# US 10,869,766 B2 · Expandable vertebral prosthesis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,766 B2 - Document ID: US10869766B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/680,853 - Filed: 2012-11-19 - Published: 2014-05-22 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2005-04-21 - Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Noah Hansell; Paul W. Millhouse; Edward Karpowicz; Matthew Hansell; William Rhoda; Andrew Lee; Michael Lee Boyer, II; Craig Billman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869766B2 ## CPC - 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 2/44: for the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61F 2/30744: {End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity} - A61F 2002/2835: {Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material} - A61F 2002/30112: {Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners} - A61F 2002/30235: {tubular, e.g. sleeves} - A61F 2002/30331: {made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit} - A61F 2002/30364: {Rotation about the common longitudinal axis} - A61F 2002/30365: {with additional means for limiting said rotation} - A61F 2002/30367: {with additional means for preventing said rotation} - A61F 2002/30372: {with additional means for limiting said translation} - A61F 2002/30378: {Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess} - A61F 2002/30405: {made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves} - A61F 2002/30408: {Conical threadings} - A61F 2002/30462: {retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable} - A61F 2002/30471: {connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type} - A61F 2002/30476: {locked by an additional locking mechanism} - A61F 2002/30481: {using a locking clip} - A61F 2002/30492: {using a locking pin} - A61F 2002/30495: {using a locking ring} - A61F 2002/305: {Snap 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 2002/30523: {by means of meshing gear teeth} - A61F 2002/30525: {Worm gears} - A61F 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation} - A61F 2002/3055: {for adjusting length} - A61F 2002/30601: {telescopic} - A61F 2002/30784: {Plurality of holes} - A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes} - A61F 2002/4627: {with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument} - A61F 2002/4628: {with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping} - A61F 2002/4629: {connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection} - A61F 2220/0025: Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements - A61F 2220/0033: made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit - A61F 2220/0091: connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type - A61F 2230/0004: Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners - A61F 2230/0069: cylindrical - 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 The present invention relates to an expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae generally comprising an inner member, outer member, and gear member positioned coaxial with respect to each other such that the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along an axis. The gear member is axially fixed to the outer member and freely rotatable with respect to the outer member and the gear member threadedly engages a threaded portion of the inner member to translate inner member along the axis. The implant is configured to engage the vertebrae in a predetermined alignment and the gear member includes gear teeth exposed to the exterior and configured to be accessible by a tool member at a plurality of angular positions around the perimeter of the implant device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expandable prosthetic implant device having a longitudinal axis for engagement between vertebrae, comprising: a first member having a lumen, a slot and a first compression member having a C-shaped wedge; a first end portion, having a first articulating portion, configured to engage a first vertebral body, the first end portion coupled to the first member and poly-axially articulatable with respect to the first member via the first articulating portion, the first end portion having an opening in fluid communication with the lumen of the first member; a second member having a lumen, a slot and a second compression member; a second end portion, having a second articulating portion, configured to engage a second vertebral body, the second end portion coupled to the second member and poly-axially articulatable with respect to the second member via the second articulating portion, the second end portion having an opening in fluid communication with the lumen of the second member, wherein the lumen of the first member and the lumen of the second member are in fluid communication, wherein the first and second members are moveable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the C-shaped wedge of the first compression member has a ramped profile and is configured to be inserted into an opening of the first end portion to fix the position of the first end portion with respect to the first member by moving a collet against the first end portion and the first member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second members are made of a PEEK plastic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a locking member for fixing the first member with respect to the second member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first member is rotationally fixed with respect to the second member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first end portion comprises a first plate having a generally oblong shape when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the first plate extending a width distance in a medial-lateral direction along a long axis and a depth distance in an anterior-posterior direction along a short axis, wherein the width distance is larger than the depth distance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the first end portion has a thickness in the longitudinal direction and the thickness is variable in the anterior-posterior direction along the short axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the thickness varies gradually in the anterior-posterior direction such that the first end portion defines a general wedge-shaped profile. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the first end portion extends in the anterior-posterior direction from an anterior side to a posterior side and the first end portion has a first thickness at an anterior side and a second thickness at a posterior side, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the first end portion includes a bone engaging surface and a plane tangent to the bone engaging surface intersects a plane normal to the longitudinal axis at a first angle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the first angle is between about 16 degrees and about 16 degrees. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second end portion comprises a second plate having a generally oblong shape when along the longitudinal axis, the second plate extending a width distance in a medial-lateral direction along a long axis and a depth distance in an anterior-posterior direction along a short axis, wherein the width distance is larger than the depth distance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the second end portion has a thickness in the longitudinal direction and the thickness is variable in the anterior-posterior direction along the short axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the thickness varies gradually in the anterior-posterior direction such that the second end portion defines a general wedge-shaped profile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the second end portion extends in the anterior-posterior direction from an anterior side to a posterior side and the second end portion has a first thickness at an anterior side and a second thickness at a posterior side, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the second end portion includes a bone engaging surface and a plane tangent to the bone engaging surface intersects a plane normal to the longitudinal axis at a second angle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the second angle is between about 16 degrees and about 16 degrees. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second end portions include first and second plates, respectively, and each include at least one bone engaging member extending longitudinally from the plates. ### Claim 18 An expandable prosthetic implant device having a longitudinal axis for engagement between vertebrae, comprising: an inner member having a hollow interior portion and a threaded external portion; a first end portion, having a first articulating portion, configured to engage a first vertebral body, the first end portion coupled to the inner member and poly-axially articulatable with respect to the inner member via the first articulating portion, wherein the first articulating portion has a substantially spherical exterior and is configured to articulate within a correspondingly shaped socket of the inner member; an outer member having a hollow interior portion configured to coaxially receive the inner member therein; a second end portion, having a second articulating portion, configured to engage a second vertebral body, the second end portion coupled to the outer member and poly-axially articulatable with respect to the outer member via the second articulating portion, wherein the second articulating portion has a substantially spherical exterior and is configured to articulate within a correspondingly shaped socket of the outer member, wherein the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis; and a compression member having a C-shaped wedge with a ramped profile, wherein the C-shaped wedge of the compression member is configured to be inserted into an opening of the first end portion or the second end portion to fix the position of the first end portion or the second end portion with respect to the inner member or the outer member, respectively. ### Claim 19 An expandable prosthetic implant device having a longitudinal axis for engagement between vertebrae, comprising: an inner member having a hollow interior portion and a threaded external portion, wherein at least a portion of the threaded external portion extends continuously around the inner member to form a complete perimeter; a first end portion, having a first articulating portion, configured to engage a first vertebral body, the first end portion coupled to the inner member and rotatably and pivotally poly-axially articulatable with respect to the inner member via the first articulating portion; an outer member having a hollow interior portion configured to coaxially receive the inner member therein; a second end portion, having a second articulating portion, configured to engage a second vertebral body, the second end portion coupled to the outer member via the second articulating portion, wherein the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis; and a compression member having a C-shaped wedge with a ramped profile, wherein the C-shaped wedge of the compression member is configured to be inserted into an opening of the first end portion or the second end portion to fix the position of the first end portion or the second end portion with respect to the inner member or the outer member, respectively.