# US 10,369,010 B2 · Expandable inter-body fusion devices and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,010 B2 - Document ID: US10369010B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/777,494 - Filed: 2014-03-17 - Published: 2016-02-04 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Spectrum Spine IP Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Spectrum Spine IP Holdings, LLC - Inventors: James C Robinson; John E Pendleton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369010B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section} - A61F 2/30744: {End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity} - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61F 2/4684: {Trial or dummy prostheses} - A61F 2002/30261: {parallelepipedal} - A61F 2002/30266: {wedge-shaped parallelepipeds} - A61F 2002/30398: {Sliding} - A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw} - A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness} - A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices} - A61F 2002/30593: {hollow} - 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) ## Abstract An expandable curved inter-body fusion device is presented. The expandable curved inter-body fusion device can have a first plate, a second plate, and an insert positioned substantially therebetween the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, and the insert define an interior cavity. Moving the insert longitudinally with respect to the first and second plates increases or decreases the distance of the first plate with respect to the second plate, effectively expanding the inter-body fusion device and increasing the volume of the interior cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A curved expandable inter-body fusion device, comprising: a first plate having an upper bone contact surface, an opposed first plate inner surface, a leading end, and a trailing end, wherein the first plate is curved from the leading end to the trailing end; a second plate having a lower bone contact surface, an opposed second plate inner surface, a leading end, and a trailing end, wherein the second plate is curved to substantially match the curve of the first plate; an insert positioned between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the insert is curved complimentary to the curve of the first and second plates; and a flexible insertion tool comprising a wire or cable and having a distal end configured for engagement with a portion of the insert and configured to directly pull the insert; wherein, the first plate, the second plate, and the insert define an interior cavity, and wherein pulling the flexible insertion tool moves the insert longitudinally with respect to the first and second plates and increases the distance of the first plate with respect to the second plate, effectively expanding the inter-body fusion device and increasing the volume of the interior cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second plates has at least one longitudinal sidewall extending substantially from its inner surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the first and second plates comprises two longitudinal sidewalls. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a frame with two longitudinal frame sides and a longitudinal rail, and wherein the longitudinal rail protrudes from an external surface of each of the longitudinal frame sides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 4, wherein each of the longitudinal rails comprises at least one ramp having an incline surface and a substantially flat surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 5, wherein each of the longitudinal rails comprises a plurality of ramps. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 5, wherein the first and second plates each have two longitudinal sidewall extending substantially from its inner surface, and wherein the longitudinal sidewalls of the first plate substantially align with the longitudinal sidewalls of the second plate, forming two sets of substantially aligned longitudinal sidewalls, and wherein each set of substantially aligned longitudinal sidewalls define at least one hollow to complimentarily accept a ramp of the plurality of ramps, such that, in a first unexpanded position, each ramp of the plurality of ramps is positioned substantially within a hollow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 5, wherein to expand the expandable inter-body fusion device into the second expanded position, the insert is moved longitudinally, moving the ramps into contact with a portion of at least one of the longitudinal sidewalls, causing the longitudinal sidewalls of the first and second plates to separate by traveling up the inclined surfaces until they are separated and supported by the flat surfaces of the ramps. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first plate and the second plate define at least one graft window that is in communication with the interior cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 9, wherein the first plate and the second plate define a graft window and, wherein the graft window defined in the first plate is at least partially overlying the graft window defined in the second plate, thereby permitting bone growth therethrough. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 1, further comprising an endcap configured to engage the insert, wherein a portion of the endcap, when engaged, extends past a peripheral edge of an aperture in the trailing end of the expandable inter-body fusion device such that the endcap prevents the insert from moving back toward the leading end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The curved expandable inter-body fusion device of claim 1 wherein the curved expandable inter-body fusion device is to be angled with respect to the lower bone contact surface from one of the leading end to the trailing end and the trailing end to the leading end, or about a center line of curvature.