# US 12,178,715 B2 · Expandable fusion devices and methods of installation thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,715 B2 - Document ID: US12178715B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/933,871 - Filed: 2022-09-21 - Published: 2023-01-19 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-16 - Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Kurt Faulhaber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178715B2 ## CPC - 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 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section} - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61F 2002/30487: {Circumferential cooperating grooves and beads on cooperating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection} - A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection} - A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness} - A61F 2002/30593: {hollow} - A61F 2002/30836: {knurled} - A61F 2002/30843: {Pyramidally-shaped} - 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: 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 Exemplary embodiments of apparatuses and methods of an expandable fusion device are provided. In one embodiment, an intervertebral implant can be provided, having a first endplate having an upper surface and a lower surface, a second endplate having an upper surface and a lower surface. A first side wall extends from the first endplate and a second side wall extends from the second endplate and are configured to engage one another to provide a selective variable height between the first endplate and the second endplate. The first side wall and the second side wall form a substantially hollow portion substantially enclosed by the first endplate, second endplate and the side walls. The substantially hollow portion is configured to receive bone growth inducing material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An intervertebral implant, comprising: a first endplate having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the first endplate comprises a first side wall that extends from the first endplate; and a second endplate having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the second endplate includes a second side wall that extends from the second endplate; an engagement mechanism for engaging the first sidewall to the second sidewall and configured to provide a selective height between the first endplate and the second endplate; and a fixation member capable of engaging an adjacent vertebra, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises an opening for receiving the fixation member to secure the implant to the adjacent vertebra, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are configured to engage one another and provide a selective height between the first endplate and the second endplate; wherein the first side wall and the second side wall form a substantially hollow portion substantially enclosed by the first endplate, second endplate, first side wall and the second side wall; and wherein the substantially hollow portion is configured to receive bone growth inducing material, a drive plate provided within an end cap, the drive plate comprising a first spike configured to advance from the drive plate and engage with a vertebral body for securing the intervertebral implant to a vertebral body above the first endplate, and a second spike configured to advance from the drive plate and engage with a vertebral body for securing the intervertebral implant to a vertebral body below the second endplate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The intervertebral implant of claim 1, wherein the first side wall is integral with the first endplate and the second sidewall is integral with the second endplate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The intervertebral implant of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a plurality of rails along a length of an outer portion of the first sidewall from a proximal end to a distal end and a plurality of grooves along a length of an inner portion of the second sidewall from a proximal end to a distal end for selective engagement with the one or more rails. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The intervertebral implant of claim 3, wherein the first sidewall comprises a wall extending from a first side, a second opposing side and a distal end of the first endplate, and the second sidewall comprises a wall extending from a first side, a second opposing side and a distal end of the second endplate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The intervertebral implant of claim 4, further comprising: an opening between a proximal end of the first endplate and a proximal end of the second endplate configured to allow placement of an implant holder therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The intervertebral implant of claim 5, further comprising: an implant holder interface provided along an outer portion of the second sidewall at opposing ends and configured to secure the intervertebral implant to an implant holder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The intervertebral implant of claim 6, further comprising: an end cap interface provided along an outer portion of the second sidewall at opposing ends. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The intervertebral implant of claim 7, wherein the end cap is configured to be secured to the end cap interface of the second sidewall engaging a wall of the lower surface of the first endplate and the upper surface of the second endplate, the end cap configured to prevent displacement of the first endplate with respect to the second endplate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The intervertebral implant of claim 8, wherein the end cap seals the opening between the proximal end of the first endplate and the proximal end of the second endplate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The intervertebral implant of claim 9, further comprising: a securing mechanism in the end cap for securing the intervertebral implant to a vertebral body above the first endplate and a vertebral body below the second endplate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The intervertebral implant of claim 3, wherein the substantially hollow portion is configured for placement of a cam, and configured to displace and engage the engagement mechanism as the cam is rotated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The intervertebral implant of claim 1, wherein the first and second spikes are configured to advance as a driver engaged with the drive plate is turned. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The intervertebral implant of claim 1, further comprising: one or more slots between the upper surface of the first endplate to the lower surface of the first endplate configured to allow fusion of bone growth inducing material within the intervertebral implant and a vertebral body above the first endplate; and one or more slots extending from the upper surface of the second endplate to the lower surface of the second endplate configured to allow fusion of bone growth inducing material within the intervertebral implant and a vertebral body below the second endplate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The intervertebral implant of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the first endplate comprises texturing for engaging with a vertebral body and a lower surface of the second endplate comprises texturing for engaging with a vertebral body. ### Claim 15 An intervertebral implant, comprising: an upper endplate having a proximal end, a distal end, a first side and an opposing second side; a lower endplate having a proximal end, a distal end, a first side and an opposing second side; a first sidewall extending along the first side, distal end and second side of the upper endplate towards the lower endplate; a second sidewall extending along the first side, distal end and second side of the lower endplate towards the upper endplate; and an engagement mechanism for selective engagement of the first sidewall with the second sidewall configured to provide a selective distance between the upper endplate and the lower endplate, the engagement mechanism comprising an opening for receiving a fixation member to secure the implant to an adjacent vertebra; a fixation member, the fixation member received in the opening in the engagement member to engage the adjacent vertebra wherein the upper endplate, lower endplate, first sidewall and second sidewall partially enclose a substantially hollow portion configured to receive bone growth inducing material therein, an end cap secured to the second sidewall engaging a wall of the upper endplate and the lower endplate, wherein a first spike configured to advance from the end cap and engage with a vertebral body for securing the intervertebral implant to a vertebral body above the first endplate, and a second spike configured to advance from the end cap and engage with a vertebral body for securing the intervertebral implant to a vertebral body below the second endplate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The intervertebral implant of claim 15, wherein: the end cap configured to retain a selected height between the upper endplate and the lower endplate and seal an opening between the proximal ends of the upper endplate and the lower endplate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The intervertebral implant of claim 15, further comprising: one or more slots in the upper endplate configured to allow fusion of bone growth inducing material within the intervertebral implant and a vertebral body above the upper endplate; and one or more slots in the lower endplate configured to allow fusion of bone growth inducing material within the intervertebral implant and a vertebral body below the lower endplate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The intervertebral implant of claim 15, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a plurality of rails along a length of an outer portion of the first sidewall from a proximal end to a distal end and a plurality of grooves along a length of an inner portion of the second sidewall from a proximal end to a distal end for selective engagement with the one or more rails.