# US 11,998,455 B2 · Systems and methods for expandable corpectomy spacer implantation

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- Number: US 11,998,455 B2
- Document ID: US11998455B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/151,541
- Filed: 2023-01-09
- Published: 2023-08-17
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-14
- Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: George Howard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998455B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine}
- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- A61F 2/30744: {End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity}
- A61F 2/44: for the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs
- 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 2/446: {having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones}
- A61F 2002/30224: {cylindrical}
- A61F 2002/30235: {tubular, e.g. sleeves}
- A61F 2002/30405: {made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves}
- A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection}
- A61F 2002/30505: {spring biased}
- A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30601: {telescopic}
- A61F 2002/30616: {Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations}
- A61F 2002/30784: {Plurality of holes}
- A61F 2002/30818: {castellated or crenellated}
- A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes}
- 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 2002/4495: {having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres}
- 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)

## Abstract

An implant assembly including an expandable vertebral body replacement implant. Two outer cores disposed on opposing ends of an inner are configured to move away from each other when the inner core is actuated. The implant assembly may include removable endplate configured to engage vertebral bodies as interbody spacer or through a corpectomy. The implant may include a locking mechanism to prevent collapse or movement the implant assembly after implantation. The locking mechanism may be automatically engage after removal of an inserter instrument from the implant assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for stabilizing spinal elements comprising the steps of:
providing an implant assembly for engagement between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body comprising:
an inner core extending between a first end and a second end;
a first outer core disposed on the first end; and
a second outer core disposed on the second end,
wherein the inner core is configured to be actuated in a first direction to move the first outer core and second outer core to an expanded configuration and wherein the inner core is configured to be actuated in a second direction to move the first outer core and the second outer core to a collapsed configuration;
wherein the first outer core and the second outer core contain one or more mating rails to prevent rotation of the first outer core and the second outer core during expansion; and
positioning the implant assembly between the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the first outer core is configured to engage the first vertebral body and the second outer core is configured to engage the second vertebral body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the inner core includes left handed threading on the first end and right handed threading on the second end.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the inner core contains central holes configured to be engaged by an inserter instrument.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the first outer core and the second outer core contain one or more protrusions configured to engage one of the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the first outer core and the second outer core are configured to receive a removable end plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the removable endplate contains a relief to engage a counter relief on one of the first outer core and the second outer core.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the first outer core and the second outer core relative to the inner core.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to automatically lock the first outer core and the second outer core relative to the inner core via a spring mechanism.

### Claim 10

A method for stabilizing spinal elements comprising the steps of:
providing an implant assembly for engagement between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body comprising:
an inner core extending between a first end and a second end;
a first outer core disposed on the first end;
a second outer core disposed on the second end;
a first endplate configured to removably attach to the first outer core;
a second endplate configured to removably attach to the second outer core;
wherein the inner core is configured to be actuated in a first direction to move the first outer core and second outer core to an expanded configuration and wherein the inner core is configured to be actuated in a second direction to move the first outer core and the second outer core to a collapsed configuration;
wherein the first outer core and the second outer core contain one or more mating rails to prevent rotation of the first outer core and the second outer core during expansion; and
positioning the implant assembly between the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the first endplate is configured to engage the first vertebral body and the second endplate is configured to engage the second vertebral body.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the inner core includes left handed threading on the first end and right handed threading on the second end.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the inner core contains central holes configured to be engaged by an inserter instrument.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the first endplate and the second endplate contain one or more protrusions configured to engage one of the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the first outer core and the second outer core contain undercuts configured to engage one of the first endplate and the second endplate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the first endplate and the second endplate contains a relief to engage a counter relief on one of the first outer core and the second outer core.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the first outer core and the second outer core relative to the inner core.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to automatically lock the first outer core and the second outer core relative to the inner core via a spring mechanism.