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US 10,864,086 B2Granted
Expandable intervertebral spacer and method of posterior insertion thereof
AssigneeGlobus Medical, Inc.
InventorMark Weiman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An expandable intervertebral spacer has a plurality of arms. The arms can be retracted or extended. The spacer has a width that is narrower than the width between the nerve roots near the posterior approach to an intervertebral space. Once inserted into the intervertebral space, the arms can be deployed. The deployed arms expand the height and width of the spacer. Once deployed, the spacer stabilizes two adjacent vertebrae. The arms are interconnected mechanically to deploy simultaneously.
Claims12
An expandable intervertebral implant comprising:
- a cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of slots;
- a central axle extending through the cylindrical body along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a first arm assembly comprising a plurality of first curved arms and a second arm assembly comprising a plurality of second curved arms, wherein when the central axle is rotated, the plurality of first and second curved arms are configured to deploy through the plurality of slots such that a width and a height of the expandable implant is expanded,
- wherein each of the first curved arms has a first proximal end and a first distal tip and each of the second curved arms has a second proximal end and a second distal tip,
- wherein each of the first curved arms is configured to concavely curve extending from the first proximal end to the first distal tip, and each of the second curved arms is configured to concavely curve extending from the second proximal end to the second distal tip, and
- wherein the central axle engages the first proximal end of each first curved arm without engaging the second proximal end of each second curved arm,
- wherein the central axle includes a plurality of central gears.
5 more elements
An expandable intervertebral implant comprising:
- a cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of slots;
- a central axle extending through the cylindrical body along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a first arm assembly comprising a plurality of first curved arms, a second arm assembly comprising a plurality of second curved arms, a third arm assembly comprising a plurality of third curved arms, and a fourth arm assembly comprising a plurality of fourth curved arms, wherein when the central axle is rotated, the plurality of first, second, third, and fourth curved arms are configured to deploy through the plurality of slots such that a width and a height of the expandable implant is expanded,
- wherein each of the first curved arms has a first proximal end and a first distal tip and each of the second curved arms has a second proximal end and a second distal tip, and
- wherein each of the first curved arms is configured to concavely curve extending from the first proximal end to the first distal tip, and each of the second curved arms is configured to concavely curve extending from the second proximal end to the second distal tip, and
- wherein the central axle engages the first proximal end of each first curved arm without engaging the second proximal end of each second curved arm,
- wherein the central axle includes a plurality of central gears.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.