# US 11,439,517 B2 · Bone fusion device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,517 B2 - Document ID: US11439517B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/927,824 - Filed: 2020-07-13 - Published: 2020-10-29 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-13 - Assignees: Neuropro Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Neuropro Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Gary R. McLuen; Daniel R. Baker; Benjamin J. Remington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439517B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section} - A61F 2/28: Bones - A61F 2/441: {made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel} - A61F 2/4657: {Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints (for surgical instruments A61B90/06)} - A61B 90/03: {Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/0256: {for the spine} - A61B 2090/032: {pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic} - A61B 2090/061: {for measuring dimensions, e.g. length} - A61B 2090/065: {for measuring contact or contact pressure} - A61B 2090/0807: {Indication means} - A61F 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine} - A61F 2/4601: {for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity} - A61F 2002/2839: {Bone plugs or bone graft dowels} - A61F 2002/30522: {releasable, e.g. using a releasable ratchet} - A61F 2002/30525: {Worm gears} - A61F 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation} - A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness} - A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices} - A61F 2002/30581: {having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid} - A61F 2002/30601: {telescopic} - A61F 2002/30617: {Visible markings for adjusting, locating or measuring} - A61F 2002/448: {comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants} - A61F 2002/4661: {for measuring thickness} - A61F 2002/4666: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension} - 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 bone fusion device for insertion between bones that are to be fused together, such as, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises at least one extendable tab and one or more tab extension assemblies. Each tab extension assembly is able to be adjusted in order to individually control the extension or contraction of a side of the tab thereby enabling adjustment of the height and/or angle of the tab with respect to the body of the bone fusion device. Each tab extension assembly is able to be individually adjusted such that the side controlled by each assembly is raised or lowered until the desired tab angle is achieved. The tab is advantageously positioned and angled to correspond to the vertebrae to help brace the device until the bone has fused. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bone fusion device for insertion into a desired location comprising: a body; a tab configured to selectively move from a retracted position adjacent to the body to an extended position at least partially protruding from the body; a first extension assembly comprising a first drive mechanism and a first drive screw having a first cutout, the first extension assembly configured to selectively move the tab between the retracted position and the extended position; and a second extension assembly comprising a second drive mechanism and a second drive screw, the second extension assembly configured to selectively move the tab between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein a portion of the second drive mechanism is positioned within the first cutout of the first drive screw. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms comprise a worm gear operably coupled between the first or second drive screw and a support jack such that rotation of the first or second drive screw rotates the worm gear which retracts or extends the support jack into or out of the worm gear. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second drive screws is accessible through a first lateral side of the body and at least another one of the first and second drive screws is accessible through a second lateral side of the body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, further comprising a support webbing positioned within an inner cavity of the body between one or more walls of the inner cavity and the exterior of the worm gears such that the support webbing resists lateral movement of the worm gears with respect to the walls of the inner cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second extension assemblies are pivotably coupled to different portions of the tab such that the tab is able to pivot about the first and second extension assemblies. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the body has a bottom surface and an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is angled with respect to the bottom surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more plugs, wherein the body and the tab comprise one or more holes that extend from outside the device to an inner cavity of the body and are configured to be removably filled by the one or more plugs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the one or more plugs comprise bone material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the tab comprises one or more tangs positioned along a perimeter of a top surface of the tab and fit within recesses in a top surface of the body when the tab is in the retracted position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein one or more of the one or more tangs extend from a perimeter of the tab to a perimeter of the body. ### Claim 11 A method of implanting a bone fusion device into a desired location, the method comprising: inserting the bone fusion device in the desired location, wherein the bone fusion device comprises a body, a tab configured to selectively move from a retracted position adjacent to the body to an extended position at least partially protruding from the body, a first extension assembly comprising a first drive mechanism and a first drive screw having a first cutout, the first extension assembly configured to selectively move the tab between the retracted position and the extended position, and a second extension assembly comprising a second drive mechanism and a second drive screw, the second extension assembly configured to selectively move the tab between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein a portion of the second drive mechanism is positioned within the first cutout of the first drive screw; and extending the tab from the retracted position to a position at least partially outside the interior cavity by moving at least one of the first drive screw and the second drive screw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting an amount which a first portion of the tab coupled to the first drive mechanism is extended compared to an amount which a second portion of the tab coupled to the second drive mechanism is extended such that an angle of the tab with respect to the body is adjusted. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms comprise a worm gear operably coupled between the first or second drive screw and a support jack such that rotation of the first or second drive screw rotates the worm gear which retracts or extends the support jack into or out of the worm gear. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second drive screws is accessible through a first lateral side of the body and at least another one of the first and second drive screws is accessible through a second lateral side of the body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the device further comprises a support webbing positioned within an inner cavity of the body between one or more walls of the inner cavity and the exterior of the worm gears such that the support webbing resists lateral movement of the worm gears with respect to the walls of the inner cavity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second extension assemblies are pivotably coupled to different portions of the tab such that the tab is able to pivot about the first and second extension assemblies. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the body has a bottom surface and an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is angled with respect to the bottom surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising removably filling one or more holes with one or more plugs, wherein the body and the tab comprise the one or more holes, which extend from outside the device to an inner cavity of the body and are configured to be removably filled by the one or more plugs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more plugs comprise bone material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the tab comprises one or more tangs positioned along a perimeter of a top surface of the tab and fit within recesses in a top surface of the body when the tab is in the retracted position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein one or more of the one or more tangs extend from the perimeter of the tab to a perimeter of the body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising retracting the tab of the bone fusion device into the retracted position before inserting the bone fusion device into the desired location. ### Claim 23 A bone fusion device for insertion into a desired location comprising: a body; a tab configured to selectively move from a retracted position adjacent to the body to an extended position at least partially protruding from the body, the tab including a first coupling aperture and a second coupling aperture; a first extension assembly configured to move the tab between the retracted position and the extended position, the first extension assembly comprising a first extension head pivotably positioned within the first coupling aperture of the tab and a first drive screw to control extension of the first extension assembly by extending the first extension head; and a second extension assembly configured to move the tab between the retracted position and the extended position, the second extension assembly comprising a second extension head pivotably positioned within the second coupling aperture of the tab and a second drive screw to control extension of the second extension assembly by extending the second extension head, wherein the second drive screw is non-coaxial to the first drive screw. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein each of the first and second extension assemblies are configured to independently move different portions of the tab between the retracted position and the extended position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24, further comprising a position locking mechanism operably coupled with each of the first and second extension assemblies and configured to provide a plurality of locking positions that the first and second extension assemblies are biased to stay in by the position locking mechanism, wherein the position locking mechanism comprises a dial operably coupled with one of the first and second extension assemblies such that when the one of the first and second extension assemblies is rotated the dial is also rotated. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The device of claim 25, wherein the position locking mechanism comprises one or more stops operably coupled with the dial such that when the one of the first and second extension assemblies is in one of the locking positions the interface between the dial and the stops provides a biasing force that resists the movement of the one of the first and second extension assemblies out of the one of the locking positions. ### Claim 27 A method of implanting a bone fusion device into a desired location, the method comprising: inserting the bone fusion device in the desired location, wherein the bone fusion device comprises a body, a tab configured to selectively move from a retracted position adjacent to the body to an extended position at least partially protruding from the body, the tab including a first coupling aperture and a second coupling aperture, a first extension assembly configured to move the tab between the retracted position and the extended position, the first extension assembly comprising a first extension head pivotably positioned within the first coupling aperture of the tab and a first drive screw to control extension of the first extension assembly by extending the first extension head, and a second extension assembly configured to move the tab between the retracted position and the extended position, the second extension assembly comprising a second extension head pivotably positioned within the second coupling aperture of the tab and a second drive screw to control extension of the second extension assembly by extending the second extension head, wherein the second drive screw is non-coaxial to the first drive screw; and extending the tab from the retracted position to a position at least partially outside an interior cavity by moving at least one of the first drive screw and the second drive screw causing at least one of the first extension head and the second extension head to push against one of the first and second coupling apertures. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising adjusting an amount which a first portion of the tab coupled to the first drive mechanism is extended compared to an amount which a second portion of the tab coupled to the second drive mechanism is extended such that an angle of the tab with respect to the body is adjusted. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms comprise a worm gear operably coupled between the first or second drive screw and the first or second extension heads such that rotation of the first or second drive screw rotates the worm gear which retracts or extends the first or second extension head into or out of the worm gear. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of the first and second drive screws is accessible through a first lateral side of the body and at least another one of the first and second drive screws is accessible through a second lateral side of the body. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the device further comprises a support webbing positioned within the interior cavity of the body between one or more walls of the interior cavity and an exterior of the worm gears such that the support webbing resists lateral movement of the worm gears with respect to the walls of the interior cavity. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the body has a bottom surface and an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is angled with respect to the bottom surface. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising removably filling one or more holes with one or more plugs, wherein the body and the tab comprise the one or more holes, which extend from outside the device to an inner cavity of the body and are configured to be removably filled by the one or more plugs. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, wherein the one or more plugs comprise bone material. ### Claim 35 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the tab comprises one or more tangs positioned along a perimeter of a top surface of the tab and fit within recesses in a top surface of the body when the tab is in the retracted position. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein one or more of the one or more tangs extend from the perimeter of the tab to a perimeter of the body. ### Claim 37 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising retracting the tab of the bone fusion device into the retracted position before inserting the bone fusion device into the desired location.