Methods and apparatus for vertebral body distraction and fusion employing flexure members
First Claim
1. A distractible intervertebral body fusion device for implantation into an intervertebral disc space in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
- a first end plate having an outer bearing surface configured to interface with an end plate of a first vertebra of the intervertebral disc space and an inner surface opposite the outer bearing surface;
a second end plate having an outer bearing surface configured to interface with an end plate of a second vertebra of the intervertebral disc space and an inner surface opposite the outer surface;
at least two struts extending between the inner surfaces of the first and second end plates, each strut comprising first and second structural members and a block, where each structural member is connected at one end to one of the end plates with a flexure member and at an opposed end to the respective block with a flexure member;
wherein each end plate provides at least a pair of backstops, the pair of backstops being continuous and symmetrical with each other, each backstop providing a rolling contact for a different flexure connecting one of the structural members to the respective backstop that guides a curvature of the flexure to conform to a shape of the backstop as the first end plate and the second end plate are moved from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration relative to each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved methods and apparatuses for vertebral body distraction and fusion in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention employ flexure members. Flexure members connect a plurality of structural members to end plates on one end and blocks on another end. Upon insertion into the disc space, a drive screw or similar mechanism can be actuated to drive expansion blocks closer together, which causes flexure members to deflect, resulting in expansion of the structural members and distraction of the end plates. The distracted device can then remain in the body and be used for vertebral body fusion.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A distractible intervertebral body fusion device for implantation into an intervertebral disc space in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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a first end plate having an outer bearing surface configured to interface with an end plate of a first vertebra of the intervertebral disc space and an inner surface opposite the outer bearing surface; a second end plate having an outer bearing surface configured to interface with an end plate of a second vertebra of the intervertebral disc space and an inner surface opposite the outer surface; at least two struts extending between the inner surfaces of the first and second end plates, each strut comprising first and second structural members and a block, where each structural member is connected at one end to one of the end plates with a flexure member and at an opposed end to the respective block with a flexure member; wherein each end plate provides at least a pair of backstops, the pair of backstops being continuous and symmetrical with each other, each backstop providing a rolling contact for a different flexure connecting one of the structural members to the respective backstop that guides a curvature of the flexure to conform to a shape of the backstop as the first end plate and the second end plate are moved from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A distractible intervertebral body fusion device for implantation into an intervertebral disc space in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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a first end plate having an outer bearing surface configured to interface with an end plate of a first vertebra of the intervertebral disc space and an inner surface opposite the outer bearing surface including at least one backstop; a second end plate having an outer bearing surface configured to interface with an end plate of a second vertebra of the intervertebral disc space and an inner surface opposite the outer surface including at least one backstop; a plurality of struts extending between the inner surface of the first end plate and the inner surface of the second end plate, each strut comprising; an intermediate block having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a first structural member disposed between the first surface of the intermediate block and the inner surface of the first end plate and a second structural member disposed between the second surface of the intermediate block and the inner surface of the second end plate, each structural member including opposing end wrapping surfaces; and a flexure member disposed on each end wrapping surface of each structural member, the flexure members connecting each structural member to a respective one of the first and second surfaces of the intermediate block and to the inner surface of a respective one of the first end plate and the second end plate; wherein each structural member is rotatable with respect to the first end plate and the second end plate to move the first end plate and the second end plate between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration relative to each other, and wherein in the compressed configuration the flexure members disposed between the intermediate block and the structural members conform to a shape of the end wrapping surfaces of the structural members and in the expanded configuration the flexure members disposed between the first end plate and second end plate and the structural members conform to a shape of the backstop of the respective end plate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification