first end and the second end;

a translation member receivable in the body portion, the translation member including at least two first angled surfaces, one of the at least two first angled surfaces configured to engage a surface of the first endplate and at least two second angled surfaces, one of the at least two second angled surfaces configured to engage a surface of the second endplate,

wherein the at least two first angled surfaces are sloped generally in the same direction,

moving the translation member causing at least one of two first angled surfaces to push against the surface of the first endplate and at least one of the two second angled surfaces to push against the surface of the second endplate, thereby causing outward expansion of the first endplate and second endplate; and

positioning the intervertebral implant in an intervertebral disc space.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the body portion includes a first end having at least one angled surface to assist in distraction of vertebral bodies.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first endplate includes at least two ramped surfaces.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the slopes of the at least two ramped surfaces is different from one another.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising an actuation member engaged with the translation member.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the surface of the first endplate comprises a dovetail groove for receiving a complementary portion of the translation member.

16. A method for stabilizing the spine comprising:

providing a first and second intervertebral implant, the first and second intervertebral implant each comprising;

a first endplate having an upper side and a lower side;

a second endplate having an upper side and a lower side;

a body portion having a first end, a second end, a first side portion connecting the first end and the second end, and a second side portion connecting the first end and the second end;

an actuation member coupled to the translation member,

a translation member including at least two first angled surfaces, one of the at least two first angled surfaces configured to engage a ramped surface of the first endplate and at least two second angled surfaces, one of the at least two second angled surfaces configured to engage a ramped surface of the second endplate;

wherein the at least two first angled surfaces are sloped generally in the same direction,

actuating an actuation member to move the translation member causing at least one of two first angled surfaces to push against the ramped surface of the first endplate and at least one of the two second angled surfaces to push against the ramped surface of the second endplate, thereby causing outward expansion of the first endplate and second endplate; and

positioning the first and second intervertebral implant in an intervertebral disc space.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein an operation of the first intervertebral implant is independent of the operation of the second intervertebral implant.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein rotation of the actuation member causes translational movement of the translation member.