Implant with freely moveable endplates
AssigneeK2M, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Tavani, Michael Schular
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interbody fusion device including pivoting endplates is disclosed. The endplates define grooves between the endplates to house sliding pins. A threaded shaft extends through the implant to connect the endplates and the sliding pins. The implant is fit to be inserted into an intervertebral disc space to pivot according to the natural angles of the adjacent vertebrae. The shaft can be rotated to adjust the sliding pins into a position to provide support to the endplates at the angle they take between the vertebrae.
Claims20
An intervertebral implant comprising:
- a first endplate;
- a second endplate pivotally coupled to the first endplate by a pivot pin;
- a first sliding pin slidably disposed between the first and second endplates and on a first side of the pivot pin;
- a second sliding pin disposed on a second side of the pivot pin opposite the first side;
- and
- a shaft extending at least partially through the first sliding pin,
- wherein actuation of the shaft locks the first and second endplates with respect to each other.
A method of positioning an interbody fusion device, the method comprising:
- inserting an implant between first and second vertebral bodies, the implant including a first endplate for contacting the first vertebral body and a second endplate for contacting the second vertebral body;
- allowing the first and second endplates to freely pivot about a pivot pin with respect to each other to conform to the angle between the two adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- actuating a shaft of the implant to translate first and second sliding pins to lock the first and second endplates with respect to each other.
An intervertebral implant comprising:
- a first endplate extending along a longitudinal axis, the first endplate defining a groove;
- a second endplate pivotally coupled to the first endplate by a pivot pin, the second endplate defining a tapered slot aligned with the groove along the longitudinal axis;
- a first sliding pin slidably disposed within the groove and the tapered slot on a first side of the pivot pin;
- and
- a second sliding pin disposed on a second side of the pivot pin opposite the first side,
- wherein movement of the sliding pin along the longitudinal axis is configured to pivot the second endplate relative to the first endplate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.