# US 10,369,002 B2 · Expandable vertebral prosthesis

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- Number: US 10,369,002 B2
- Document ID: US10369002B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/956,922
- Filed: 2018-04-19
- Published: 2018-10-18
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2005-04-21
- Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: William S. Rhoda; Noah Hansell; Andrew Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369002B2

## 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 2/44: for the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs
- A61F 2/4425: {made of articulated components}
- 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 2002/30369: {Limited lateral translation of the protrusion within a larger recess}
- A61F 2002/30405: {made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves}
- A61F 2002/30471: {connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type}
- A61F 2002/30484: {Mechanically expandable devices located on the first prosthetic part for locking into or onto the second prosthetic part}
- A61F 2002/30492: {using a locking pin}
- A61F 2002/30495: {using a locking ring}
- A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection}
- A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw}
- A61F 2002/3052: {unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally}
- A61F 2002/30525: {Worm gears}
- A61F 2002/3055: {for adjusting length}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30601: {telescopic}
- A61F 2002/30604: {modular}
- A61F 2002/30616: {Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations}
- A61F 2002/30787: {inclined obliquely with respect to each other}
- A61F 2002/3082: {Grooves}
- A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes}
- A61F 2220/0025: Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
- A61F 2220/0033: made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
- A61F 2220/0091: connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
- A61F 2250/0004: adjustable
- 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

The present invention relates to an expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae generally comprising 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

An expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae, comprising:
an inner member comprising a first end portion configured to engage a first vertebral body;
an outer member configured to telescopingly receive the inner member, wherein the outer member comprises a second end portion configured to engage a second vertebral body;
a gear member configured to rotatably connect to a distal end of the outer member, wherein the gear member comprises a helical thread configured to engage external threads of the inner member; and
a plurality of locking members disposed around a periphery of the outer member and protruding radially inward from the outer member configured to engage the threaded external portion of the inner member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of apertures are configured for receiving a portion of a tool member to facilitate insertion, alignment and engagement of the tool member with the gear member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the outer member includes a resiliently deformable portion for receiving the gear member thereon.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the inner member, outer member, and gear member are made of a PEEK plastic material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the inner member includes a slot and a pin extends radially inward from the outer member to engage the slot to prevent rotational movement of the inner member with respect to the outer member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first end portion comprises a first plate having a generally oblong shape when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the first plate extending a width distance in a medial-lateral direction along a long axis and a depth distance in an anterior-posterior direction along a short axis, wherein the width distance is larger than the depth distance.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the second end portion comprises a second plate having a generally oblong shape when along the longitudinal axis, the second plate extending a width distance in a medial-lateral direction along a long axis and a depth distance in an anterior-posterior direction along a short axis, wherein the width distance is larger than the depth distance.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second end plates include at least one bone engaging member extending longitudinally from the end plates.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the bone engaging members comprise metal spikes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the first end portion has a thickness in the longitudinal direction and the thickness is variable in the anterior-posterior direction along the short axis.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the thickness varies gradually in the anterior-posterior direction such that the first end portion defines a general wedge-shaped profile.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the first end portion extends in the anterior-posterior direction from an anterior side to a posterior side and the first end portion has a first thickness at an anterior side and a second thickness at a posterior side, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

### Claim 14 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein the first end portion includes a bone engaging surface and a plane tangent to the bone engaging surface intersects a plane normal to the longitudinal axis at a first angle.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, wherein the first angle is between about −16 degrees and about 16 degrees.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the second end portion has a thickness in the longitudinal direction and the thickness is variable in the anterior-posterior direction along the short axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the thickness varies gradually in the anterior-posterior direction such that the second end portion defines a general wedge-shaped profile.

### Claim 18

An expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae, comprising:
an inner member having a hollow interior portion and a threaded external portion and including a first end portion configured to engage a first vertebral body;
an outer member having a hollow interior portion configured to coaxially receive the inner member therein and including a second end portion configured to engage a second vertebral body, wherein the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis;
a gear member configured to rotatably connect to a distal end of the outer member, wherein the gear member comprises a helical thread configured to engage external threads of the inner member; and
a plurality of locking members disposed around a periphery of the outer member and protruding radially inward from the outer member configured to engage the threaded external portion of the inner member,
wherein the inner member comprises a longitudinal slot extending radially through a wall of the inner member and configured to engage at least one pin protruding radially inward from the outer member,
wherein the longitudinal slot extends between the upper and lower ends of the inner member and contained between the upper and lower ends of the inner member.

### Claim 19

An expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae, comprising:
an inner member comprising a first end portion configured to engage a first vertebral body;
an outer member configured to telescopingly receive the inner member, wherein the outer member comprises a second end portion configured to engage a second vertebral body; and
a plurality of locking members disposed around a periphery of the outer member and protruding radially inward from the outer member configured to engage the threaded external portion of the inner member,
wherein the inner member comprises a longitudinal slot extending radially through a wall of the inner member and configured to engage at least one pin protruding radially inward from the outer member,
wherein the longitudinal slot is contained between the upper and lower ends of the inner member.