# US 11,992,420 B2 · Spinal implant system

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- Number: US 11,992,420 B2
- Document ID: US11992420B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/129,558
- Filed: 2023-03-31
- Published: 2023-08-03
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2018-02-14
- Assignees: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
- Applicants: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
- Inventors: Thomas J. Stinchfield; Julien J. Prevost; Robert M. Loke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992420B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine}
- A61F 2/44: for the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs
- A61F 2/4425: {made of articulated components}
- A61F 2/446: {having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones}
- A61B 17/7059: {Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence)}
- A61B 2017/0256: {for the spine}
- 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 2/4455: {for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442)}
- A61F 2002/30224: {cylindrical}
- A61F 2002/30332: {Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess}
- A61F 2002/30367: {with additional means for preventing said rotation}
- A61F 2002/30378: {Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess}
- A61F 2002/30426: {Bayonet coupling}
- A61F 2002/30495: {using a locking ring}
- A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection}
- A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw}
- A61F 2002/30523: {by means of meshing gear teeth}
- A61F 2002/30537: {adjustable}
- A61F 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation}
- A61F 2002/3055: {for adjusting length}
- A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness}
- A61F 2002/30601: {telescopic}
- A61F 2002/30604: {modular}
- A61F 2002/30649: {Ball-and-socket joints}
- A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes}
- A61F 2002/4415: {elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner}
- A61F 2002/443: {having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component}
- 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: 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 spinal implant system is provided for bridging an intervertebral space between vertebral bodies bordering the intervertebral space. The spinal implant system includes at least one adjustable end cap and a spinal implant. The end cap can be used with additional end caps and/or the spinal implant. Multiple end caps can be stacked on top of one another, and one end cap can be attached to a first end of the spinal implant, and another end cap can be attached to a second end of the spinal implant. Thus, one or more of the end caps can be attached to either end of the spinal implant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An end cap comprising:
a base portion including a lower portion and an upper portion,
the lower portion including a first end, an opposite second end, a perimeter, an axis extending through the first end and the second end of the lower portion, a lower surface, and a plurality of sidewall portions, the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion being positioned around portions of the perimeter of the lower portion, the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion including inner surfaces, the lower surface and the inner surfaces of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion defining a cavity, the inner surfaces of at least two of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion each including a tab extending into the cavity, and the lower portion having a maximum dimension perpendicular to the axis of the lower portion, and
the upper portion including a first end, an opposite second end, an axis extending through the first end and the second end of the upper portion, and an exterior surface extending between the first end and the second end of the upper portion, the first end of the upper portion being attached to the lower portion, the upper portion having a maximum dimension perpendicular to the axis of the upper portion that is less than the maximum dimension of the lower portion, the exterior surface including a tapered portion adjacent the second end of the upper portion having a first step portion and a second step portion, and the second step portion being closer to the second end of the upper portion than the first step portion, and
a body portion including a first end, an opposite second end, a sidewall portion, a flange portion, and a recess, the sidewall portion extending from adjacent the first end of the body portion to adjacent the second end of the body portion, the flange portion being provided at the second end of the body portion, and the recess provided in the sidewall portion adjacent the flange portion, the sidewall portion having an axis and defining an interior cavity for receiving a portion of the upper portion of the base portion, the interior cavity having an engagement surface provided therein;
wherein the body portion is positionable with respect to the base portion by adjusting the position of the engagement surface of the interior cavity of the body portion on the tapered portion of the upper portion of the base portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The end cap of claim 1, wherein the sidewall portion of the body portion includes an exterior surface and an aperture extending from the exterior surface to the interior cavity, and the end cap further comprises a fastener received in the aperture for impinging on the upper portion of the base portion, impingement of the fastener on the exterior surface of the upper portion of the base portion serving to fix the position of the body portion with respect to the base portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The end cap of claim 2, wherein the position of the body portion with respect to the base portion can be maintained with the axes of the sidewall of the body portion and the base portion one of aligned with respect to one another and oriented at acute angles with respect to one another.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The end cap of claim 3, wherein the flange portion includes an upper surface, and the upper surface of flange portion moves relative to the axis of the upper portion at least ±10 degrees via positioning of the body portion relative to the base portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The end cap of claim 1, wherein the cavity of the end cap is configured to receive one of a second flange portion of a spinal implant and a third flange of a second end cap similar to the end cap, the tabs of the end cap are configured to be received in a corresponding one of a second recess of the spinal implant and a third recess of the second end cap similar to the end cap to facilitate attachment of the end cap to a corresponding one of the spinal implant and the second end cap similar to the end cap.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The end cap of claim 5, wherein each of the at least two of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion including the tabs are moveable between a first position where the tabs are received in the one of the second recess of the spinal implant and the third recess of the second end cap similar to the end cap, and a second position that allows the one of the second flange portion of the spinal implant and the third flange portion of the second end cap similar to the end cap to pass thereby.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The end cap of claim 5 in combination with the second end cap, the second end cap comprising:
a first end, an opposite second end, a base portion, and a body portion,
wherein the body portion of the second end cap includes a first end, an opposite second end, a sidewall portion, the third flange portion, and the third recess, the sidewall portion of the second end cap extending from adjacent the first end of the body portion of the second end cap to adjacent the second end of the body portion of the second end cap, the third flange portion being provided at the second end of the body portion of the second end cap, and the third recess provided in the sidewall portion adjacent the third flange portion; and
wherein the third flange of the second end cap is received in the cavity of the end cap, and the tabs of the end cap are received in the third recess of the second end cap.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The combination of end cap and the second end cap of claim 7,
wherein the base portion of the second end cap includes a lower portion and an upper portion,
the lower portion of the second end cap including a first end, an opposite second end, a perimeter, an axis extending through the first end and the second end of the lower portion of the second end cap, a lower surface, and a plurality of sidewall portions, the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion of the second end cap being positioned around portions of the perimeter of the lower portion of the second end cap, the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion of the second end cap including inner surfaces, the lower surface and the inner surfaces of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion of the second end cap defining a cavity, the inner surfaces of at least two of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion of the second end cap each including a tab extending into the cavity of the second end cap, and the lower portion of the second end cap having a maximum dimension perpendicular to the axis, and
the upper portion of the second end cap including a first end, an opposite second end, an axis extending through the first end and the second end of the upper portion of the second end cap, and an exterior surface extending between the first end and the second end of the upper portion of the second end cap, the first end of the upper portion of the second end cap being attached to the lower portion of the second end cap, the upper portion of the second end cap having a maximum dimension perpendicular to the axis of the upper portion of the second end cap that is less than the maximum dimension of the lower portion of the second end cap, the exterior surface of the second end cap including a tapered portion adjacent the second end of the upper portion of the second end cap having a first step portion and a second step portion, and the second step portion of the second end cap being closer to the second end of the upper portion of the second end cap than the first step portion of the second end cap;
wherein the sidewall portion of the second end cap has an axis and defines an interior cavity for receiving a portion of the upper portion of the base portion of the second end cap, the interior cavity of the second end cap having an engagement surface therein for contacting at least a portion of the tapered portion of the upper portion of the base portion of the second end cap.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The combination of the end cap and the second end cap of claim 8, wherein the end cap is rotatably attached to the second end cap and capable of rotation by rotating the cavity with respect to the third flange.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The combination of the end cap and the second end cap of claim 8, wherein the sidewall portion of the body portion of the second end cap includes an exterior surface and an aperture extending from the exterior surface of the second end cap to the interior cavity of the second end cap, and the second end cap further comprises a fastener received in the aperture of the second end cap for impinging on the upper portion of the base portion of the second end cap, impingement of the fastener of the second end cap on the exterior surface of the upper portion of the base portion of the second end cap serving to fix the position of the body portion of the second end cap with respect to the base portion of the second end cap.

### Claim 11

An end cap comprising:
a base portion including a lower portion and an upper portion,
the lower portion including a first end, an opposite second end, a perimeter, an axis extending through the first end and the second end of the base portion, a lower surface, and a plurality of sidewall portions, the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion being positioned around portions of the perimeter of the lower portion, the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion including inner surfaces, the lower surface and the inner surfaces of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion defining a cavity, and the inner surfaces of at least two of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion each including a tab extending into the cavity, and
the upper portion including a first end, an opposite second end, an axis extending through the first end and the second end of the upper portion, and an exterior surface extending between the first end and the second end of the upper portion, the first end of the upper portion being attached to the lower portion, the exterior surface including a tapered portion adjacent the second end of the upper portion having a first step portion and a second step portion, and the second step portion being closer to the second end of the upper portion than the first step portion,
and
a body portion including a first end, an opposite second end, a sidewall portion, a flange portion, and a recess, the sidewall portion extending from adjacent the first end of the body portion to adjacent the second end of the body portion, the flange portion being provided at the second end of the body portion, and the recess provided in the sidewall portion adjacent the flange portion, the sidewall portion having an axis and defining an interior cavity for receiving a portion of the upper portion of the base portion, the interior cavity having an engagement surface provided therein;
wherein the body portion is positionable with respect to the base portion by adjusting the position of the engagement surface of the interior cavity of the body portion on the tapered portion of the upper portion of the base portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The end cap of claim 11, wherein each of the at least two of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion including the tabs are moveable between a first position where the tabs are received in one of a second recess of a spinal implant and a third recess of a second end cap similar to the end cap, and a second position that allows one of a second flange portion of the spinal implant and a third flange portion of the second end cap similar to the end cap to pass thereby.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The end cap of claim 11, wherein the sidewall portion of the body portion includes an exterior surface and an aperture extending from the exterior surface to the interior cavity, and the end cap further comprises a fastener received in the aperture for impinging on the upper portion of the base portion, impingement of the fastener on the exterior surface of the upper portion of the base portion serving to fix the position of the body portion with respect to the base portion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The end cap of claim 11, wherein the position of the body portion with respect to the base portion can be maintained with the axes of the sidewall of the body portion and the base portion one of aligned with respect to one another and oriented at acute angles with respect to one another.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The end cap of claim 14, wherein the axis of the sidewall portion is moveable relative to the axis of the upper portion at least ±10 degrees via positioning of the body portion relative to the base portion.

### Claim 16

An end cap comprising:
a base portion including a lower portion and an upper portion,
the lower portion including a first end, an opposite second end, a perimeter, an axis extending through the first end and the second end of the lower portion, a lower surface, and a plurality of sidewall portions, the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion being positioned around portions of the perimeter of the lower portion, the lower surface and the inner surfaces of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion defining a cavity, the inner surfaces of at least two of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion each including a tab extending into the cavity, and
the upper portion including a first end, an opposite second end, an axis extending through the first end and the second end of the upper portion, and an exterior surface extending between the first end and the second end of the upper portion, the first end of the upper portion being attached to the lower portion, the exterior surface including a tapered portion adjacent the second end of the upper portion having a first step portion and a second step portion, and
a body portion including a first end, an opposite second end, a sidewall portion, a flange portion, and a recess, the sidewall portion extending from adjacent the first end of the body portion to adjacent the second end of the body portion, the flange portion being provided at the second end of the body portion, and the recess provided in the sidewall portion adjacent the flange portion, the sidewall portion having an axis and defining an interior cavity for receiving a portion of the upper portion of the base portion, the interior cavity having an engagement surface provided therein;
wherein the body portion is positionable with respect to the base portion by adjusting the position of the engagement surface of the interior cavity of the body portion on the tapered portion of the upper portion of the base portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The end cap of claim 16, wherein each of the at least two of the plurality of sidewall portions of the lower portion including the tabs are moveable between a first position where the tabs are received in one of a second recess of a spinal implant and a third recess of a second end cap similar to the end cap, and a second position that allows the one of the second flange portion of the spinal implant and the third flange portion of the second end cap similar to the end cap to pass thereby.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The end cap of claim 16, wherein the sidewall portion of the body portion includes an exterior surface and an aperture extending from the exterior surface to the interior cavity, and the end cap further comprises a fastener received in the aperture for impinging on the upper portion of the base portion, impingement of the fastener on the exterior surface of the upper portion of the base portion serving to fix the position of the body portion with respect to the base portion.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The end cap of claim 16, wherein the position of the body portion with respect to the base portion can be maintained with the axes of the sidewall of the body portion and the base portion one of aligned with respect to one another and oriented at acute angles with respect to one another.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The end cap of claim 19, wherein the axis of the sidewall portion is moveable relative to the axis of the upper portion at least ±10 degrees via positioning of the body portion relative to the base portion.