Stabilization members for expandable intervertebral implants, and related systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12090064-B2
Application number	US-202217683420-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2022
Priority date	Mar 1, 2022
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

An expandable intervertebral cage includes vertically opposed superior and inferior plates and longitudinally opposed distal and proximal wedges disposed between the plates. The wedges define ramps that engage complimentary ramps of the superior and inferior plates to increase a vertical distance between the plates. An actuator is located between the plates, defines a central, longitudinal axis, and is coupled to the wedges such that, as the actuator rotates about the axis, at least one of the wedges moves longitudinally relative to the other, thereby increasing the vertical separation distance. At least one locking component is insertable within a receptacle at least partially defined by the proximal wedge and is configured to transition from an unlocked configuration, where the actuator is rotatable relative to the proximal wedge, to a locked configuration, where the actuator is rotationally affixed relative to the proximal wedge.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An expandable intervertebral cage, comprising:
a superior plate and an inferior plate opposite each other along a vertical direction;
a distal wedge and a proximal wedge each disposed between the superior and inferior plates, the distal and proximal wedges located opposite each other along a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, the distal and proximal wedges each defining ramped surfaces configured to engage complementary ramped surfaces of the superior and inferior plates in a manner increasing a distance between the superior and inferior plates along the vertical direction;
an actuator located between the superior and inferior plates, the actuator defining a central axis oriented along the longitudinal direction, the actuator coupled to the distal and proximal wedges such that rotation of the actuator about the central axis moves at least one of the proximal and distal wedges relative to the other of the proximal and distal wedges along the longitudinal direction in a manner increasing the distance; and
at least one locking component insertable within a receptacle at least partially defined by the proximal wedge, the at least one locking component defining threads configured for threaded engagement with at least one of interior threads defined within a bore of the proximal wedge and exterior threads defined by the actuator, wherein the at least one locking component is configured to translate via the threaded engagement from an unlocked configuration, in which the actuator is rotatable about the central axis relative to the proximal wedge, to a locked configuration, in which the actuator is substantially rotationally affixed relative to the proximal wedge.

2. The expandable intervertebral cage of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking component comprises a nut threadedly engaged with at least one of the interior threads defined within a bore of the proximal wedge and the exterior threads defined by the actuator.

3. The expandable intervertebral cage of claim 2 , wherein the proximal wedge defines a retention surface configured to retain the nut within the receptacle while the actuator moves the at least one of the proximal and distal wedges relative to the other in the manner increasing the distance.

4. The expandable intervertebral cage of claim 2 , wherein the nut is configured for insertion within the receptacle after the distance is increased.

5. The expandable intervertebral cage of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking component comprises a collet having flexible legs that extend in a distal direction along the longitudinal direction, wherein the proximal wedge defines a tapered surface within the receptacle, and the collet is configured to advance within the receptacle so at to cause the flexible legs to contact the tapered surface, thereby causing the flexible legs to clamp inwardly against the actuator in the locked configuration.

6. An expandable intervertebral cage, comprising:
a superior plate and an inferior plate opposite each other along a vertical direction;
a distal wedge and a proximal wedge each disposed between the superior and inferior plates, the distal and proximal wedges located opposite each other along a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, the distal and proximal wedges each defining ramped surfaces configured to engage complementary ramped surfaces of the superior and inferior plates in a manner increasing a distance between the superior and inferior plates along the vertical direction;
an actuator located between the superior and inferior plates, the actuator defining a central axis oriented along the longitudinal direction, the actuator coupled to the distal and proximal wedges such that rotation of the actuator about the central axis moves at least one of the proximal and distal wedges relative to the other of the proximal and distal wedges along the longitudinal direction in a manner increasing the distance; and
at least one locking component carried by the proximal wedge, wherein the at least one locking component is configured to transition from an unlocked configuration, in which the proximal wedge is translatable relative to at least one of the superior and inferior plates along the longitudinal direction, to a locked configuration, in which the proximal wedge is substantially longitudinally affixed relative to the at least one of the superior and inferior plates,
wherein the proximal wedge comprises a main wedge body and at least one locking guide member coupled together with the main wedge body, wherein a first portion of the at least one locking guide member extends within a complementary guide channel of the main wedge body, a second portion of the at least one locking guide member extends within a complementary guide channel of at least one of the superior and inferior plates, and the second portion of the at least one locking guide member has an interlocking geometry with the complementary guide channel of at least one of the superior and inferior plates, and
wherein the at least one locking component comprises a lock actuator configured to retract the second portion relative to the main wedge body in a manner longitudinally affixing the main wedge body to the at least one of the superior and inferior plates.

7. An expandable intervertebral cage, comprising:
a superior plate and an inferior plate opposite each other along a vertical direction;
a distal wedge and a proximal wedge each disposed between the superior and inferior plates, the distal and proximal wedges located opposite each other along a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, the distal and proximal wedges each defining ramped surfaces configured to engage complementary ramped surfaces of the superior and inferior plates in a manner increasing a distance between the superior and inferior plates along the vertical direction;
an actuator located between the superior and inferior plates, the actuator defining a central axis oriented along the longitudinal direction, the actuator coupled to the distal and proximal wedges such that rotation of the actuator about the central axis moves at least one of the proximal and distal wedges relative to the other of the proximal and distal wedges along the longitudinal direction in a manner increasing the distance; and
a locking mechanism configured to maintain the increased distance, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a ratchet assembly that includes:
a first plurality of ratchet teeth defined along a flexible ratchet support; and
a second plurality of ratchet teeth, wherein at least one tooth of the first plurality of ratchet teeth is configured to travel against the second plurality of ratchet teeth in sequential interdigitating fashion in a first movement direction as the distance increases, and the second plurality of ratchet teeth are configured to prevent movement of the at least one tooth in a second movement direction opposite the first movement direction.

8. The expandable intervertebral cage of claim 7 , wherein the flexible ratchet support is a block member disposed between the distal and proximal wedges, the block member defining a bore through which the actuator extends, the first plurality of ratchet teeth are sequentially arranged in a circular pattern on the block member, and the second plurality of ratchet teeth are carried by a flange of the actuator and are arranged in a circular pattern complementary with the circular pattern on the block member, wherein the block member is biased against the flange.

9. The expandable intervertebral cage of claim 7 , wherein the flexible ratchet support extends longitudinally from a block me

Assignees

• Medos Int Sarl

Inventors

• Walsh Meredith
• Luu Phat
• Berger Roger
• Engstrom Connor
• Gonzalez Didier
• Gully Stephane
• Hunziker Markus
• Martin Thomas
• Melchor Jonathan
• Saidha Sean

Classifications

• A61F2002/30736

  Augments or augmentation pieces, e.g. wedges or blocks for bridging a bone defect · CPC title

• A61F2002/30507

  using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw · CPC title

• A61F2002/30505

  spring biased · CPC title

• A61F2002/30495

  using a locking ring · CPC title

• A61F2002/30494

  Cooperating protrusions and recesses, e.g. radial serrations, located on abutting end surfaces of a longitudinal connection · CPC title