Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
DCFirst Claim
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1. A system for intervertebral fusion comprising:
- a dilator having a proximal end and a tapered distal end for penetrating soft tissue;
a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; and
an intervertebral implant sized for insertion into an intervertebral space through the cannula, wherein the intervertebral implant comprises a first endplate, a second endplate, and a central ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the central ramp is configured to move in a first direction and cause the first and second endplates to move outwardly and away from one another,a driving ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate at an opposite end of the intervertebral implant from the central ramp, wherein the driving ramp has a longitudinal through bore, wherein the driving ramp is configured to engage ramped surfaces of the first endplate and ramped surfaces of the second endplate; and
an actuation member comprising a head portion and an actuation member extension that extends through an unthreaded opening in a longitudinal through bore of the driving ramp to be received within an opening in the central ramp extension, wherein rotational movement of the actuation member in the first direction pulls the central ramp towards the driving ramp;
wherein when the actuation member is rotated, the driving ramp is fixed with respect to the actuation member and the central ramp is moved in either the first direction or a second direction.
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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.
171 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for intervertebral fusion comprising:
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a dilator having a proximal end and a tapered distal end for penetrating soft tissue; a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; and an intervertebral implant sized for insertion into an intervertebral space through the cannula, wherein the intervertebral implant comprises a first endplate, a second endplate, and a central ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the central ramp is configured to move in a first direction and cause the first and second endplates to move outwardly and away from one another, a driving ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate at an opposite end of the intervertebral implant from the central ramp, wherein the driving ramp has a longitudinal through bore, wherein the driving ramp is configured to engage ramped surfaces of the first endplate and ramped surfaces of the second endplate; and an actuation member comprising a head portion and an actuation member extension that extends through an unthreaded opening in a longitudinal through bore of the driving ramp to be received within an opening in the central ramp extension, wherein rotational movement of the actuation member in the first direction pulls the central ramp towards the driving ramp; wherein when the actuation member is rotated, the driving ramp is fixed with respect to the actuation member and the central ramp is moved in either the first direction or a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for intervertebral fusion comprising:
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a dilator having a proximal end and a tapered distal end for penetrating soft tissue; a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; and an intervertebral implant sized for insertion into an intervertebral space through the cannula, wherein the intervertebral implant comprises; a first endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the first end, second ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the second end; a second endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the first end, second upper surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the second end, wherein, when the intervertebral implant is in an unexpanded configuration, the first ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the first ramped surfaces of the second endplate overlap, and the second ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the second ramped surfaces of the second endplate overlap; a central ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the central ramp is configured to engage the first ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the first ramped surfaces of the second endplate; a driving ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate at an opposite end of the intervertebral implant from the expansion portion of the central ramp, wherein the driving ramp has a longitudinal through bore, wherein the driving ramp is configured to engage the second ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the second ramped surfaces of the second endplate; and an actuation member comprising a head portion and an actuation member extension that extends through the longitudinal through bore of the driving ramp to be received within an opening in the central ramp extension, wherein rotational movement of the actuation member in the first direction pulls the central ramp and the driving ramp towards one another, thereby moving the first and second endplates outwardly and away from one another wherein when the actuation member is rotated, the driving ramp is fixed with respect to the actuation member. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A system for intervertebral fusion comprising:
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a dilator having a proximal end and a tapered distal end for penetrating soft tissue; a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; and an intervertebral implant sized for insertion into an intervertebral space through the cannula, wherein the intervertebral implant comprises; a first endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the first end, second ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the second end, and a central ramped surface disposed between the first and second ramped surfaces; a second endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the first end, second ramped surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the second end, and a central ramped surface disposed between the first and second ramped surfaces; a central ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the central ramp comprises a ramped expansion portion at one end of the intervertebral implant and a central ramp extension extending from the expansion portion, wherein the ramped expansion portion is configured to engage the first ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the first ramped surfaces of the second endplate, and wherein the central ramp extension comprises ramped surfaces projecting from the central ramp extension and configured to engage the central ramped surface of the first endplate and the central ramped surface of the second endplate; a driving ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate at an opposite end of the intervertebral implant from the expansion portion of the central ramp, wherein the driving ramp has a longitudinal through bore, wherein the driving ramp is configured to engage the second ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the second ramped surfaces of the second endplate; and an actuation member comprising a head portion and an actuation member extension that extends through the longitudinal through bore of the driving ramp to be received within an opening in the central ramp extension, wherein rotational movement of the actuation member in the first direction pulls the central ramp and the driving ramp towards one another. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification