Back to results
US 12,285,341 B2Granted
Vertebral body replacement
AssigneeNuVasive, Inc.
InventorsBenjamin Arnold, Rich Mueller, William Smith, Sharath Bellary
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention involves a system and methods for assembling and implanting a vertebral body implant. The vertebral body implant includes, but is not necessarily limited to, an expandable core body and endplates that can be attached at both ends. Endplates of various shapes, sizes and angles are attachable to the expandable core so that a suitable vertebral body implant can be implanted between vertebrae.
Claims12
A system comprising:
- a vertebral body implant configured to engage a first vertebra and a second vertebra of a spine, wherein the vertebral body implant comprises:
- an intermediate expansion member that extends between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis and is configured to transition between a collapsed state and an expanded state to adjust a length thereof, and
- a first endplate and a second endplate that are configured to couple to the first end and the second end, respectively, of the intermediate expansion member;
- and
- an expansion tool comprising a distal engagement region configured to releasably engage the intermediate expansion member and to adjust the length to a desired length,
- wherein the intermediate expansion member comprises:
- an outer core having an internal diameter comprising a first plate attachment feature at the first end;
- an inner core having an outer diameter comprising a second plate attachment feature at the second end;
- and
- an adjustment ring comprising an attachment feature configured to longitudinally fix the adjustment ring to the outer core, and an internally threaded portion configured to threadably engage an externally threaded portion of the inner core,
- wherein the inner core is configured to translate along the longitudinal axis relative to the outer core and the adjustment ring, and
- wherein the inner diameter of the outer core is larger than the outer diameter of the inner core.
9 more elements
A system comprising:
- a vertebral body implant configured to engage a first vertebra and a second vertebra of a spine, wherein the vertebral body implant comprises:
- an intermediate expansion member that extends between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis and is configured to transition between a collapsed state and an expanded state to adjust a length thereof, and
- a first endplate and a second endplate that are configured to couple to the first end and the second end, respectively, of the intermediate expansion member;
- and
- an expansion tool configured to releasably engage the intermediate expansion member and to adjust the length to a desired length, wherein the expansion tool comprises:
- a distal engagement region configured to releasably engage the intermediate expansion member,
- an outer tube extending along a second longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end of the expansion tool,
- an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and configured to translate along the second longitudinal axis relative to the outer tube,
- a drive shaft disposed within the inner tube and configured to rotate about the second longitudinal axis relative to the inner tube and the outer tube, and
- a grip configured to translate the inner tube along the second longitudinal axis relative to the outer tube,
- wherein the distal engagement region comprises:
- a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the drive shaft and configured to rotatably engage the intermediate expansion member, thereby adjusting the length thereof to the desired length;
- a housing longitudinally fixed to the drive wheel;
- and
- a plurality of engagement arms configured to releasably engage the intermediate expansion member, wherein each engagement arm comprises:
- a base member disposed within the housing and coupled to the inner tube, and
- an extension member coupled to the housing via a hinge and coupled to the base member via an angled slot and a pin,
- wherein the inner tube is configured to displace the base member, which in turn causes the extension member to rotate around the hinge as the pin moves through the angled slot, thereby actuating the plurality of engagement arms to releasably engage the intermediate expansion member.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.