# US 10,500,061 B2 · Adjustable spinal implant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,061 B2 - Document ID: US10500061B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/752,369 - Filed: 2016-08-15 - Published: 2019-01-03 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-13 - Assignees: K2M, Inc. - Applicants: K2M, Inc. - Inventors: Jennifer Moore; Stephen Truesdell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500061B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine} - 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 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - 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 2002/30507: {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 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation} - A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness} - A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices} - A61F 2002/30772: {Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section} - A61F 2002/30822: {Circumferential grooves} - 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 adjustable spinal implant includes a fixed segment that slidably supports a locking segment and pivotally supports an upper segment and a lower segment relative to one another. The locking segment translates within a channel defined by the fixed segment between locked and unlocked positions. In the locked position, the upper and lower segments are fixed relative to one another and to the fixed segment. In the unlocked position, the upper and lower segments are pivotal relative to one another and to the fixed segment. The adjustable spinal implant includes a locking mechanism including a locking screw to translate the locking segment between locked and unlocked positions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustable spinal implant comprising: a fixed segment defining a channel disposed about a longitudinal axis of the spinal implant; a locking segment translatable within the channel of the fixed segment along the longitudinal axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking segment defining a proximal opening passing vertically therethrough, the locking segment having a distal end portion including locking teeth; a lower segment pivotally coupled to the fixed segment about a pivot axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, the lower segment having a distal end portion including teeth that oppose the locking teeth; an upper segment pivotally coupled to the fixed segment about the pivot axis, the upper segment having a distal end portion including teeth that oppose the locking teeth, the adjustable spinal implant having a collapsed configuration wherein the distal end portions of the lower and upper segments define a first height and an expanded configuration wherein the distal end portions of the lower and upper segments define a second height greater than the first height; and a locking mechanism engageable with the locking segment to translate the locking segment longitudinally between locked and unlocked positions to fix the lower and upper segments relative to the fixed segment; and wherein, in the unlocked position, the locking teeth are longitudinally spaced apart from the teeth of the lower and upper segments. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjustable spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the locking teeth of the locking segment are engaged with the teeth of the lower and upper segments to fix the lower and upper segments relative to the fixed segment to define the locked position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adjustable spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the spinal implant is defined by a lower surface of the lower segment and a lower surface of the fixed segment, and wherein in the collapsed configuration the lower surfaces of the lower segment and the fixed surface are disposed within the same linear plane and in the expanded configuration the lower surface of the lower segment and the lower surface of the fixed segment define a non-zero first angle therebetween. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The adjustable spinal implant according to claim 3, wherein the first angle is in a range of 135° to 179°. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adjustable spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein a top surface of the spinal implant is defined by an upper surface of the upper segment and an upper surface of the fixed segment, and wherein in the collapsed configuration the upper surfaces of the upper segment and the fixed surface are disposed within the same linear plane and in the expanded configuration the upper surface of the upper segment and the upper surface of the fixed segment define a non-zero second angle therebetween. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The adjustable spinal implant according to claim 5, wherein the second angle is in a range of 135° to 179°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The adjustable spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the lower segment includes tines that define a gap therebetween, each tine including the teeth that oppose the locking teeth. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adjustable implant according to claim 7, wherein the distal end portion of the upper segment includes a tongue positionable within the gap defined between the tines of the lower segment, the tongue including the teeth that oppose the locking teeth. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The adjustable spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking screw disposed within the channel of the fixed segment and the passage of the locking segment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The adjustable implant according to claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism includes a threaded insert disposed on a threaded shank of the locking screw to engage walls defining the proximal opening of the locking segment to transition the locking segment between the locked and unlocked positions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The adjustable spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the locking teeth are arcuate in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The adjustable implant according to claim 11, wherein the locking teeth have a semi-circular profile in the plane parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 13 A method of inserting an adjustable spinal implant, the method comprising: positioning an adjustable spinal implant into an intervertebral space in a collapsed configuration, a distal end portion of the adjustable spinal implant having a first height in the collapsed configuration; unlocking the adjustable spinal implant when the adjustable spinal implant is positioned within the intervertebral space by disengaging locking teeth of a locking segment from teeth of a lower segment and teeth of an upper segment such that the locking teeth are longitudinally spaced apart from the teeth of the lower and upper segments; transitioning the adjustable spinal implant to an expanded configuration by pivoting at least one of the lower segment or the upper segment of the adjustable spinal implant about a pivot axis defined by a fixed segment of the adjustable spinal implant such that a distal end portion of the adjustable spinal implant has a second height greater than the first height; and locking the adjustable spinal implant in the expanded configuration by engaging the locking teeth of the locking segment with the teeth of the lower segment and the teeth of the upper segment to fix the lower segment and the upper segment relative to the fixed segment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein unlocking the adjustable spinal implant includes rotating a locking screw disposed along a longitudinal axis of the spinal implant in a first direction to proximally translate the locking segment, and wherein locking the adjustable spinal implant includes rotating the locking screw in a second direction opposite the first direction to distally translate the locking segment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein positioning the adjustable spinal implant includes approaching the intervertebral space from an anterior side of a patient's anatomy. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein positioning the adjustable spinal implant includes approaching the intervertebral space from a posterior side of a patient's anatomy. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein positioning the adjustable spinal implant includes approaching the intervertebral space from an anterior side of a patient's anatomy. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein positioning the adjustable spinal implant includes approaching the intervertebral space from a posterior side of a patient's anatomy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The adjustable spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein any one of the locking teeth of the locking segment simultaneously engages at least one of the teeth of each of the lower and upper segments. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The adjustable spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the lower and upper segments are pivotally coupled to the fixed segment by a pivot pin.