# US 10,369,012 B2 · Oblique expanding fusion cage device and method

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- Number: US 10,369,012 B2
- Document ID: US10369012B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/911,674
- Filed: 2018-03-05
- Published: 2018-07-12
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-16
- Assignees: In Queue Innovations, LLC
- Applicants: In Queue Innovations, LLC
- Inventors: Richard G. Fessler
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369012B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section}
- A61F 2002/2835: {Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material}
- A61F 2002/30092: {using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol}
- A61F 2002/30153: {rectangular}
- A61F 2002/30158: {trapezoidal}
- A61F 2002/30433: {using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws}
- A61F 2002/30451: {soldered or brazed or welded}
- A61F 2002/30462: {retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable}
- A61F 2002/30482: {using a locking cam}
- A61F 2002/30484: {Mechanically expandable devices located on the first prosthetic part for locking into or onto the second prosthetic part}
- A61F 2002/30494: {Cooperating protrusions and recesses, e.g. radial serrations, located on abutting end surfaces of a longitudinal connection}
- A61F 2002/30515: {using a locking wedge or block}
- A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices}
- A61F 2002/30601: {telescopic}
- A61F 2002/30624: {Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement}
- A61F 2002/30925: {etched}
- A61F 2310/00017: Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
- A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni 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

An oblique expanding fusion cage device including a body with a superior portion and an inferior portion. The superior portion and the inferior portion have a proximal end and a distal end. The fusion cage device also includes a pathway, an opening, and an expanding member. The pathway travels from the proximal end to the distal end of the device between the superior and inferior portions. The opening in the proximal end of the body enables access to the pathway. The expanding member may be removably inserted into the opening and is moveable toward the distal end of the body, wherein the expanding member engages the superior portion and the inferior portion as the expanding member moves distally within the pathway.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An oblique expanding fusion cage device, comprising:
a body with a superior portion and an inferior portion, wherein the superior portion and the inferior portion each have a proximal end and a distal end;
a pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end between the superior portion and inferior portion;
an opening separating the superior portion and the inferior portion and overlapping the pathway; and
an expanding member removably inserted into the pathway and moveable toward the distal end of the body, wherein the expanding member engages the superior portion and the inferior portion as the expanding member moves distally within the pathway,
wherein an exterior of the body is narrower at the distal end than at the proximal end along a dimension of an exterior surface of the superior and inferior portions that extends across the pathway in an undeployed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The oblique expanding fusion cage device of claim 1, wherein the body has a generally trapezoidal shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The oblique expanding fusion cage device of claim 1, wherein the pathway extends through the opening.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The oblique expanding fusion cage device of claim 1, wherein the pathway is threaded and the expanding member includes threading that engages with the pathway threading.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The oblique expanding fusion cage device of claim 1, wherein the pathway tapers from the proximal end to the distal end.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The oblique expanding fusion cage device of claim 1, wherein the opening includes a locking mechanism for locking the expanding member when fully inserted in the device.

### Claim 7

An oblique expanding fusion cage device, comprising:
a first arm and a second arm each having a proximal end and a distal end;
an expanding member positioned between the first arm and the second arm, the expanding member comprising:
a body portion at a proximal end of the device; and
a wedge portion at a distal end of the device;
wherein the proximal end of each of the first and second arms are pivotally coupled to the body portion; and
a winding mechanism located at the proximal end of the first and second arms, wherein the winding mechanism is coupled to the body portion of the expanding member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The oblique expanding fusion cage device of claim 7, wherein the first arm and the second arm are hingedly coupled to the body portion at the proximal end of the first and second arms.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The oblique expanding fusion cage device of claim 7, wherein the winding mechanism includes a cable extending between the winding mechanism and the wedge, and wherein the cable is adapted for pulling the wedge towards the proximal end of the first and second arms.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The oblique expanding fusion cage device of claim 9, wherein the cable is positioned between the first arm and the second arm and extends parallel to the first arm and the second arm in an undeployed position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The oblique expanding fusion cage device of claim 7, wherein the first arm is coupled to the body portion of the expanding member with a first pivot pin and the second arm is coupled to the body portion of the expanding member with a second pivot pin.

### Claim 12

A surgical method for maintaining an interbody space in a spine of a patient, comprising:
obtaining a medical device comprising:
a body with a superior portion and an inferior portion, wherein the superior portion and the inferior portion have a proximal end and a distal end, the inferior portion comprises at least one protrusion extending toward the superior portion, and the superior portion comprises at least one opening adapted to receive the at least one protrusion, wherein the superior portion has an interior portion with a semicircular cross-sectional shape and the inferior portion has an interior portion with a semicircular cross-sectional shape, and wherein at least a portion of the interior portion of the superior portion overlaps with at least a portion of the interior portion of the inferior portion, the superior portion having a planar contact surface and the inferior portion having a planar contact surface for engaging vertebrae;
a pathway extending from the proximal end of the body to the distal end of the body between the superior portion and inferior portion;
an opening separating the superior portion and the inferior portion in the proximal end of the body and overlapping the pathway, and enabling access to the pathway; and
an expanding member removably inserted into the opening and moveable toward the distal end of the body, wherein the expanding member engages the superior portion and the inferior portion as the expanding member moves distally within the pathway;
inserting the medical device into a patient through an opening in the skin;
positioning the medical device in the interbody space;
inserting the expanding member into the body; and
deploying the distal end of the medical device into a deployed position to engage two vertebrae adjacent the interbody space,
wherein the body is narrower at the distal end than at the proximal end along a dimension that extends across the pathway in an undeployed position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The surgical method for maintaining an interbody space in a spine of a patient of claim 12, wherein inserting the medical device into the patient includes using an approach selected from posterior-laterally and laterally.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The surgical method for maintaining an interbody space in a spine of a patient of claim 12, wherein inserting the medical device into the patient includes using a unilateral, minimally invasive approach.