Expandable implant with pivoting control assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12364610-B2
Application number	US-202217990101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2022
Priority date	Sep 8, 2020
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

An expandable implant includes a lower support; an upper support pivotally coupled to the lower support and including a control channel; and a control assembly. The control assembly includes a control shaft coupled to the lower support and a control member coupled to the control shaft and configured to move along the control shaft. The control member includes a base member and a pivot member pivotally coupled to the base member, the pivot member configured to move within the control channel. Movement of the control member along the control shaft causes the pivot member to pivot relative to the base member, and the upper support to pivot relative to the lower support.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An expandable implant comprising:
a first support comprising a first surface configured to engage bone;
a second support movably coupled to the first support and comprising a control aperture and a second surface opposite the first surface and configured to engage bone, wherein the control aperture is defined by the second support and extends through the second surface; and
a control assembly comprising:
a control shaft; and
a control member threadingly received on the control shaft and configured to translate along the control shaft, wherein the control member comprises a base member and a pair of pivot members pivotally coupled to the base member, wherein ramp surfaces of the pivot members are configured to engage ramp surfaces defining the control aperture to move the pivot members within the control aperture;

wherein translation of the base member along the control shaft causes the pivot members to pivot relative to the base member, and the first support to move relative to the second support to change an angle between the first surface and the second surface.

2. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the first support and the pivot members are aligned via an interface comprising an alignment projection slidably received in an alignment channel.

3. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the pair of pivot members comprise first and second pivot members independently coupled and rotatable to opposite sides of the base member.

4. The expandable implant of claim 3 , wherein the first pivot member is received on a first boss on a first side of the base member and the second pivot member is received on a second boss on a second side of the base member.

5. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is generally parallel to the second surface when the expandable implant is in a collapsed position.

6. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the second support comprises an inner housing defining a cavity and providing access to an interior of the expandable implant.

7. The expandable implant of claim 6 , wherein the second support defines an access bore providing tool access to the control shaft via the access bore and the cavity, wherein the cavity is located between the access bore and the control shaft.

8. The expandable implant of claim 6 , wherein the control shaft comprises a head received by the inner housing.

9. An expandable implant comprising:
a first support comprising opposing sidewalls and a first exterior surface, the sidewalls each comprising an interior ramped surface, the first exterior surface configured to engage bone;
a second support coupled to the first support and comprising a second exterior surface opposite the first exterior surface and configured to engage bone;
a control shaft rotatably coupled to the first support; and
a control member coupled to the control shaft and comprising a base member and a pair of pivot members rotatably coupled to the base member, the base member configured to move relative to the control shaft and cause the second support to pivot relative to the first support, wherein the pivot members each comprise a first ramp surface and a second ramp surface configured to engage the interior ramped surfaces of the first support, and wherein the pivot members are configured to rotate relative to the second support and translate relative to the first support as the control member moves relative to the control shaft.

10. The expandable implant of claim 9 , wherein the pivot members are coupled to opposite sides of the base member.

11. The expandable implant of claim 10 , wherein the second support comprises a shoulder portion configured to engage the control member to limit an amount of travel of the control member and an amount of movement of the first support relative to the second support.

12. The expandable implant of claim 9 , wherein the second support comprises a housing defining a cavity and a control member bore, wherein the control member bore receives a head of the control shaft.

13. The expandable implant of claim 12 , wherein the base member is threadingly received on a threaded portion of the control shaft, and wherein the cavity is positioned on an opposite side of the head of the control shaft from the threaded portion.

14. An expandable implant comprising;
a first support defining a control aperture wherein the control aperture extends through a surface of the first support configured to engage bone;
a second support coupled to the first support;
a control shaft rotatably coupled to the first support; and
a control member coupled to the control shaft and comprising a base member and a pivot member, the base member configured to move relative to the control shaft and cause pivotal movement of the pivot member relative to the base member and the second support relative to the first support, the pivot member configured to rotate relative to the second support and translate relative to the first support as the control member moves relative to the control shaft,
wherein the control shaft comprises an end portion rotatably received by the end cap, a head portion rotatably received by the second support, and a threaded portion between the end portion and the head portion.

15. An expandable implant comprising:
a lower support comprising a first lower surface, a first upper surface, and an access bore configured to receive an expansion tool;
an upper support movably coupled to the lower support and comprising a second upper surface, a second lower surface, and a control aperture, wherein the control aperture is defined by the upper support and extends though the second upper surface; wherein the expandable implant is configured to expand between a first, collapsed position and a second, expanded position such that movement of the upper support relative to the lower support changes an angle defined between the first lower surface and the second upper surface as the expandable implant expands;
a control shaft rotatably coupled to the lower support, wherein the control shaft includes a head configured to receive the expansion tool, wherein manipulation of the expansion tool causes the upper support to move relative to the lower support; and
a control member coupled to the control shaft, the control member comprising:
a base member threadingly coupled to the control shaft and rotatably fixed relative to the lower support;
a first pivot member coupled to a first side of the base member, wherein a first ramp surface of the pivot member is configured to engage a second ramp surface defining the control aperture such that the pivot member is slidingly received in the control aperture;
a second pivot member coupled to a second side of the base member opposite the first side and slidingly received in the control aperture.

16. The expandable implant of claim 15 , wherein the control shaft is translationally fixed relative to the lower support.

17. The expandable implant of claim 15 , wherein the expandable implant defines a cavity providing access to an interior of the expandable implant.

18. The expandable implant of claim 15 , wherein the base member includes a flat bottom surface that slidingly engages a surface of the lower support.

19. An expandable implant comprising:
a lower support comprising a first lower surface, a first upper surface, and an access bore configured to receive an expansion tool;
an upper support movably coupled to the lower support and comprising a second upper surface, a second lower surface, and a con

Assignees

• Life Spine Inc

Inventors

• Lauf Garrett
• Nowak Brett
• Predick Daniel
• Zakelj Paul Christopher

Classifications

• A61F2002/30538

  for adjusting angular orientation · CPC title

• A61F2002/30528

  Means for limiting said movement · CPC title

• A61F2002/30405

  made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves · CPC title

• A61F2002/30224

  cylindrical · CPC title

• A61F2/30744

  End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity · CPC title