# US 11,026,800 B2 · Expandable vertebral implant

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- Number: US 11,026,800 B2
- Document ID: US11026800B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/416,683
- Filed: 2019-05-20
- Published: 2019-11-07
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-11
- Assignees: Global Medical Inc
- Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: Jody L. Seifert; Chad Glerum; Mark Weiman; Mark Adams; David C. Paul; Jason Zappacosta
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026800B2

## CPC

- 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)}
- A61B 17/8042: {the additional component being a cover over the screw head}
- A61F 2002/2835: {Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material}
- A61F 2002/30387: {Dovetail connection}
- A61F 2002/30433: {using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws}
- A61F 2002/30471: {connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type}
- A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection}
- A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw}
- A61F 2002/30523: {by means of meshing gear teeth}
- A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness}
- A61F 2002/30578: {having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws}
- A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices}
- A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes}
- A61F 2002/30904: {serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed}
- A61F 2002/4635: {using minimally invasive surgery}
- 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)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A joint spacer therapeutically maintains separation of bones of a joint. A carriage is slideably retained within the frame and has at least one ramped surface. An actuator screw is threadably engaged with the frame, and rotatably connected to the carriage, to cause the carriage to slideably move within the frame when the actuator screw is rotated. First and second endplates engage the bones of the joint, and each has at least one ramped surface that is mateable with the ramped surface of the carriage, whereby when the carriage is slideably moved by rotation of the actuator screw, the endplates ramped surface slides against the carriage ramped surface to cause the endplates to move along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame, to increase the height of the spacer. Piercing elements are connected to the carriage to pierce bone of the joint when the carriage is moved.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for therapeutically maintaining a separation of bones of a joint, comprising:
inserting a spacer between bones of the joint, the spacer comprising:
a body member;
a translation member received in the body member;
an upper endplate having an upper plate portion comprising a bottom post;
a lower endplate having a lower plate portion comprising a top post;
an actuation member operably connected to the translation member, whereby movement of the actuation member in a first direction causes the translation member to increase the distance of separation between the upper endplate and the lower endplate; and
a first socket,
wherein in a contracted position the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion are configured to be received in the body member without exposing the top post and the bottom post;
positioning a first anchor configured to fasten the spacer to the patient, wherein the first anchor is received in the first socket.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first socket is attached to the upper endplate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising a second anchor to fasten the spacer to the patient and wherein the spacer further comprises a second socket, attached to the lower endplate, configured to receive the second anchor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor is curved and configured to pierce a bone of the patient to fasten the spacer to the patient.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor is configured to have a t-shaped cross-section and sharp edges to pierce the bone of the patient to fasten the spacer to the patient.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the upper endplate and the lower endplate include protrusions for engaging bony structures.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first anchor contains at least one serrated edge.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising a blocking screw for preventing the first anchor from backing out of the spacer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first anchor is configured to form a t-shape with at least three sharp edges for penetrating a bone of the patient.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the spacer includes a window configured to receive bone graft material.

### Claim 11

A method for fixating an orthopedic device in between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a patient, wherein the orthopedic device comprises a spacer and a first anchor, said method comprising:
inserting the spacer between the adjacent vertebral bodies, the spacer including:
a body member;
a translation member received in the body member;
an upper endplate, having an upper plate portion comprising a bottom post, configured to engage the translation member;
a lower endplate, having a lower plate portion comprising a top post, configured to engage the translation member;
an actuation member operably connected to the translation member, whereby operation of the actuation member causes the upper endplate and the lower endplate to move in a direction away from the translation member; and
a first socket,
wherein in a contracted position the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion are configured to be received in the body member without exposing the top post and the bottom post; and
positioning a first anchor configured to fasten the spacer to the patient, wherein the anchor is received in the first socket.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first socket is attached to the upper endplate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising a second anchor to fasten the spacer to the patient and wherein the spacer further comprises a second socket, attached to the lower endplate, configured to receive the second anchor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor is curved and configured to pierce a bone of the patient to fasten the spacer to the patient.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor is configured to have a t-shaped cross-section and sharp edges to pierce the bone of the patient to fasten the spacer to the patient.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the upper endplate and the lower endplate include protrusions for engaging bony structures.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first anchor contains at least one serrated edge.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising a blocking screw for preventing the first anchor from backing out of the spacer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first anchor is configured to form a t-shape with at least three sharp edges for penetrating a bone of the patient.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the spacer includes a window configured to receive bone graft material.