Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855151-B2
Application number	US-201213530691-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2012
Priority date	Sep 3, 2010
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a central ramp, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the central ramp capable of being moved in a first direction to move the first and second endplates outwardly and into an expanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed down an endoscopic tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An intervertebral implant comprising:
a first endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the first end, second ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the second end;
a second endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the first end, second ramped surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the second end;
a central ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the central ramp comprises a ramped expansion portion at one end of the intervertebral implant and a central ramp extension extending from the expansion portion, the central ramp including a first ramped portion and a second ramped portion separated from the first ramped portion along a longitudinal axis of the central ramp, wherein the central ramp is configured to engage the first endplate and the second endplate;
a driving ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate at an opposite end of the intervertebral implant from the expansion portion of the central ramp, wherein the driving ramp is configured to engage the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the driving ramp has one or more angled grooves that are configured to engage one or more tongues in either the first endplate or the second endplate; and
an actuation member received in the central ramp extension, wherein the actuation member comprises a head portion and a shaft portion, wherein the head portion has a width greater than the shaft portion, wherein at least a portion of the head portion of the actuation member is received within the driving ramp, and wherein the actuation member comprises at least one lock to secure the actuation member to the driving ramp, wherein the lock comprises a lock ring that extends around the head portion of the actuation member,
wherein, when the intervertebral implant is in an unexpanded configuration, the first ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the first ramped surfaces of the second endplate overlap, and the second ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the second ramped surfaces of the second endplate overlap,
wherein the first endplate further comprises a central ramped surface disposed on a lower surface opposite the upper surface between the first ramped surfaces and the second ramped surfaces of the first endplate, wherein the second endplate further comprises a central ramped surface disposed on a lower surface opposite the upper surface between the first ramped surfaces and the second ramped surfaces of the second endplate, and wherein the central ramped surface of the first endplate and the central ramped surface of the second endplate are configured to engage the at least one ramped portion of the central ramp.

2. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the intervertebral implant is configured for insertion into an intervertebral space through a cannula having a diameter of less than 15 millimeters.

3. The intervertebral implant of claim 2 wherein the cannula has a diameter of less than 10 millimeters.

4. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the intervertebral implant has a length in a range of from about 22 millimeters to about 34 millimeters, and a width in a range of from about 8 millimeters to about 12 millimeters.

5. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the intervertebral implant is configured to have an initial height in the unexpanded configuration of less than 10 millimeters.

6. The intervertebral implant of claim 5 wherein the intervertebral implant is configured to be expanded to height that is equal to or greater than about 150% of the initial height.

7. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the ramped expansion portion comprises one or more upwardly facing ramped surfaces configured to engage the corresponding first ramped surfaces of the first endplate, and wherein the ramped expansion portion comprises one or more downwardly facing ramped surfaces configured to engage the corresponding first ramped surfaces of the second endplate.

8. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein the shaft portion of the actuation member comprises an actuation member extension that extends through a longitudinal through bore in the driving ramp to engage the central ramp extension, wherein rotational movement of the actuation member in a first direction causes the first endplate and the second endplate to move outwardly away from one another.

9. The intervertebral implant of claim 8 , wherein the actuation member extension is received within the central ramp extension.

10. The intervertebral implant of claim 8 , wherein rotational movement of the actuation member in the first direction pulls the central ramp and the driving ramp towards one another.

11. An intervertebral implant comprising:
a first endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the first end, second ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the second end;
a second endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the first end, second ramped surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the second end, wherein, when the intervertebral implant is in an unexpanded configuration the first ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the first ramped surfaces of the second endplate overlap, and the second ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the second ramped surfaces of the second endplate overlap;
a central ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the central ramp comprises a ramped expansion portion at one end of the intervertebral implant and a central ramp extension extending from the ramped expansion portion, wherein the central ramp comprises a first upwardly facing ramped surface configured to engage a corresponding first ramped surface of the first endplate and a second upwardly facing ramped surface separated from the first upwardly facing ramped surface along a longitudinal axis of the central ramp, wherein the ramped expansion portion comprises one or more downwardly facing ramped surfaces configured to engage the corresponding first ramped surfaces of the second endplate, and wherein the central ramp extension comprises at least one ramped portion;
a driving ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate at an opposite end of the intervertebral implant from the expansion portion of the central ramp, wherein the driving ramp has a longitudinal through bore, wherein the driving ramp is configured to engage the second ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the second ramped surfaces of the second endplate, wherein the driving ramp has one or more angled grooves that are configured to engage one or more tongues in either the first endplate or the second endplate; and
an actuation member comprising a head portion and an actuation member extension that extends through the longitudinal through bore of the driving ramp to be received within an opening in the central ramp extension, wherein rotational movement of the actuation member in the first direction pulls the central ramp and the driving ramp towards one another, thereby forcing the first and second endplates outward and away from one another, wherein

Assignees

• Weiman Mark
• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Weiman Mark

Classifications

• A61F2002/30507

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

• A61F2002/30593

  hollow · CPC title

• A61F2002/30433

  using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws · CPC title

• A61F2002/30558

  Force-limiting means · CPC title

• A61F2002/30517

  using a locking plate · CPC title