# US 11,896,501 B2 · Expandable implant expansion driver

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- Number: US 11,896,501 B2
- Document ID: US11896501B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/146,179
- Filed: 2022-12-23
- Published: 2023-05-04
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-19
- Assignees: NuVasive, Inc.
- Applicants: NuVasive, Inc.
- Inventors: Thomas Sweeney
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896501B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- 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)}
- A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section}
- F16H 1/222: {with non-parallel axes}
- 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 2002/30331: {made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit}
- A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw}
- A61F 2002/30515: {using a locking wedge or block}
- A61F 2002/30523: {by means of meshing gear teeth}
- A61F 2002/30537: {adjustable}
- 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 2002/4625: {with relative movement between parts of the instrument during use}
- A61F 2002/4627: {with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument}
- F16H 2048/082: {characterised by the arrangement of output shafts}
- F16H 2048/106: {characterised by two sun gears}
- 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)
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

This disclosure includes an expansion driver for adjusting expandable implants, the expansion driver including: a first driver having a first gear disposed at a first end thereof; and a second driver having a second gear disposed at a first end of the second driver; and a handle operably connected to the first driver and the second driver, the handle having at least one bevel gear rotatably attached thereto, the at least one bevel gear engaging each of the first gear and the second gear; wherein upon a rotation of the handle a torque is applied to at least one of the first driver or the second driver.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An expansion driver configured to adjust an expandable implant, comprising:
a first driver having a first gear disposed at a first end thereof, and a second end that is opposite the first end and configured to engage a first actuator of the expandable implant;
a second driver having a second gear disposed at a first end thereof, and a second end that is opposite the first end and configured to engage a second actuator of the expandable implant, the first driver disposed about the second driver and the second gear opposing the first gear;
a housing configured to enclose at least a portion of a shaft of the first driver and at least a portion of a shaft of the second driver;
a handle disposed over the housing and having at least one bevel gear rotatably attached thereto, the at least one bevel gear configured to engage each of the first gear and the second gear; and
a threaded cap configured to engage the handle to secure the first end of the first driver and the first end of the second driver within the handle;
the handle being operably connected to the first gear of the first driver and the second gear of the second driver, wherein upon a rotation of the handle, a torque is applied to at least one of the first driver or the second driver, thereby adjusting the expandable implant.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The expansion driver of claim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one locking projection disposed on a distal end thereof, the at least one locking projection being configured to removably secure the expandable implant to the expansion driver.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The expansion driver of claim 2, wherein each locking projection of the at least one locking projection comprises a locking tab.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The expansion driver of claim 2, wherein the at least one locking projection includes two locking projections.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The expansion driver of claim 2, wherein the expansion driver is configured to be removably secured to the expandable implant prior to placement of the expandable implant into an intervertebral space of a patient.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The expansion driver of claim 5, wherein the expansion driver is configured to insert, place, and adjust a dimension of the expandable implant within the intervertebral space of the patient.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The expansion driver of claim 1, wherein the first driver is annularly disposed about the second driver.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The expansion driver of claim 7, wherein the first driver and the second driver are coaxial.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The expansion driver of claim 7, wherein the first driver is configured to rotate around the second driver, and the second driver is configured to rotate within the first driver.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The expansion driver of claim 1, wherein the first driver and the second driver are each configured to rotate independently of the other.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The expansion driver of claim 1, wherein the second end of the first driver includes a keyed shape configured to communicate with a complementary contact surface of the first actuator, and the second end of the second driver includes a keyed shape configured to communicate with a complementary contact surface of the second actuator of the expandable implant.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The expansion driver of claim 1, wherein the at least one bevel gear comprises a first bevel gear and a second bevel gear configured to engage the first gear and the second gear, respectively.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The expansion driver of claim 12, wherein the handle is configured such that upon the rotation of the handle, the torque is transferred from the handle to the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear,
wherein the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear are configured to rotate the first driver and the second driver.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The expansion driver of claim 12, wherein when a first amount of resistance on the first driver is less than a second amount of resistance on the second driver, the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear are configured to rotate the first driver.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The expansion driver of claim 12, wherein when a first amount of resistance on the first driver is more than a second amount of resistance on the second driver, the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear are configured to rotate the second driver.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The expansion driver of claim 12, wherein when a first amount of resistance on the first driver is equal to a second amount of resistance on the second driver, the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear are configured to rotate both the first driver and the second driver.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The expansion driver of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to enclose the first end of the first driver and the first end of the second driver.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The expansion driver of claim 1, wherein the expansion driver is configured to deliver one or more of simultaneous and equal amounts of torque to both the first actuator and the second actuator of the expandable implant, and wherein the expandable implant includes two independent expansion mechanisms to allow for independent expansion of a first portion and a second portion of the expandable implant.