Expandable spinal interbody spacer and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016100951-A1
Application number	US-201414510598-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 9, 2014
Priority date	Oct 9, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An expandable spinal implant configured for positioning within a space between adjacent vertebral bodies includes an upper body, a lower body, a ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of bone screws. The upper body and lower body are pivotably affixed at a first end and are capable of movement relative to each other. The ratchet mechanism is slidably disposed on one of the upper and lower body and is capable of engaging the opposite one of the upper and lower body thereby permitting movement of the upper and lower body relative to each other in a first direction, but not in a second direction. An insertion instrument capable of being attached to the expandable spinal instrument and a method of performing spinal surgery is also disclosed.

First claim

1 . A spinal implant, comprising:
an upper body and a lower body pivotably affixed at a first end and capable of movement relative to each other, each of the upper body and the lower body dimensioned to be installed between two vertebral bodies, the outer surfaces of each of the upper body and the lower body are adapted to engage a corresponding end plate of the two vertebral bodies, wherein screw holes are defined through the outer surface and an adjacent side surface of the upper body and through the outer surface and an adjacent side surface of the lower body, wherein the screw holes are oriented towards a respective adjacent one of the two vertebral bodies at an oblique angle; a ratchet mechanism slidably disposed on one of the upper and lower bodies, the ratchet mechanism capable of engaging the opposite one of the upper and lower body thereby permitting movement of the upper and lower bodies relative to each other in a first direction, but not in a second direction; and a plurality of bone screws, each bone screw of the plurality of bone screws insertable through a corresponding screw hole of the upper body and the lower body, the plurality of bone screws capable of being attached to bone.

2 . The spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the upper body has a first lumen and the lower body has a second lumen.

3 . The spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of each of the upper body and the lower body further includes a plurality of ridges adapted to engage a respective one of the two vertebral bodies.

4 . The spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the lower body includes a pair of screw holes and the upper body includes a single screw hole.

5 . The spinal implant of claim 1 , further including a ratchet screw rotatably supported within an annular groove defined within the lower body, the ratchet screw including a head and threaded shank extending therefrom, the ratchet screw being threadably engaged within a threaded through-hole defined through the ratchet mechanism, wherein rotation of the ratchet screw in a first direction effectuates movement of the ratchet mechanism in a first direction, and rotation of the ratchet screw in a second, opposite, direction effectuates movement of the ratchet mechanism in a second, opposite, direction.

6 . The spinal implant of claim 1 , further including a plurality of threaded bores defined through an end surface of each of the upper and lower body, the plurality of threaded bores configured to engage an insertion instrument capable of inserting the spinal implant between the two vertebral bodies.

7 . The spinal implant of claim 1 , further including a locating pin disposed within a through-bore defined through a side face of the lower body and a locating bore defined through the ratchet mechanism, wherein the through-bore and locating bore are in coaxial alignment, wherein the locating pin is in frictional engagement with the through-bore thereby retaining the locating pin therein, wherein the ratchet mechanism is translatably supported on the locating pin.

8 . The spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a pair of legs extending from an underside thereof, the pair of legs configured to engage a corresponding pair of channels disposed on the interior surface of the upper body thereby translatably supporting the ratchet mechanism therein.

9 . The spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the upper body and lower body are pivotably coupled via a hinge pin disposed within an aperture defined on the first end of the lower body and a through-hole defined on the first end of the upper body, wherein the hinge pin is frictionally engaged with one of a first or second end of the aperture thereby retaining the hinge pin therein.

10 . The spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet mechanism is slidably disposed on an interior surface of the upper body, the ratchet mechanism including a first plurality of teeth disposed thereon.

11 . The spinal implant of claim 10 , wherein the lower body includes a second plurality of teeth disposed on an interior surface thereon opposite the ratchet mechanism of the upper body, the second plurality of teeth configured to engage the first plurality of teeth of the ratcheting mechanism.

12 . The spinal implant of claim 11 , wherein the first and second pluralities of teeth are oriented such that the first and second pluralities of teeth are slidably engaged in a first direction, and are prohibited from movement relative each other in a second direction, thereby locking the position of the upper body and the lower body relative to each other.

13 . A method of performing surgery, comprising:
providing a spinal implant comprising:
an upper body and a lower body pivotably affixed at a first end and capable of movement relative to each other, each of the upper body and the lower body dimensioned to be installed between two vertebral bodies, the outer surfaces of each of the upper body and the lower body are adapted to engage a corresponding end plate of the two vertebral bodies, wherein screw holes are defined through the outer surface and an adjacent side surface of the upper body and through the outer surface and an adjacent side surface of the lower body, wherein the screw holes are oriented towards a respective adjacent one of the two vertebral bodies at an oblique angle;
a ratchet mechanism slidably disposed on one of the upper and lower bodies, the ratchet mechanism capable of engaging the opposite one of the upper and lower bodies thereby permitting movement of the upper and lower bodies relative to each other in a first direction, but not in a second direction; and
a plurality of bone screws, each bone screw of the plurality of bone screws insertable through a corresponding screw hole of the upper body and the lower body, the plurality of bone screws capable of being attached to bone;
positioning the upper body and lower body in a first, approximated position relative each other; preparing an intervertebral space between first and second vertebral bodies to receive the spinal implant; inserting the spinal implant into the prepared intervertebral space; articulating the upper body and lower body relative to each other to effectuate a desired lordosis of a spine of the patient; inserting the plurality of bone screws through the plurality of screw holes of the upper body and lower body and into each of the respective two vertebral bodies; and locking the ratchet mechanism to lock the position of the upper body and lower body relative to each other.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein inserting the spinal implant includes first securing the spinal implant to an insertion device.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein locking the ratchet mechanism includes rotating a ratchet screw disposed within an annular groove defined within the upper body in a first direction, wherein the ratchet screw includes a head and a threaded shank extending therefrom, the ratchet screw being threadably engaged within a threaded through-bore defined through the ratchet mechanism, wherein rotating the ratchet screw effectuates movement of the ratchet mechanism in a first direction thereby causing the ratchet mechanism to engage the lower body and lock the position of the lower body relative to the upper body.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein positioning the upper body and lower body in a first, approximated, position includes engaging a first plurality of teeth defined on a surface of the ratchet mechanism with a second plurality of teeth defined on an opposing surface of the lower body, thereby permitting

Assignees

• K2M Inc

Inventors

• Suddaby Loubert
• Mcclintock Larry
• Wassinger Adam
• Jones Scott
• Moore Jennifer
• Donohoe John

Classifications

• A61F2002/30593

  hollow · CPC title

• A61F2002/30487

  Circumferential cooperating grooves and beads on cooperating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection · CPC title

• A61F2002/30405

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

• A61F2/442 Primary

  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

• A61F2002/30797

  internally-threaded · CPC title