# US 10,117,753 B2 · Stabilizing vertebrae with expandable spacers

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- Number: US 10,117,753 B2
- Document ID: US10117753B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/106,036
- Filed: 2013-12-13
- Published: 2014-05-08
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-23
- Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Sean Suh; Chad Glerum; Damien O'Halloran
- Inventors: Sean Suh; Chad Glerum; Damien O'Halloran
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117753B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/442: {Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient (non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455)}
- A61F 2/30721: {Accessories}
- A61F 2/441: {made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel}
- A61F 2/484: {Fluid means, i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic}
- A61F 2002/2817: {Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]}
- A61F 2002/2835: {Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material}
- A61F 2002/30019: {differing in mechanical expandability, e.g. in mechanical, self- or balloon expandability}
- A61F 2002/30062: {(bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive}
- A61F 2002/30224: {cylindrical}
- A61F 2002/30367: {with additional means for preventing said rotation}
- A61F 2002/30373: {with additional means for preventing said translation}
- A61F 2002/304: {with additional means for limiting said sliding}
- A61F 2002/30401: {with additional means for preventing or locking said sliding}
- A61F 2002/30405: {made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves}
- A61F 2002/30462: {retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable}
- A61F 2002/30484: {Mechanically expandable devices located on the first prosthetic part for locking into or onto the second prosthetic part}
- A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection}
- A61F 2002/3052: {unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally}
- A61F 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation}
- A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness}
- A61F 2002/30581: {having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid}
- A61F 2002/30583: {filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ}
- A61F 2002/30584: {filled with gas}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30601: {telescopic}
- A61F 2002/30607: {Kits of prosthetic parts to be assembled in various combinations for forming different prostheses}
- A61F 2002/30616: {Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations}
- A61F 2002/30677: {Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body}
- A61F 2002/30754: {Implants for interposition between two natural articular surfaces}
- A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes}
- A61F 2002/3093: {for promoting ingrowth of bone tissue}
- A61F 2002/30995: {for sacro-iliac joints}
- A61F 2002/448: {comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

A spinal distractor and stabilizer has resilient, conformable bone contacting sections which are separated by an expandable chamber that extends from one of the sections, and which forms a ratchet with the section, ensuring that once expanded by being filled with a substance, cannot contract absent intervention by a medical practitioner. The stabilizer may be filled with a material which solidifies, after which some or all of the device may biodegrade. The device may also be provided in separable portions to facilitate implantation. The conformable sections distribute the distraction and stabilizing force evenly over the bone surface, reducing the incidence of disruption to the integrity of the bone.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of installing a spinal device in an intervertebral space, comprising:
introducing a first bone contacting endplate having a first surface for contacting a surface of a first bone and a second surface into the intervertebral space;
introducing a second bone contacting endplate having a third surface contacting a surface of a second bone and a fourth surface into the intervertebral space; and
introducing an expandable element having an upper end and a lower end into the intervertebral space after introducing the first bone contacting endplate and the second bone contacting endplate such that the expandable element is positionable between said first and second bone contacting endplates,
expanding the expandable element such that the upper end of the expandable element engages with the second surface of the first bone contacting endplate pushing the first bone contacting endplate against the first bone and the lower end of the expandable element engages with the fourth surface of the second bone contacting endplate pushing the second bone contacting endplate against the second bone,
wherein the expandable element comprises a housing and a threaded shaft that passes through a nut and into the housing, wherein the threaded shaft is non-rotatable,
wherein the expandable element remains in the intervertebral space.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein after expansion, the expandable element is attached to the first and second bone contacting endplates through mechanical interlocks.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable element engages the first and second bone contacting endplates after expansion of the expandable element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the upper end of the expandable element includes an upper surface and the lower end of the expandable element includes a lower surface and wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is angled with respect to at least a portion of the lower surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second bone contacting endplates include one or more projections for engaging the first and second bones.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said bones are vertebral bodies.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the nut is rotatably connected to the housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the threaded shaft extends along a longitudinal length from a first end to a second end positioned within the housing, the threaded shaft comprises a slot that extends along the longitudinal length.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the expandable element further comprises an alignment projection connected to the housing that extends into the slot.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising turning the nut to cause the threaded shaft to extend from the housing to thereby expand a height of the spinal device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising turning the nut to cause the threaded shaft to retract into the housing to thereby contract a height of the spinal device.