Expandable, adjustable inter-body fusion devices and methods
AssigneeSpectrum Spine IP Holdings, LLC
InventorJames C. Robinson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expandable, adjustable inter-body fusion device is presented. The inter-body fusion device can have a first plate, a second plate, and an insert positioned substantially there between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, and the insert define an interior cavity. Moving the insert longitudinally with respect to the first and second plates increases or decreases the distance of the first plate with respect to the second plate, effectively expanding the inter-body fusion device and increasing the volume of the interior cavity. The angle between the first plate and the second plate is selectively adjustable.
Claims9
A method of using an expandable inter-body fusion device during an interbody fusion procedure, the method comprises:
- inserting an expandable inter-body fusion device into a patient, the device comprising:
- a first plate having a longitudinal axis L1 extending between a first end and a second end and an upper bone contact surface;
- a second plate having a longitudinal axis L2 extending between a first end and a second end and a lower bone contact surface;
- the first end of the first plate disposed over and spaced a first distance from the first end of the second plate and the second end of the first plate disposed over and spaced a second distance from the second end of the second plate;
- and
- an insert disposed between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the insert comprises a first member and a second member along an insert longitudinal axis L3 between the longitudinal axes L1 and L2,
- wherein the first member is selectively adjustable positionally such that the height of the device can be selectively adjusted and that a device angle between the upper bone contact surface and the lower bone contact surface are adjustable independently from the second member and the second member is similarly selectively positionally adjustable independently from the first member,
- wherein the second member includes a bore along the insert longitudinal axis L3 that is configured to allow insertion of an actuation device through the bore to engage a portion of the first member;
- wherein the first member is adjustable along the insert longitudinal axis L3 to increase or decrease the first distance and the second member is adjustable along the insert longitudinal axis L3 to increase or decrease the second distance, and
- expanding the expandable inter-body fusion device from an unexpanded position having a first interior cavity volume to an expanded position having a second interior cavity volume that is greater than the first interior cavity volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.