# US 12,004,963 B2 · Expandable spinal implant system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,963 B2 - Document ID: US12004963B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/705,701 - Filed: 2022-03-28 - Published: 2022-07-14 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-16 - Assignees: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. - Applicants: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. - Inventors: Adriaan J. Kuyler; Anthony J. Melkent; Keith E. Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004963B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section} - A61F 2/4601: {for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity} - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61B 2017/564: {Methods for bone or joint treatment} - 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 2/4603: {for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof} - A61F 2002/30266: {wedge-shaped parallelepipeds} - A61F 2002/30331: {made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit} - A61F 2002/30405: {made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves} - A61F 2002/30411: {having two threaded end parts connected by a threaded central part with opposite threads at its opposite ends, i.e. for adjusting the distance between both end parts by rotating the central part} - A61F 2002/30471: {connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type} - A61F 2002/30482: {using a locking cam} - 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 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation} - A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness} - A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices} - A61F 2002/30593: {hollow} - A61F 2002/3093: {for promoting ingrowth of bone tissue} - 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} - A61F 2002/4629: {connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection} - A61F 2002/4631: {the prosthesis being specially adapted for being cemented} - A61F 2220/0091: connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type - 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 An expandable spinal implant is provided having a frame with a distal wall for retaining an expansion plug such that bone growth promoting material may be introduced to a proximal portion of the implant after expansion. Various implants, systems and methods are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expandable spinal implant configured to be deployed between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the expandable spinal implant comprising: a frame having an aperture therethrough; a plug movably disposed in the aperture, the plug including a first post and a second post; a first endplate pivotally engaged with the frame, the first endplate including a first channel configured to receive the first post, wherein the first endplate is configured to pivot outward from the frame as the plug is moved in a distal direction; and a second endplate pivotally engaged with the frame, the second endplate including a second channel configured to receive the second post, wherein the second endplate is configured to pivot outward from the frame as the plug is moved in the distal direction, wherein the first channel is formed in a first wall of the first endplate, and the second channel is formed in a second wall of the second endplate, the first wall being closer to a mid-longitudinal axis of the spinal implant than the second wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The expandable spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the first post positioned in the first channel directly engages portions of the first endplate surrounding the first channel, and the second post positioned in the second channel directly engages portions of the second endplate surrounding the second channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The expandable spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the first endplate includes an upper surface, a first endplate proximal end, a first endplate distal end, and the first channel extends from a first position positioned adjacent the upper surface to a second position removed from the upper surface and closer to the first endplate distal end than the first position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The expandable spinal implant of claim 3, wherein the second endplate includes a lower surface, a second endplate proximal end, a second endplate distal end, and the second channel extends from a third position positioned adjacent the lower surface to a fourth position removed from the lower surface and closer to the second endplate distal end than the third position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The expandable spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises a threaded outer surface and a head, the first post and the second post are provided on the head, and the aperture of the frame includes a threaded inner surface operably engaged with the threaded outer surface of the plug. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The expandable spinal implant of claim 5, wherein rotation of the plug is translated into linear movement of the head, the first post, and the second post toward a distal end of the implant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The expandable spinal implant of claim 6, wherein the head is at least in part wedged shaped, and the head is configured to contact and urge the first endplate and the second endplate to pivot away from the frame as the plug is moved in the distal direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The expandable spinal implant of claim 7, wherein the head includes a first ramped surface and a second ramped surface configured to contact a first inner angled surface of the first endplate and a second inner angled surface of the second endplate, respectively. ### Claim 9 An expandable spinal implant configured to be deployed between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the expandable spinal implant comprising: a frame having an aperture therethrough; a plug movably disposed in the aperture, the plug including a head having, a first post, a second post, a first ramped surface, and a second ramped surface; a first endplate pivotally engaged with the frame, the first endplate including a first wall, a first channel, and a first angled surface, wherein the first channel is formed in the first wall and the first post is configured engage portions of the first wall surrounding the first channel, the first ramped surface of the plug is configured to engage the first angled surface of the first endplate, and movement of the plug in a distal direction causes the first endplate to pivot outward from the frame via interaction of the first post in the first channel and interaction of the first ramped surface with the first angled surface; and a second endplate pivotally engaged with the frame, the second endplate including a second wall, a second channel, and a second angled surface, wherein the second channel is formed in the second wall and the second post is configured to engage portions of the second wall surrounding the second channel, the second ramped surface of the plug is configured to engage the second angled surface of the second endplate, and movement of the plug in the distal direction causes the second endplate to pivot outward from the frame via interaction of the second position in the second channel and interaction of the second ramped surface with the second angled surface; wherein the first channel is formed in a first wall of the first endplate, and the second channel is formed in a second wall of the second endplate, the first wall being closer to a mid-longitudinal axis of the spinal implant than the second wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The expandable spinal implant of claim 9, wherein the first endplate includes an upper surface, a first endplate proximal end, a first endplate distal end, and the first angled surface extends from a first position positioned adjacent the upper surface to a second position removed from the upper surface and closer to the first endplate distal end than the first position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The expandable spinal implant of claim 10, wherein the second endplate includes a lower surface, a second endplate proximal end, a second endplate distal end, and the second angled surface extends from a third position positioned adjacent the lower surface to a fourth position removed from the lower surface and closer to the second endplate distal end than the third position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The expandable spinal implant of claim 9, wherein the first angled surface and the second angled surface of the head form a wedge shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The expandable spinal implant of claim 9, wherein the plug comprises a threaded outer surface, and the aperture of the frame includes a threaded inner surface operably engaged with the threaded outer surface of the plug. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The expandable spinal implant of claim 13, wherein rotation of the plug is translated into linear movement of the head, the first angled surface, and the second angled surface toward a distal end of the implant. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The expandable spinal implant of claim 14, wherein the linear movement of the head moves the first post within the first channel and moves the second post within the second channel. ### Claim 16 An expandable spinal implant comprising: a frame having an aperture therethrough; a plug including a first post and a second post; a first endplate pivotally engaged with the frame, the first endplate including a first channel configured to receive the first post; and a second endplate pivotally engaged with the frame, the second endplate including a second channel configured to receive the second post; wherein the first endplate and the second endplate are each configured to pivot outward from the frame as the plug is moved in a distal direction; wherein the first channel is formed in a first wall of the first endplate, and the second channel is formed in a second wall of the second endplate, the first wall being closer to a mid-longitudinal axis of the spinal implant than the second wall. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The expandable spinal implant of claim 16, wherein the first endplate includes an upper surface, a first endplate proximal end, a first endplate distal end, and the first channel extends from a first position positioned adjacent the upper surface to a second position removed from the upper surface and closer to the first endplate distal end than the first position, and the second endplate includes a lower surface, a second endplate proximal end, a second endplate distal end, and the second channel extends from a third position positioned adjacent the lower surface to a fourth position removed from the lower surface and closer to the second endplate distal end than the third position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The expandable spinal implant of claim 16, wherein the plug comprises a threaded outer surface and a head, the first post and the second post are provided on the head, and the aperture of the frame includes a threaded inner surface operably engaged with the threaded outer surface of the plug. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The expandable spinal implant of claim 18, wherein rotation of the plug is translated into linear movement of the head, the first post, and the second post toward a distal end of the implant.