Expandable interbody device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10646351-B2
Application number	US-201816049503-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2018
Priority date	Dec 5, 2013
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

An expandable interbody device for placement between adjacent vertebrae having an upper structure, a lower structure and a screw mechanism, wherein actuation of the screw mechanism moves the upper and lower structures between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. A deployment tool couples to the expandable interbody device for positioning the device between adjacent vertebrae, actuating the screw mechanism and delivering a material to a chamber of the expandable interbody device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of implanting an expandable interbody device comprising:
positioning the expandable interbody device between adjacent vertebrae, wherein the expandable interbody device comprises:
an upper structure configured to abut a superior vertebra;
a lower structure configured to abut an inferior vertebra; and
a screw mechanism between the upper structure and the lower structure, the screw mechanism comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion and a coupler at least partially between the proximal portion and the distal portion; and
rotating the proximal portion and the distal portion as a unit to change a length of the screw mechanism from a first length to a second length, wherein the coupler is prevented from rotating by at least one anti-rotational feature when the proximal portion and the distal portion are rotated;
wherein a distance between the upper structure and the lower structure changes from a first height to a second height as the length of the screw mechanism changes from the first length to the second length.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first height corresponds to a collapsed configuration with the upper structure proximate the lower structure and the second height corresponds to an expanded configuration with the upper structure distanced from the lower structure.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a proximal frustoconical surface, the distal section comprises a distal frustoconical surface, and the coupler comprises a proximal side configured to engage the proximal section and a distal side configured to engage the distal section.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion comprises first threads wound in a first direction configured to engage a proximal threaded hole in the coupler, and the distal portion comprises second threads wound in a second direction, opposite the first direction, configured to engage a distal threaded hole in the coupler.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first threads and the second threads have an equal pitch, such that when the screw mechanism is actuated, a proximal end of the interbody device changes height at a same rate as a distal end of the interbody device.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first threads and the second threads have a different pitch, such that when the screw mechanism is actuated, a proximal end of the interbody device changes height at a different rate than a distal end of the interbody device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion comprises a keyed shaft configured to slideably engage with a matching keyed bore on the proximal portion.

8. A method of implanting an expandable interbody device comprising:
positioning the expandable interbody device between adjacent vertebrae, wherein the expandable interbody device comprises:
an upper structure configured to abut a superior vertebra;
a lower structure configured to abut an inferior vertebra; and
a screw mechanism between the upper structure and the lower structure, the screw mechanism comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion and a coupler at least partially between the proximal portion and the distal portion; and
rotating the proximal portion and the distal portion as a unit to change a length of the screw mechanism from a first length to a second length, wherein the coupler is prevented from rotating by at least one anti-rotational feature that engages the upper structure or the lower structure when the proximal portion and the distal portion are rotated;
wherein a distance between the upper structure and the lower structure changes from a first height to a second height as the length of the screw mechanism changes from the first length to the second length.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first height corresponds to a collapsed configuration with the upper structure proximate the lower structure and the second height corresponds to an expanded configuration with the upper structure distanced from the lower structure.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a proximal frustoconical surface, the distal section comprises a distal frustoconical surface, and the coupler comprises a proximal side configured to engage the proximal section and a distal side configured to engage the distal section.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the proximal portion comprises first threads wound in a first direction configured to engage a proximal threaded hole in the coupler, and the distal portion comprises second threads wound in a second direction, opposite the first direction, configured to engage a distal threaded hole in the coupler.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first threads and the second threads have an equal pitch, such that when the screw mechanism is actuated, a proximal end of the interbody device changes height at a same rate as a distal end of the interbody device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first threads and the second threads have a different pitch, such that when the screw mechanism is actuated, a proximal end of the interbody device changes height at a different rate than a distal end of the interbody device.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the distal portion comprises a keyed shaft configured to slideably engage with a matching keyed bore on the proximal portion.

Assignees

• Spinal Elements Inc

Inventors

• Blain Jason
• Solum David
• Johnson Dean
• Flores Markanthony

Classifications

• A61F2002/4622

  having the shape of a forceps or a clamp · CPC title

• A61F2/4603

  for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof · CPC title

• A61F2002/30579

  with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices · CPC title

• A61F2310/00179

  Ceramics or ceramic-like structures · CPC title

• A61F2/30771

  applied in original prostheses, e.g. holes or grooves · CPC title