# US 11,298,240 B2 · Expanding intervertebral implants

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- Number: US 11,298,240 B2
- Document ID: US11298240B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/902,921
- Filed: 2020-06-16
- Published: 2021-12-16
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-16
- Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: Tyler Hessler; Chad Glerum; Mark Weiman; Albert Hill; Myles Sullivan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298240B2

## 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)}
- A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section}
- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- A61F 2/4637: {for connecting or disconnecting two parts of a prosthesis}
- A61F 2/30767: {Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth}
- A61F 2002/3008: {radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers}
- A61F 2002/30092: {using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol}
- A61F 2002/30331: {made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit}
- A61F 2002/30387: {Dovetail connection}
- A61F 2002/30405: {made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves}
- A61F 2002/30411: {having two threaded end parts connected by a threaded central part with opposite threads at its opposite ends, i.e. for adjusting the distance between both end parts by rotating the central part}
- A61F 2002/30433: {using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws}
- A61F 2002/30476: {locked by an additional locking mechanism}
- A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw}
- A61F 2002/30518: {with possibility of relative movement between the prosthetic parts}
- A61F 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation}
- A61F 2002/3055: {for adjusting length}
- A61F 2002/30555: {along two perpendicular axes}
- A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness}
- A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices}
- A61F 2002/30677: {Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body}
- A61F 2002/3093: {for promoting ingrowth of bone tissue}
- A61F 2002/443: {having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component}
- A61F 2002/4615: {of spacers}
- A61F 2002/4638: {Tools for performing screwing, e.g. nut or screwdrivers, or particular adaptations therefor}
- 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

A spacer separates bones of a joint using a driver tool having a threaded shaft. The spacer has a superior endplate with inferior facing ramps, and an inferior endplate with superior facing ramps. Two bearings are positioned between the endplates, each bearing has superior facing ramps which mate with the inferior facing ramps of the superior endplate, and inferior facing ramps which mate with the superior facing ramps of the inferior endplate. One bearing has a threaded aperture, and the other a thrust surface. A threaded shaft is threaded into the threaded aperture to push against the thrust surface to drive the bearings apart. As the bearings move apart, the mated ramps slide against each other to drive the superior and inferior endplates apart.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for separating bones of a joint using a driver tool having a threaded shaft, a spacer comprising:
a superior endplate having a bone engaging surface and a surface opposite the bone engaging surface having ramps including at least two inferior facing ramps;
an inferior endplate having a bone engaging surface and a surface opposite the bone engaging surface having ramps including at least two superior facing ramps;
first and second bearings disposed between the first and second endplates, each having ramps including at least one superior facing ramp mateably engaged with an inferior facing ramp of the superior endplate, and at least one inferior facing ramp mateably engaged with a superior facing ramp of the inferior endplate, the first bearing including a threaded aperture, the second bearing including a thrust surface;
the threaded aperture threadably engageable with the threaded shaft of the driver tool, the thrust surface aligned with the threaded shaft to be pushable by the threaded shaft when the threaded shaft is threaded through the threaded aperture to thereby cause the first and second bearings to be driven apart, whereby the ramps of the first and second bearings bear against the ramps of the superior endplate and the ramps of the inferior endplate to thereby push the superior endplate away from the inferior endplate,
wherein the threaded aperture is disposed at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, at least one of the bone engaging surface of the superior endplate and the bone engaging surface of the inferior endplate having an opening through which bone can grow.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, the ramps of the first and second bearings and the at least two ramps of the superior endplate and the at least two ramps of the inferior endplate are oriented at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second bearings are displaced relative to each other along the longitudinal axis of the device when the first and second bearings are pushed apart by the driver tool.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further including a threaded driver.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the threaded driver includes a threaded end and a handle, the threaded end separable from the handle, whereby the threaded end can remain with the device within a body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, a leading end of at least one of the superior endplate and the inferior endplate provided with an angular profile, whereby a leading end of the device has a tapering leading end profile.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, the threaded aperture forming an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the device which opens in a direction away from the leading end.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, whereby the device includes no more than 5 parts, limited to the superior and inferior endplates, the first and second bearings, and the threaded shaft.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further including a radiopaque material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, the superior and inferior endplates, and the first and second bearings all mutually nesting when the device is in a collapsed configuration to thereby present a reduced radial profile to facilitate insertion of the device into a patient.

### Claim 12

A device for separating bones of a joint using a driver tool having a threaded shaft, a spacer comprising:
a superior endplate having a bone engaging surface and a surface opposite the bone engaging surface having ramps including at least two inferior facing ramps;
an inferior endplate having a bone engaging surface and a surface opposite the bone engaging surface having ramps including at least two superior facing ramps;
first and second bearings disposed between the first and second endplates, each having ramps including at least one superior facing ramp mateably engaged with an inferior facing ramp of the superior endplate, and at least one inferior facing ramp mateably engaged with a superior facing ramp of the inferior endplate, the first bearing including a threaded aperture, the second bearing including a thrust surface;
the threaded aperture threadably engageable with the threaded shaft of the driver tool, the thrust surface aligned with the threaded shaft to be pushable by the threaded shaft when the threaded shaft is threaded through the threaded aperture to thereby cause the first and second bearings to be driven apart, whereby the ramps of the first and second bearings bear against the ramps of the superior endplate and the ramps of the inferior endplate to thereby push the superior endplate away from the inferior endplate,
wherein ramps of the bearings being at least one of recessed relative to a surrounding surface and projecting relative to a surrounding surface, wherein when a mating ramp of the superior endplate and a mating ramp of the inferior endplate are mated to a recessed bearing ramp, the mating ramp is projecting relative to a surrounding surface, and when a mating ramp of the superior endplate and a mating ramp of the inferior endplate are mated to a projecting bearing ramp, the mating ramp is recessed relative to a surrounding surface.