# US 10,441,322 B2 · Anterior spinal implants for reducing spinal malalignment and associated systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,322 B2 - Document ID: US10441322B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/168,106 - Filed: 2018-10-23 - Published: 2019-02-21 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-13 - Assignees: MUSC Foundation for Research Development - Applicants: MUSC Foundation for Research Development - Inventors: Barton L. Sachs; Trevor James Langley; Fabiano Pace; Alexandra Kathryn Wells; Carolyn Chlebek; Christine Marie Perrone; Cara Elizabeth Yocum; Joshua Murphy Peterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441322B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/7059: {Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence)} - A61B 17/70: Spinal positioners or stabilisers, e.g. stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant - A61B 17/86: Pins or screws {or threaded wires; nuts therefor (A61B17/72 take precedence)} - 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 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section} - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61B 2017/564: {Methods for bone or joint treatment} - A61B 2017/681: {Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms} - A61F 2002/2835: {Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material} - A61F 2002/30403: {Longitudinally-oriented cooperating ribs and grooves on mating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection} - A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw} - A61F 2002/30517: {using a locking plate} - A61F 2002/30578: {having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws} - A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices} - A61F 2002/30604: {modular} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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 Anterior spinal implant devices for reducing spinal malalignment and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A spinal implant system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a first vertebral support implanted at an anterior region of a first vertebra of a patient, a second vertebral support implanted at an anterior region of a second vertebra inferior to the first vertebra, and an alignment system configured to be releasably coupled to the first and second vertebral supports. The first and second vertebral supports can extend into and interlock with each other within an interbody space between the first and second vertebrae when the first and second vertebral supports are aligned. The alignment system is configured to reduce angular, vertical, and linear malalignment of the first and second vertebrae relative to each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spinal implant system for repositioning a first vertebra relative to a second vertebra in patients with spinal malalignment, the system comprising: a first vertebral support having a first anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of the first vertebra of a patient, the first vertebral support having a first intervertebral portion that extends within a space between the first vertebra and the second vertebra when the first anterior portion is affixed to the anterior region, wherein the first intervertebral portion comprises a first engagement feature; a second vertebral support having a second anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of the second vertebra, the second vertebral support having a second intervertebral portion that extends within the space when the second anterior portion is affixed to the anterior region, wherein the second intervertebral portion comprises a second engagement feature, and wherein the first and second engagement features are configured to interlock with each other when the first and second vertebral supports are aligned, wherein the first engagement feature is detached from the second engagement feature prior to being interlocked; and an alignment system configured to operably couple to the first vertebral support and to the second vertebral support to adjust angular, vertical, and linear posterior alignment of the first and second vertebral support relative to each other when affixed to the first and second vertebrae, the alignment system comprising: a first attachment component configured to releasably attach to the first vertebral support; a second attachment component configured to releasably attach to the second vertebral support; and a distraction assembly configured to be operably coupled to the first attachment component and to the second attachment component, wherein the distraction assembly is configured to vertically displace the first vertebral support relative to the second vertebral support when coupled to the first and second vertebrae. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spinal implant system of claim 1, wherein the first and second engagement features are configured to permit the first and second vertebral supports to interlock at an angle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The spinal implant system of claim 2, wherein the first engagement feature includes a first raised ledge and the second engagement feature includes a second raised ledge, and wherein the first and second raised ledges are configured to engage each other when the first and second vertebral supports are aligned and the first engagement feature is interlocked with the second engagement feature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The spinal implant system of claim 2, wherein: the first attachment component is configured to releasably attach to the first anterior portion of the first vertebral support and extend in an anterior direction from the first anterior support; and the second attachment component is configured to releasably attach to the second anterior portion of the second vertebral support and extend in the anterior direction from the second anterior support. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The spinal implant system of claim 1, wherein the alignment system comprises a linear translation driver configured to couple to the first support member or the second support member, wherein the linear translation driver is configured to linearly translate the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The spinal implant system of claim 1, further comprising an anterior reinforcement plate sized and shaped to fixedly attach to a medial portion of the first vertebral support and the second vertebral support. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The spinal implant system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of first screws configured to attach the first vertebral support to the first vertebra, wherein the first screws are configured to extend through two separate portions of cortical bone of the first vertebra and enter the first vertebra through an anterior face of the first vertebra; and a plurality of second screws configured to attach the second vertebral support to the second vertebra, wherein the second screws are configured to extend through two separate portions of cortical bone of the second vertebra and enter the second vertebra through the anterior face of the second vertebra. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The spinal implant system of claim 3, wherein the first raised ledge comprises a first angled surface and the second raised ledge comprises a second angled surface, and wherein at least part of the first angled surface is configured to contact at least part of the second angled surface when the first engagement feature is interlocked with the second engagement feature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The spinal implant system of claim 3, wherein the first raised ledge comprises a first curved surface and the second raised ledge comprises a second curved surface, and wherein at least part of the first curved surface is configured to contact at least part of the second curved surface when the first engagement feature is interlocked with the second engagement feature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The spinal implant system of claim 6, wherein the anterior reinforcement plate is a rigid reinforcement plate. ### Claim 11 A spinal implant system for repositioning a first vertebra relative to a second vertebra in patients with spinal malalignment, the system comprising: a first vertebral support having a first anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of the first vertebra of a patient, the first vertebral support having a first intervertebral portion that extends within a space between the first vertebra and the second vertebra when the first anterior portion is affixed to the anterior region, wherein the first intervertebral portion comprises a first engagement feature; a second vertebral support having a second anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of the second vertebra, the second vertebral support having a second intervertebral portion that extends within the space when the second anterior portion is affixed to the anterior region, wherein the second intervertebral portion comprises a second engagement feature, and wherein the first and second engagement features are configured to interlock with each other when the first and second vertebral supports are aligned, wherein the first and second engagement features are configured to permit the first and second vertebral supports to interlock at an angle; and an alignment system configured to operably couple to the first vertebral support and to the second vertebral support to adjust angular, vertical, and linear posterior alignment of the first and second vertebral support relative to each other when affixed to the first and second vertebrae, the alignment system comprising: a first attachment component configured to releasably attach to the first vertebral support, wherein the first attachment component is configured to releasably attach to the first anterior portion of the first vertebral support and extend in an anterior direction from the first anterior support, and wherein the first attachment component comprises a first shaft and a tube configured to receive the first shaft, the tube having at least a first hole; a second attachment component configured to releasably attach to the second vertebral support, wherein the second attachment component is configured to releasably attach to the second anterior portion of the second vertebral support and extend in the anterior direction from the second anterior support, and wherein the second attachment component comprises a second shaft having a plurality of second holes extending along a length of the second shaft; and a distraction assembly configured to be operably coupled to the first attachment component and to the second attachment component, wherein the distraction assembly is configured to vertically displace the first vertebral support relative to the second vertebral support when coupled to the first and second vertebrae. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The spinal implant system of claim 11, wherein the distraction assembly comprises: a first distraction component having a first plunger member configured to couple the first distraction component to the tube by engaging the first hole; a second distraction component having a second plunger member configured to couple to the second shaft by engaging at least one of the second holes; and a distraction member extending between the first distraction component and the second distraction component and configured to vertically separate the first vertebra from the second vertebra. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The spinal implant system of claim 12, wherein the distraction member is a threaded shaft, and wherein rotating the threaded shaft separates the first distraction component from the second distraction component along an axis extending through the threaded shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The spinal implant system of claim 11, wherein: the tube of the first attachment component includes an internal threading; and the alignment system further comprises a linear translation driver having a threaded shaft configured to couple to the internal threading of the tube, wherein the linear translation is configured to linearly translate the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra by rotating the linear translation driver into further engagement with the internal threading of the tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The spinal implant system of claim 11, wherein the first engagement feature includes a first raised ledge and the second engagement feature includes a second raised ledge, and wherein the first and second raised ledges are configured to engage each other when the first and second vertebral supports are aligned and the first engagement feature is interlocked with the second engagement feature. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The spinal implant system of claim 11, further comprising a rigid anterior reinforcement plate sized and shaped to fixedly attach to a medial portion of the first vertebral support and the second vertebral support. ### Claim 17 A spinal implant system for repositioning a first vertebra relative to a second vertebra in patients with spinal malalignment, the system comprising: a first vertebral support having a first anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of the first vertebra of a patient, the first vertebral support having a first intervertebral portion that extends within a space between the first vertebra and the second vertebra when the first anterior portion is affixed to the anterior region, wherein the first intervertebral portion comprises a first engagement feature; a second vertebral support having a second anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of the second vertebra, the second vertebral support having a second intervertebral portion that extends within the space when the second anterior portion is affixed to the anterior region, wherein the second intervertebral portion comprises a second engagement feature, and wherein the first and second engagement features are configured to interlock with each other when the first and second vertebral supports are aligned; and an alignment system configured to operably couple to the first vertebral support and to the second vertebral support to adjust angular, vertical, and linear posterior alignment of the first and second vertebral support relative to each other when affixed to the first and second vertebrae, the alignment system comprising: a first attachment component configured to releasably attach to the first vertebral support; a second attachment component configured to releasably attach to the second vertebral support; and a distraction assembly configured to be operably coupled to the first attachment component and to the second attachment component, wherein the distraction assembly is configured to vertically displace the first vertebral support relative to the second vertebral support when coupled to the first and second vertebrae, wherein the distraction assembly comprises: a first distraction component configured to couple to the first attachment component; a second distraction component configured to couple to the second attachment component; and a distraction member extending between the first distraction component and the second distraction component and configured to vertically translate the first vertebra apart relative to the second vertebra. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The spinal implant system of claim 17, wherein the first engagement feature includes a first raised ledge and the second engagement feature includes a second raised ledge, and wherein the first and second raised ledges are configured to engage each other when the first and second vertebral supports are aligned and the first engagement feature is interlocked with the second engagement feature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The spinal implant system of claim 18, wherein the first raised ledge comprises a first angled surface and the second raised ledge comprises a second angled surface, and wherein at least part of the first angled surface is configured to contact at least part of the second angled surface when the first engagement feature is interlocked with the second engagement feature. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The spinal implant system of claim 17, further comprising a rigid anterior reinforcement plate sized and shaped to fixedly attach to a medial portion of the first vertebral support and the second vertebral support.