Expandable interbody spacer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12390339-B2
Application number	US-202318158533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2023
Priority date	May 30, 2012
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

Devices and methods for treating one or more damaged, diseased, or traumatized portions of the spine, including intervertebral discs, to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. In one or more embodiments, the present invention relates to an expandable interbody spacer. The expandable interbody spacer may comprise a first jointed arm comprising a plurality of links pivotally coupled end to end. The expandable interbody spacer further may comprise a second jointed arm comprising a plurality of links pivotally coupled end to end. The first jointed arm and the second jointed arm may be interconnected at a proximal end of the expandable interbody spacer. The first jointed arm and the second jointed arm may be interconnected at a distal end of the expandable interbody spacer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An expandable interbody spacer system comprising:
a first jointed arm comprising a first plurality of links coupled end to end;
a second jointed arm comprising a second plurality of links coupled end to end;
an elongate screw having a head portion positioned outside of the first and second jointed arms and an elongate body, the head portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and a curved outer surface in between the proximal end and the distal end; and
an insertion tool for inserting the expandable interbody spacer into an intervertebral space and having first and second tool arms configured to engage a groove disposed around the curved outer surface of the head portion to secure the insertion instrument to the expandable interbody spacer,
wherein the first jointed arm and the second jointed arm are interconnected at a proximal end of the expandable interbody spacer,
wherein the first jointed arm and the second jointed arm are interconnected at a distal end of the expandable interbody spacer, and
wherein the first jointed arm and the second jointed arm are each configured to move in opposite directions to place the expandable interbody spacer in an expanded position.

2. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 1 , wherein the expandable interbody spacer further comprises a proximal connection member interconnecting the first and second jointed arms, wherein a proximal end of each of the first and second jointed arms is coupled to the proximal connection member.

3. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 2 , wherein the proximal connection member comprises a bore that communicates with a hollow interior portion of the expandable interbody spacer defined by the first and second jointed arms, the hollow interior portion extending axially through the expandable interbody spacer.

4. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 1 , wherein the expandable interbody spacer further comprises a distal connection member interconnecting the first and second jointed arms, wherein a distal end of each of the first and second jointed arms is coupled to the distal connection member.

5. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 1 , wherein the first jointed arm comprises upper and lower surfaces defined by the first plurality of links configured to engage adjacent vertebrae, and wherein the second jointed arm comprises upper and lower surfaces defined by the second plurality of links configured to engage adjacent vertebrae.

6. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 1 , wherein the expandable interbody spacer has a width of about 8 mm to about 22 mm prior to expansion and a width of about 26 mm to about 42 mm after expansion.

7. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of links comprises three links, and wherein the second plurality of links comprises three links, wherein washers are disposed between adjacent ones of the links.

8. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 1 , wherein one of the first plurality of links of the first jointed arm comprises a first link segment coupled to a second link segment, the first link segment and the second link segment having a tongue-and-groove connection.

9. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 1 , comprising an internal screw extending axially through the expandable interbody spacer from a proximal end to a distal end.

10. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 1 , wherein an exterior sidewall of at least one of the second plurality of links is straight and transitions into a second rounded portion.

11. An expandable interbody spacer system comprising:
a first jointed arm comprising a first plurality of links coupled end to end, wherein the first plurality of links define upper and lower surfaces configured to engage adjacent vertebrae, wherein an exterior sidewall of at least one of the first plurality of links is straight and transitions into a rounded portion;
a second jointed arm comprising a second plurality of links coupled end to end, wherein the second plurality of links define upper and lower surfaces configured to engage adjacent vertebrae, wherein an exterior sidewall of at least one of the second plurality of links is straight; and
an elongate body extending through a proximal end, into an interior region, and into a distal end of the interbody spacer, wherein the elongate body is configured to expand the interbody spacer, the elongate body including a head portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and a curved outer surface in between the proximal end and the distal end of the head portion; and
an insertion tool for inserting the expandable interbody spacer into an intervertebral space and having first and second tool arms configured to engage a groove disposed around the curved outer surface of the head portion to secure the insertion instrument to the expandable interbody spacer,
wherein the first jointed arm and the second jointed arm are interconnected at the proximal end and the distal end of the interbody spacer.

12. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 11 , wherein the interior region is a hollow interior portion defined by the first and second jointed arms.

13. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 12 , wherein the second jointed arm comprises an opening that extends through the rounded portion of the spacer.

14. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 13 , wherein the opening faces inward into the spacer and does not extend entirely through the second jointed arm.

15. The expandable interbody spacer system of claim 11 , wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the first jointed arm comprise texturing to aid in gripping the vertebrae, and wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the second jointed arm comprise texturing to aid in gripping the vertebrae.

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Perloff Jonathan
• Rhoda William
• Weiman Mark
• Glerum Chad
• Dwyer Edward
• Alexander Victoria
• Garvey Brian
• Waite Daniel
• Fleming Conor
• Petersheim Samuel
• Howell Bria
• Niemiec Marcin
• Kunjachan Vipin
• Gray Jason
• Saville Christopher
• Himmelberger James
• Gahman Kevin

Classifications

• A61F2002/30108

  Shapes · CPC title

• A61F2/442

  Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient (non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455) · CPC title

• A61F2/4455

  for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442) · CPC title

• A61F2002/30624

  Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement · CPC title

• A61F2002/30593

  hollow · CPC title