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US 10,945,857 B2Granted
Bilaterally expanding intervertebral body fusion device
AssigneeWenzel Spine, Inc.
InventorErik Emstad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment includes an expandable intervertebral body fusion device with two expansion wedges within a generally hollow main body. After implantation into the intervertebral disc space, the expansion wedges are simultaneously moved from the center of the device toward the ends, which flexes the arms of the cage and increases the size of the implant. This expansion stabilizes the device in the disc space and increases the disc height, thereby reducing foraminal compression of spinal nerves and creating a stable motion segment for eventual fusion. Other embodiments are described herein.
Claims20
An intervertebral spacing implant system comprising:
- a first seat having a first lateral end;
- first branches coupled to the first lateral end of the first seat and extending in a first lateral direction away from the first seat, the first seat and the first branches forming a first cage defining a first internal volume, each first branch having a first inward side and a first outward side;
- a first spacer configured to fit within the first cage and move in the first lateral direction upon the urging of a spacer-advancing instrument, the first spacer and the first cage configured such that one or more of the first branches will move from an unextended position to an extended position when the first spacer is moved upon the urging of the spacer-advancing instrument;
- a first shoulder formed on one of the first inward sides, the first shoulder configured to reversibly secure the first spacer;
- wherein the first internal volume between the first lateral end of the first seat and the first spacer is unoccupied by any link member when the first spacer is secured by the first shoulder;
- a second seat having a second lateral end;
- second branches coupled to the second lateral end of the second seat and extending in a second lateral direction away from the second seat, the second seat and the second branches forming a second cage defining a second internal volume, each second branch having a second inward side and a second outward side;
- a second spacer configured to fit within the second cage and move upon the urging of at least one of the spacer-advancing instrument or an additional spacer-advancing instrument, the second spacer and the second cage configured such that one or more of the second branches will move from an unextended position to an extended position when the second spacer is moved upon the urging of the at least one of the spacer-advancing instrument or the additional spacer-advancing instrument;
- a second shoulder formed on one of the second inward sides, the second shoulder configured to reversibly secure the second spacer;
- wherein the first seat, the first branches, the second seat, and the second branches collectively form a second unitary structure.
7 more elements
An intervertebral spacing implant system comprising:
- a first seat having a first lateral end;
- first branches coupled to the first lateral end of the first seat and extending in a first direction away from the first seat, the first seat and the first branches forming a first cage defining a first internal volume, each first branch having a first inward side and a first outward side;
- a first spacer configured to fit within the first cage and move in the first direction upon the urging of a spacer-advancing instrument, the first spacer and the first cage configured such that one or more of the first branches will move from an unextended position to an extended position when the first spacer is moved upon the urging of the spacer-advancing instrument;
- a first shoulder formed on one of the first inward sides, the first shoulder configured to reversibly secure the first spacer;
- wherein the first internal volume between the first lateral end of the first seat and the first spacer is unoccupied by any link member when the first spacer is secured by the first shoulder;
- a second seat having a second lateral end;
- second branches coupled to the second lateral end of the second seat and extending in a second direction away from the second seat, the second seat and the second branches forming a second cage defining a second internal volume, each second branch having a second inward side and a second outward side;
- a second spacer configured to fit within the second cage and move upon the urging of the spacer-advancing instrument, the second spacer and the second cage configured such that one or more of the second branches will move from an unextended position to an extended position when the second spacer is moved upon the urging of the spacer-advancing instrument;
- a second shoulder formed on one of the second inward sides, the second shoulder configured to reversibly secure the second spacer;
- wherein the first seat, the first branches, the second seat, and the second branches collectively form a unitary structure.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.