# US 10,117,754 B2 · Expandable intervertebral implant

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- Number: US 10,117,754 B2
- Document ID: US10117754B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/775,731
- Filed: 2013-02-25
- Published: 2014-08-28
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-02-25
- Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Daniel Davenport; Chad Glerum; Mark Weiman; Andrew Iott
- Inventors: Daniel Davenport; Chad Glerum; Mark Weiman; Duncan Sibson; Andrew Iott
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117754B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/4455: {for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442)}
- 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)}
- A61B 17/86: Pins or screws {or threaded wires; nuts therefor (A61B17/72 take precedence)}
- A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw}
- A61F 2002/30525: {Worm gears}
- A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness}
- A61F 2002/30787: {inclined obliquely with respect to each other}
- A61F 2002/30904: {serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed}
- 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)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A joint spacer for therapeutically maintains separation of bones of a joint. A frame defines a longitudinal axis extending between distal and proximal ends. A carriage is slideably retained within the frame and has at least one ramped surface and a threaded portion. An actuator screw is threadably engaged with the threaded portion, and bears against said frame to cause the carriage to slideably move within the frame when the actuator screw is rotated. A first endplate engages a bone of the joint, and has at least one ramped surface that is mateable with the ramped surface of the carriage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spacer for maintaining a separation of bones of a joint, comprising:
a frame having distal and proximal ends defining a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
a carriage slideably retained within said frame and having a first portion including a first ramped surface, a second portion including a second ramped surface, and an opening between the first and second portions, said carriage further including a threaded portion, and wherein the carriage is slideably supported in the frame by two support screws engaged with the carriage and passable through respective channels formed in the frame;
an actuator screw threadably engaged with said carriage threaded portion, said actuator screw configured to bear against said frame to cause said carriage to slideably move within said frame when said actuator screw is rotated, wherein the actuator screw extends from the first portion, through the opening, and into the second portion of the carriage, and the actuator screw is supported in the frame by a second screw extending through the frame and into a distal end of the actuator screw;
a first endplate configured to engage a first bone of the joint, and having at least one ramped surface engageable with said first or second ramped surface of the carriage, whereby when said carriage is slideably moveable by rotation of said actuator screw, said at least one endplate ramped surface slideable against said first or second ramped surface of the carriage to cause said first endplate to move along an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis to increase a height of the spacer;
a second endplate configured to engage a second bone of the joint; and
a fastener,
wherein said first endplate includes at least one aperture through which said fastener passes to secure said first endplate to a bone of the joint,
wherein said carriage is slideably supported by said actuator screw and the channels are elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the two support screws are slideable along the respective elongated channels.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The joint spacer of claim 1, wherein said carriage includes at least one additional ramped surface, and said second endplate includes at least one ramped surface mateable with said at least one additional ramped surface of said carriage, whereby when said carriage is slideably moved by rotation of said actuator screw, said at least one second endplate ramped surface slides against said at least one additional carriage ramped surface to cause said second endplate to move along an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis to increase a height of the spacer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The spacer of claim 1, said first endplate configured to abut said frame as said first endplate is moved along an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, whereby said first endplate moves substantially only along an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The spacer of claim 1, wherein the first endplate has an upper surface defining a plane and the aperture is located at least in part above the plane and at least in part below the plane.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The spacer of claim 4, further including a blocking mechanism to prevent backing out of a fastener passed through said first endplate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The spacer of claim 1, wherein said first endplate includes one or more projections configured to engage bone of the joint when the implant is positioned between bones of the joint.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The spacer of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second endplates is composed of two interconnected portions of dissimilar materials.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The spacer of claim 7, wherein one of said dissimilar materials is metallic and includes at least one aperture through which a fastener may be passed to attach the implant to a bone of the joint.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The spacer of claim 7, wherein one dissimilar material is polymeric, and a second dissimilar material is metallic.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The spacer of claim 1, further including a thrust washer interposed between said actuator screw and said frame.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The spacer of claim 1, further including a polymeric material configured to press against said actuator screw to reduce a potential for unintended rotation of said actuator screw.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The spacer of claim 1, further including an aperture formed in part by said first endplate, and in part by said second endplate, said aperture sized and dimensioned to rotatably support a bone screw when said first endplate has been moved a distance along the axis transverse to said longitudinal axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The spacer of claim 1, further including a dovetail connection formed between said frame and said first endplate when said first endplate is configured to abut against said frame.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The spacer of claim 1, wherein the spacer has a length between distal and proximal ends of the spacer along the longitudinal axis and a width between first and second sides of the spacer, wherein the width is greater than the length of the spacer.

### Claim 15

A joint spacer for therapeutically maintaining a separation of bones of a joint, comprising:
a frame having distal and proximal ends defining a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
a carriage slideably retained within said frame and having a first portion including a first ramped surface, a second portion including a second ramped surface, and an opening between the first and second portions, said carriage further including a threaded bore, and wherein the carriage is slideably supported in the frame by two support screws engaged with the carriage and passable through respective channels formed in the frame;
an actuator screw threadably engaged with said carriage threaded bore, said actuator screw configured to bear against said frame to cause said carriage to slideably move within said frame when said actuator screw is rotated, wherein the actuator screw extends from the first portion, through the opening, and into the second portion of the carriage, and the actuator screw is supported in the frame by a second screw extending through the frame and into a distal end of the actuator screw;
a first endplate configured to engage a first bone of the joint, and having at least one channel having a ramped surface engageable with said at least one of said first or second ramped surface of the carriage, whereby when said carriage is slideably moveable by rotation of said actuator screw in a first direction, said at least one endplate ramped surface slideable against said first or second ramped surface of the carriage to cause said first endplate to move along an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis to increase a height of the spacer;
a second endplate configured to engage a second bone of the joint; and
a fastener
wherein said second endplate includes at least one aperture through which said fastener passes to secure said second endplate to a bone of the joint,
wherein said carriage is slideably supported by said actuator screw and the channels are elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the two support screws are slideable along the respective elongated channels.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The spacer of claim 15, wherein when said actuator screw is rotated in an opposite, second direction, said at least one endplate ramped surface is slideable against said at least one first or second ramped surface of the carriage to cause said first endplate to move along an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis to decrease a height of the spacer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The spacer of claim 15, wherein said first endplate includes a metallic portion having an aperture through which a fastener may be passed for connecting the implant to body tissue, the first endplate further having a polymeric portion connected to said metallic portion, the polymeric portion sized and dimensioned to support a bone of the joint.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The spacer of claim 15, wherein said frame and said first endplate include mateable dovetailed portions configured to maintain an orientation of said first endplate and said frame when said first endplate is positioned proximate said frame.