Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof

• US 10,137,001 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Weiman, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Merene, Jan Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/466,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20150100123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30266 wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30411 having two threaded end parts connected by a threaded central part with opposite threads at its opposite ends, i.e. for adjusting the distance between both end parts by rotating the central part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• 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 2002/30495 using a locking ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 using a locking plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30522 releasable, e.g. using a releasable ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30558 : Force-limiting means
• 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 2002/30601 : telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30828 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30843 : Pyramidally-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4662 : for measuring penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• 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 central ramp, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the central ramp capable of being moved in a first direction to move the first and second endplates outwardly and into an expanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed down an endoscopic tube.

Claims

1. A surgical method comprising:

creating an access path to an intervertebral disc space;

inserting an expandable implant into the disc space, wherein the expandable implant comprises;

a first endplate having a pair of first tongues;

a second endplate opposed to the first endplate, the second endplate having a pair of second tongues;

a central ramp positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the central ramp comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the second end includes a first ramped portion configured to engage a portion of the first endplate and a second ramped portion configured to engage a portion of the second endplate, and a third ramped portion configured to engage a portion of the first endplate and a fourth ramped portion configured to engage a portion of the second endplate positioned between the first and second ends, wherein the central ramp has a longitudinal bore, and wherein the first ramped portion has a pair of first grooves, each of the first grooves sized to receive one of the first tongues, and wherein the second ramped portion has a pair of second grooves, each of the second grooves sized to receive one of the second tongues;

a driving ramp positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the driving ramp comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the second end includes a first angled portion configured to engage a portion of the first endplate and a second angled portion configured to engage a portion of the second endplate, wherein the driving ramp has a non-threaded longitudinal through bore extending from the first end to the second end of the driving ramp, the longitudinal bore of the of the central ramp and the non-threaded longitudinal through bore of the driving ramp are coaxially aligned;

an actuator insertable through the driving ramp, wherein a portion of the actuator extends through the non-threaded longitudinal through bore of the driving ramp and the longitudinal bore of the central ramp, the actuator is disposed and remains within the non-threaded longitudinal bore, and the actuator is movable with respect to the central ramp and the driving ramp, and wherein the actuator is configured to translate the driving ramp such that the second end of the driving ramp is moved closer to the second end of the central ramp to thereby cause expansion of the first endplate and the second endplate;

wherein the first tongues and the second tongues are configured to move within corresponding first grooves and second grooves to expand and compress the expandable implant;

wherein the third ramped portion and the fourth ramped portions extend outwardly from a rod receiving extension of the central ramp; and

introducing bone graft material adjacent the expandable implant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the access path is created via a posterolateral approach.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a threaded shaft that is received through the driving ramp and into the central ramp.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the actuator is rotatable.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing a second expandable implant into the disc space.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second expandable implant also includes a central ramp, a driving ramp, and an actuator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second expandable implant is introduced via the same access path as the expandable implant.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second expandable implant is introduced via a different access path as the expandable implant.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the access path and the different access path are formed via posterolateral approaches.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving ramp includes a first side portion and an opposite second side portion extending from an upper portion to a lower portion of the driving ramp, wherein the first side portion and the second side portion include a pair of third grooves extending into the first and second side portions, respectively.

10. A surgical method comprising:

creating an access path to an intervertebral disc space;

inserting an expandable implant into the disc space, wherein the expandable implant comprises;

a first endplate having a pair of first tongues;

a second endplate opposed to the first endplate, the second endplate having a pair of second tongues;

a central ramp positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the central ramp comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the second end includes a first ramped portion configured to engage a portion of the first endplate and a second ramped portion configured to engage a portion of the second endplate, and a third ramped portion configured to engage a portion of the first endplate and a fourth ramped portion configured to engage a portion of the second endplate positioned between the first and second ends, wherein the central ramp has a longitudinal bore, and wherein the first ramped portion has a pair of first grooves, each of the first grooves sized to receive one of the first tongues, and wherein the second ramped portion has a pair of second grooves, each of the second grooves sized to receive one of the second tongues;

a driving ramp positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the driving ramp comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the second end includes a first angled portion configured to engage a portion of the first endplate and a second angled portion configured to engage a portion of the second endplate; and

an actuator insertable through the driving ramp, wherein a portion of the actuator extends through the driving ramp and the central ramp, the actuator is disposed and remains within the bore of the driving ramp and the actuator is movable with respect to the central ramp and the driving ramp, and wherein the actuator is configured to translate the driving ramp such that the second end of the driving ramp is moved closer to the second end of the central ramp to thereby cause expansion of the first endplate and the second endplate;

wherein the first tongues and the second tongues are configured to move within corresponding first grooves and second grooves to expand and compress the expandable implant; and

wherein the third ramped portion and the fourth ramped portions extend outwardly from a rod receiving extension of the central ramp.