Expandable implant

• US 9,913,727 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2015
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medos International Sarl (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Medos International Sarl (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Thommen, Daniel, Richter, Joern, Senn, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Coley, Zade
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Olivia C
• Application Number:
  US14/790,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20170000622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0008 for adjusting a position by translation along an axis or two perpendicular axes

Abstract

An intervertebral implant includes a frame including an end member and an intermediate member pivotally coupled to the end member about a first pivot axis. The intervertebral implant includes a first vertebral contact member pivotally coupled to the frame about a second pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis, and a second vertebral contact member coupled to the frame. The frame is configured such that pivoting the intermediate member with respect to the end member about the first pivot axis changes both a width between the first vertebral contact member and the second vertebral contact member with respect to a direction that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis, and changes a height between the first vertebral contact member and the second vertebral contact member with respect to a direction that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis.

Claims

1. An implant comprising:

a frame including an end member and an intermediate member pivotally coupled to the end member about a first pivot axis;

a first vertebral contact member pivotally coupled to the frame about a second pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis, the first vertebral contact member defining a face configured to engage a first vertebra; and

a second vertebral contact member coupled to the frame, the second vertebral contact member defining a face configured to engage a second vertebra,

wherein the frame is configured such that;

     1) pivoting the intermediate member with respect to the end member about the first pivot axis changes a width between the first vertebral contact member and the second vertebral contact member with respect to a direction that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis, and

     2) pivoting the first vertebral contact member with respect to the frame about the second pivot axis changes a height between the first vertebral contact member and the second vertebral contact member with respect to a direction that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the second vertebral contact member is pivotally coupled to the frame about a third pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis, and the frame is configured such that pivoting the second vertebral contact member with respect to the frame about the third pivot axis changes the height between the first vertebral contact member and the second vertebral contact member with respect to the direction that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis.

3. The implant of claim 2, wherein the end member is a first end member, the intermediate member is a first intermediate member, the frame includes a second end member and a second intermediate member pivotally coupled to the second end member about a fourth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis, and the frame is configured such that pivoting the second intermediate member with respect to the second end member about the fourth pivot axis changes the width between the first vertebral contact member and the second vertebral contact member with respect to the direction that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis.

4. The implant of claim 3, wherein the first vertebral contact member includes a first vertebral contact component and a second vertebral contact component separated from the first vertebral contact component with respect to the direction that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis, the first vertebral contact component pivotally coupled to the frame about the second pivot axis, the second vertebral contact component pivotally coupled to the frame about a fifth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis, and the frame is configured such that:

1) pivoting the first vertebral contact component with respect to the frame about the second pivot axis changes a first height between the first vertebral contact component and the second vertebral contact member with respect to the direction that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis and

     2) pivoting the second vertebral contact component with respect to the frame about the fifth pivot axis changes a second height between the second vertebral contact component and the second vertebral contact member with respect to the direction that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis.

5. The implant of claim 4, wherein the first height is equal to the second height.

6. The implant of claim 4, wherein the second vertebral contact member includes a first vertebral contact component and a second vertebral contact component separated from the first vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member with respect to the direction that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis, the first vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member pivotally coupled to the frame about the third pivot axis, the second vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member pivotally coupled to the frame about a sixth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis, and the frame is configured such that:

1) pivoting the first vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member with respect to the frame about the third pivot axis changes the first height between the first vertebral contact component of the first vertebral contact member and the first vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member with respect to the direction that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis and

     2) pivoting the second vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member with respect to the frame about the sixth pivot axis changes the second height between the second vertebral contact component of the first vertebral contact member and the second vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member with respect to the direction that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis.

7. The implant of claim 6, wherein the first height is different than the second height.

8. The implant of claim 6, further comprising:

a first linkage pivotally coupled to the first end member about the about the first pivot axis, and pivotally coupled to the first intermediate member about a seventh pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis;

a second linkage pivotally coupled to the first intermediate member about the second pivot axis, and pivotally coupled to the first vertebral contact member about an eighth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis;

a third linkage pivotally coupled to the first intermediate member about the third pivot axis, and pivotally coupled to the second vertebral contact member about a ninth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the third pivot axis;

a fourth linkage pivotally coupled to the second end member about the about the fourth pivot axis, and pivotally coupled to the second intermediate member about a tenth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the fourth pivot axis;

a fifth linkage pivotally coupled to the second intermediate member about the fifth pivot axis, and pivotally coupled to the first vertebral contact member about an eleventh pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the fifth pivot axis; and

a sixth linkage pivotally coupled to the second intermediate member about the sixth pivot axis, and pivotally coupled to the second vertebral contact member about a twelfth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the sixth pivot axis.

9. The implant of claim 8, wherein the first intermediate member includes a first intermediate component and a second intermediate component separated from the first intermediate component along the direction that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis, and the second intermediate member includes a first intermediate component and a second intermediate component separated from the first intermediate component of the second intermediate member along the direction that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis.

10. The implant of claim 9, wherein:

the first linkage includes a first link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the first end member about the first pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the first intermediate component of the first intermediate member about the seventh pivot axis;

the second linkage includes a first link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the first intermediate component of the first intermediate member about the second pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the first vertebral contact component of the first vertebral contact member about the eighth pivot axis;

the third linkage includes a first link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the first intermediate component of the second intermediate member about the third pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the first vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member about the ninth pivot axis;

the fourth linkage includes a first link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the second end member about the fourth pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the first intermediate component of the second intermediate member about the tenth pivot axis;

the fifth linkage includes a first link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the first intermediate component of the second intermediate member about the fifth pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the first vertebral contact component of the first vertebral contact member about the eleventh pivot axis; and

the sixth linkage includes a first link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the first intermediate component of the second intermediate member about the sixth pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the first vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member about the twelfth pivot axis.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein:

the first linkage includes a second link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the first end member about a thirteenth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the second intermediate component of the first intermediate member about a fourteenth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis;

the second linkage includes a second link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the second intermediate component of the first intermediate member about a fifteenth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the second vertebral contact component of the first vertebral contact member about a sixteenth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis;

the third linkage includes a second link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the second intermediate component of the second intermediate member about a seventeenth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the second vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member about an eighteenth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis;

the fourth linkage includes a second link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the second end member about a nineteenth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the second intermediate component of the second intermediate member about a twentieth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis;

the fifth linkage includes a second link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the second intermediate component of the second intermediate member about a twenty-first pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the second vertebral contact component of the first vertebral contact member about a twenty-second pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis; and

the sixth linkage includes a second link;

     1) pivotally coupled to the second intermediate component of the second intermediate member about a twenty-third pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis and

     2) pivotally coupled to the second vertebral contact component of the second vertebral contact member about a twenty-fourth pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis.

12. The implant of claim 11, wherein each of the links is pivotally coupled to the respective component by a pin, and each of the pivot axes passes through a center of one of the pins.

13. The implant of claim 11, wherein each of the links is pivotally coupled to the respective component by a weakened section.

14. The implant of claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured such that actuation of the actuator:

1) pivots the intermediate member with respect to the end member about the first pivot axis and

     2) pivots the first vertebral contact member with respect to the frame about the second pivot axis.

15. The implant of claim 14, wherein the actuator is a threaded screw that is actuated by rotating the screw about a central axis of the screw.

16. The implant of claim 14, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to engage the actuator such that actuation of the actuator is prevented in at least one direction.

17. An implant comprising:

a frame including an end member and an intermediate member pivotally coupled to the end member about a first pivot axis;

a first vertebral contact member pivotally coupled to the frame about a second pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis, the first vertebral contact member defining a face configured to engage a first vertebra; and

a second vertebral contact member coupled to the frame, the second vertebral contact member defining a face configured to engage a second vertebra,

wherein the frame is configured such that;

     1) pivoting the intermediate member with respect to the end member about the first pivot axis changes a width of the first vertebral contact member, the width measured along a straight line that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis, and

     2) pivoting the first vertebral contact member with respect to the frame about the second pivot axis changes a height measured from the face of the first vertebral contact member to the face of the second vertebral contact member along a straight line that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis.

18. The implant of claim 17, wherein the second vertebral contact member is pivotally coupled to the frame about a third pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis, and the frame is configured such that pivoting the second vertebral contact member with respect to the frame about the third pivot axis changes the height.

19. An implant comprising:

a first vertebral contact member defining a face configured to engage a first vertebra;

a second vertebral contact member defining a face configured to engage a second vertebra; and

a frame including an end member, an intermediate member, a first linkage pivotally coupling the end member to the intermediate member such that the end member and the intermediate member are pivotable relative one another about a first pair of pivot axes that are parallel to each other, and a second linkage pivotally coupling the intermediate member to the first vertebral contact member such that the intermediate member and the first vertebral contact member are pivotable relative to one another about a second pair of pivot axes that are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first pair of pivot axes,

wherein the first pair of pivot axes are separated by a first distance as measured along a straight line that is substantially parallel to the second pair of pivot axes, the second pair of pivot axes are separated by a second distance as measured along a straight line that is substantially parallel to the first pair of pivot axes, and the first distance is greater than the second distance.

20. The implant of claim 19, further comprising an actuator configured to be actuated such that the end member pivots relative to the intermediate member until a stop surface defined by the end member abuts a stop surface defined by the intermediate member,

wherein the implant is configured such that after the stop surface defined by the end member abuts the stop surface defined by the intermediate member, further actuation of the actuator pivots the first vertebral contact member relative to the intermediate member.