Back to results
US 12,004,964 B2Granted
Expandable interbodies and related methods
AssigneeAlphatec Spine, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Reimels, Max C. Zemezonak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to expandable interbodies that include superior and inferior shells and a control assembly positioned between and inside of the shells, the control assembly including nested cages operably connected to each other with an adjustment screw. Rotation of the adjustment screw translates the cages relative to each other, which in turn causes the shells to open or expand.
Claims19
An expandable interbody comprising:
- a superior shell having two side walls, each of the superior shell side walls having at least one angled channel;
- an inferior shell having two side walls, each of the inferior superior shell side walls having at least one angled channel;
- and
- a control member comprising interlocking proximal and distal cages and an adjustment screw defining a longitudinal axis, the adjustment screw configured to engage with the proximal and distal cages;
- wherein the proximal cage comprises at least one superior lateral projection and at least one inferior lateral projection, each lateral projection of the proximal cage configured to engage with one of the angled channels of the superior and inferior shells;
- wherein the distal cage comprises at least one superior lateral projection and at least one inferior lateral projection, each lateral projection of the distal cage configured to engage with one of the angled channels of the superior and inferior shells;
- and
- wherein rotation of the adjustment screw causes the distal cage to move longitudinally relative to the proximal cage, which in turn causes the expandable interbody to expand or contract in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.
5 more elements
An expandable interbody comprising:
- a superior shell having two side walls, each of the superior shell side walls having a plurality of angled channels;
- an inferior shell having two side walls, each of the inferior shell side walls having a plurality of angled channels;
- and
- a control member comprising interlocking proximal and distal cages and an adjustment screw defining a longitudinal axis, the adjustment screw configured to engage with the proximal and distal cages;
- wherein the proximal cage comprises a plurality of superior lateral projections and a plurality of inferior lateral projections, each lateral projection of the proximal cage configured to engage with a respective one of the angled channels of the superior and inferior shells;
- wherein the distal cage comprises a plurality of superior lateral projections and a plurality of inferior lateral projections, each lateral projection of the distal cage configured to engage with a respective one of the angled channels of the superior and inferior shells;
- and
- wherein rotation of the adjustment screw causes the distal cage to move longitudinally relative to the proximal cage, which in turn causes the expandable interbody to expand or contract in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.