# US 10,765,528 B2 · Articulating expandable intervertebral implant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,528 B2 - Document ID: US10765528B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/929,569 - Filed: 2015-11-02 - Published: 2016-02-25 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-01 - Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Mark Weiman; John Matthews - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765528B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine} - 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 2/4425: {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 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section} - A61F 2002/30387: {Dovetail connection} - A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw} - 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 2002/30904: {serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed} - A61F 2002/443: {having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component} - A61F 2002/4629: {connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection} - 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 A spacer for separating bones of a joint includes a frame and a carriage. The carriage has ramped surfaces, and is slideably moveable in relation to the frame. A screw support is moveably connected to the frame to form a changeable angular orientation with respect to the frame. An actuating screw is supported by the screw support, and is connected to the carriage to cause the carriage to slideably move in relation to the frame when the actuating screw is rotated. Opposing endplates are configured to engage opposing bone of the joint, and each has ramped surfaces mateable with the ramped surfaces of the carriage. When the carriage is moved by rotation of the actuating screw, the ramped surfaces of the carriage and the endplates slide against each other, causing the endplates to move relatively apart, to increase the height of the spacer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expandable intervertebral spacer, the spacer comprising: a frame having a first angled surface and a second angled surface; a connector having an upper surface and a lower surface; a first endplate having an upper surface and at least one angled surface engageable with the first angled surface of the frame; a second endplate having a lower surface and at least one angled surface engageable with the second angled surface of the frame; an actuating screw contacting the connector and the frame, rotation of the actuating screw results in the first endplate and the second endplate moving away from each other from a first position to a second position, wherein the first endplate and the second endplate each include a recess, at least a portion of the connector is received in the recess of the first endplate and at least another portion of the connector is received in the recess of the second endplate, wherein in the first position the upper surface of the connector is substantially aligned with the upper surface of the first endplate along a horizontal plane and the lower surface of the connector is substantially aligned with the lower surface of the second endplate along a second horizontal plane, and wherein the spacer has a curved longitudinal axis when viewed from a position normal to the upper surface of the first endplate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spacer of claim 1, wherein in the second position the upper surface of the connector is not generally aligned with the upper surface of the first endplate and the lower surface of the connector is not aligned with the lower surface of the second endplate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spacer of claim 1, wherein in the second position the upper surface of the first endplate is located above the upper surface of the connector and the lower surface of the second endplate is located below is the lower surface of the connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spacer of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a flanged portion, at least a portion of the flanged portion is received in the recess of the first endplate and at least a portion of the flanged portion is received in the recess of the second endplate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The spacer of claim 4, wherein the flanged portion of the connector and the recess of the first endplate form a dovetail connection and wherein the flanged portion of the connector and the recess of the second endplate form a dovetail connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The spacer of claim 5, wherein the recess of the first endplate and the recess of the second endplate both extend generally vertically. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The spacer of claim 6, wherein the flanged portion of the connector that is received in the recesses of the first and second endplates slides within the recesses of the first and second endplates when the first and second endplates move from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The spacer of claim 1, wherein the first endplate, the second endplate and the frame each include at least one vertically extending through hole. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The spacer of claim 8, wherein the through holes of the first endplate, the second endplate, and the frame are at least partially aligned vertically in the first position and in the second position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The spacer of claim 1, wherein the first endplate and the second endplate each have a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portions of the first and second endplates are at least partially arcuate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The spacer of claim 1, wherein the first endplate includes a plurality of protrusions on the upper surface and the second endplate includes a plurality of protrusions on the lower endplate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The spacer of claim 1, wherein rotation of the actuation screw in a first direction results in the first endplate and the second endplate moving away from each other and rotation of the actuation screw in a second direction results in the first endplate and the second endplate moving toward each other. ### Claim 13 An expandable intervertebral spacer, the spacer comprising: a frame having a first angled surface sloping in a first direction and a second angled surface sloping in a second direction; a connector having an upper surface and a lower surface and a flanged portion; a first endplate having an upper surface and at least one angled surface engageable with the first angled surface of the frame; a second endplate having a lower surface and at least one angled surface engageable with the second angled surface of the frame; an actuating screw contacting the connector and the frame, rotation of the actuating screw in a first direction results in the first endplate and the second endplate moving away from each other from a first position to a second position, wherein the first endplate and the second endplate each include a recess, at least a portion of the flanged portion of the connector is received in the recess of the first endplate and at least another portion of the flanged portion of the connector is received in the recess of the second endplate, wherein the flanged portion of the connector and the recess from the first endplate form a dovetail connection, wherein the flanged portion of the connector and the recess from the second endplate form a dovetail connection, wherein the frame includes a vertically extending through hole, the through hole being bounded on each side by a portion of the frame, wherein a first end of the upper surface of the first endplate, a second end of the lower surface of the second endplate, and lateral sides of the first and second end plates taper towards a distal end of the spacer, and wherein the spacer has a curved longitudinal axis when viewed from a position normal to the upper surface of the first endplate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The spacer of claim 13, wherein in the first position the upper surface of the connector is generally aligned with the upper surface of the first endplate and the lower surface of the connector is generally aligned with the lower surface of the second endplate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The spacer of claim 14, wherein in the second position the upper surface of the first endplate is located above the upper surface of the connector and the lower surface of the second endplate is located below is the lower surface of the connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The spacer of claim 13, wherein the recess of the first endplate and the recess of the second endplate both extend generally vertically. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The spacer of claim 16, wherein the flanged portion of the connector that is received in the recesses of the first and second endplates slides within the recesses of the first and second endplates when the first and second endplates move from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The spacer of claim 13, wherein the first endplate and the second endplate each include at least one vertically extending through hole.