# US 10,369,000 B2 · Expandable vertebral implant

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- Number: US 10,369,000 B2
- Document ID: US10369000B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/274,570
- Filed: 2016-09-23
- Published: 2017-01-12
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2010-04-12
- Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: Colm McLaughlin; Jason Gray; James Himmelberger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369000B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/44: for the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs
- 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 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine}
- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- 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 2002/30383: {made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove}
- A61F 2002/30393: {with additional means for limiting said rotation}
- A61F 2002/30395: {with additional means for preventing or locking said rotation}
- A61F 2002/30405: {made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves}
- A61F 2002/30495: {using a locking ring}
- A61F 2002/30523: {by means of meshing gear teeth}
- A61F 2002/3055: {for adjusting length}
- A61F 2002/30576: {with extending fixation tabs}
- A61F 2002/30578: {having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws}
- A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30594: {slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots}
- A61F 2002/30601: {telescopic}
- A61F 2002/30858: {Threads interrupted by grooves or sidewalls, e.g. flat sidewalls}
- A61F 2002/4625: {with relative movement between parts of the instrument during use}
- A61F 2002/4627: {with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument}
- A61F 2002/4629: {connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection}
- A61F 2310/00011: Metals or alloys
- A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
- A61F 2310/00131: Tantalum or Ta-based alloys
- 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

Expandable implants for engagement between vertebrae generally include an inner member, outer member, and gear member positioned coaxial with respect to each other such that the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along an axis. The gear member is axially fixed to the outer member and freely rotatable with respect to the outer member and the gear member threadedly engages a threaded portion of the inner member to translate inner member along the axis. The implant is configured to engage the vertebrae in a predetermined alignment and the gear member includes gear teeth exposed to the exterior and configured to be accessible by a tool member at a plurality of angular positions around the perimeter of the implant device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for installing an expandable implant for engagement between vertebrae, comprising:
the expandable implant comprising:
an inner member having a hollow interior portion, a threaded external portion, and a flattened portion which extends at least in part from a distal end to a proximal end and including a first end portion configured to engage a first vertebral body, wherein the inner member further comprises a plurality of lobes disposed around a periphery of the proximal end;
an outer member having a hollow interior portion and a flattened portion which extends at least in part from a distal end to a proximal end, and including a second end portion configured to engage a second vertebral body, wherein the outer member is configured to coaxially receive the inner member therein, wherein the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis, wherein the flattened portion of the inner member and the flattened portion of the outer member cooperate to prevent the inner member from rotating with respect to the outer member, wherein the outer member comprises a plurality of depressions each corresponding to one of the plurality of lobes;
a gear member positioned coaxial to the inner member and outer member and coupled to the outer member, wherein the gear member threadedly engages the threaded portion of the inner member; and
an insertion tool comprising: a gear component configured to engage the gear member of the expandable implant such that when the gear component is rotated, the gear member of the implant is rotated to either expand or contract the implant.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises: an opening and at least one slot on an outer surface of the outer member and the insertion tool further comprises:
a distal tip portion that extends beyond the gear component and is configured to engage the opening in the outer member of the implant; and
at least one arm configured to engage the at least one slot in the outer member of the implant during insertion of the implant.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one arm of the insertion tool includes a pair of arms that articulate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the gear member includes gear teeth extending around a perimeter of the gear member, the gear teeth extending from a proximal end of the gear member to a distal end of the gear member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the implant has a longitudinal axis and the gear teeth extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the implant further comprises a locking ring positioned coaxial to the gear member and configured and dimensioned to be received within the gear member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the inner member, outer member, and gear member are made of polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the implant further comprises a locking member for fixing the inner member with respect to the outer member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the inner member is rotationally fixed with respect to the outer member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the inner member includes a base portion having the plurality of lobes, wherein the plurality of lobes and the plurality of depressions cooperate to prevent rotational movement of the inner member with respect to the outer member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the implant further comprises at least one endplate connected to either the inner member or the outer member, and wherein the at least one endplate includes at least one screw hole for receiving a screw.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one endplate further comprises a blocking element for blocking the screw from backing out once the screw is seated in the screw hole.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the implant further comprises a first endplate and a second endplate, wherein the first endplate is connected to the inner member to engage the first vertebral body and the second endplate is connected to the outer member to engage the second vertebral body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the first and second endplates include at least one bone engaging member extending longitudinally from the endplates.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein a thickness of at least one of the first and second endplates varies gradually in the anterior-posterior direction such that the endplate defines a generally wedge-shaped profile.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second endplates is poly-axially rotatable with respect to the inner or outer member.