# US 11,298,239 B2 · Adjustable implant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,239 B2 - Document ID: US11298239B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/592,970 - Filed: 2019-10-04 - Published: 2020-01-30 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-21 - Assignees: SeaSpine, Inc. - Applicants: SeaSpine, Inc. - Inventors: Netanel Sharabani; Oded Loebl; Didier Toubia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298239B2 ## 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)} - A61B 17/8858: {laterally or radially expansible (inflatable A61B17/8855)} - A61F 2/44: for the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs - 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} - A61B 17/56: Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61F 2002/30405: {made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves} - A61F 2002/30471: {connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type} - 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: 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 An adjustable implant includes a telescopic body with first and second portions in sliding engagement, and a deflectable linkage formed from a first linking segment, an intermediate segment and a second linking segment pivotally interconnected so that adjustment of a length of the telescopic body causes a corresponding deflection of the deflectable linkage. The first linking segment and the second linking segment are formed with projecting features that provide a partial gear engagement between the first and second linking segments such that, during adjustment of a length of the telescopic body and corresponding deflection of the deflectable linkage, pivotal motion of the first and second linking segments relative to the intermediate segment about the first and second pivot axes occurs in a fixed ratio defined by the partial gear engagement. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustable implant comprising: (a) a telescopic body comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being in sliding engagement such that a length of the telescopic body is adjustable from a first length to a second length; and (b) a deflectable linkage comprising a first linking segment, an intermediate segment pivotally connected to the first linking segment about a first pivot axis, and a second linking segment pivotally connected to the intermediate segment about a second pivot axis, the first linking segment being pivotally connected to the first portion and the second linking segment being pivotally connected to the second portion such that adjustment of a length of the telescopic body causes a corresponding deflection of the deflectable linkage, wherein the first linking segment and the second linking segment are formed with projecting features configured to provide a partial gear engagement directly between the first and second linking segments such that, during adjustment of a length of the telescopic body and corresponding deflection of the deflectable linkage, pivotal motion of the first and second linking segments relative to the intermediate segment about the first and second pivot axes occurs in a fixed ratio defined by the partial gear engagement, and wherein the telescopic body and the deflectable linkage form at least part of an implant for deployment within a human body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjustable implant of claim 1, wherein the projecting features define a gear tooth engaged in a complementary gear trough. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adjustable implant of claim 1, wherein the partial gear engagement is configured such that pivotal motion of the first and second linking segments relative to the intermediate segment occurs equally and oppositely. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adjustable implant of claim 1, wherein the telescopic body includes a first contact surface with a first tissue and the intermediate segment includes a second contact surface with a second tissue opposite to the first tissue, wherein decreasing the length of the telescoping body increase a distance between the first contact surface of the telescopic body and the second contact surface of the intermediate segment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adjustable implant of claim 1, further comprising a bolt adjusting the length of the telescopic body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The adjustable implant of claim 5, wherein the bolt is headless and connects the first portion to the second portion of the telescopic body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The adjustable implant of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second linking segment are formed with one or more complementary cooperating surfaces shaped such that, during adjustment of the length of the telescopic body and corresponding deflection of the deflectable linkage, relative motion of the first portion and the second linking segment maintains the one or more complementary cooperating surfaces in strain-limiting proximity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adjustable implant of claim 7, wherein the one or more complementary cooperating surfaces are configured to avoid contact in an unstressed form of the implant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The adjustable implant of claim 7, wherein the one or more complementary cooperating surfaces of the second linking segment includes a convexly curved bulge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The adjustable implant of claim 7, wherein each one of the first portion and the second linking segment includes two of the one or more complementary cooperating surfaces. ### Claim 11 An adjustable implant comprising: a body having a length; a deflectable linkage comprising a first linking segment, an intermediate segment pivotally connected to the first linking segment about a first pivot axis, and a second linking segment pivotally connected to the intermediate segment about a second pivot axis, the first linking segment being pivotally connected to the body about a third pivot axis and the second linking segment being pivotally connected to the body about a fourth pivot axis; a mechanism for adjusting a distance between the third and fourth pivot axes, thereby causing deflection of the deflectable linkage, wherein the first linking segment and the second linking segment are formed with projecting features configured to provide a partial gear engagement between the first and second linking segments such that, during adjustment of the distance between the third and fourth pivot axes, pivotal motion of the first and second linking segments relative to the intermediate segment about the first and second pivot axes occurs in a fixed ratio defined by the partial gear engagement, and wherein the body and the deflectable linkage form at least part of an implant for deployment within a human body; and wherein the body and the second linking segment are formed with complementary cooperating surfaces shaped such that, during adjustment of the distance between the third and fourth pivot axis and corresponding deflection of the deflectable linkage, relative motion of the body and the second linking segment maintains the cooperating surfaces in strain-limiting proximity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The adjustable implant of claim 11, wherein the mechanism for adjusting the distance between the third and fourth pivot axes comprises a screw actuated mechanism for adjusting a length of the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The adjustable implant of claim 11, wherein the mechanism for adjusting the distance between the third and fourth pivot axes comprises a telescopic adjustment mechanism for adjusting a length of the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The adjustable implant of claim 11, wherein the projecting features define a gear tooth engaged in a complementary gear trough. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The adjustable implant of claim 11, wherein the partial gear engagement is configured such that pivotal motion of the first and second linking segments relative to the intermediate segment occurs equally and oppositely.