Height-adjustable spinal fusion cage
AssigneeL&K Biomed Co., Ltd.
InventorGook Jin Kang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a spinal fusion cage which is inserted between vertebral bodies in a state where the cage has the lowest height, is height-adjustable in the inserted state, and can simplify a height adjustment mechanism, thus making it possible to replace cages having heights in a certain range by a single cage. Therefore, manufacturers can reduce product groups that need to be produced, and can also reduce product stock. Further, in contrast to the conventional cages having predetermined heights at regular intervals, the height of the inventive cage can be linearly adjusted according to the distance between the vertebral bodies of a patient, and thus a surgery can be performed using the cage adjusted to an optimum height according to the patient's condition.
Claims20
A spinal fusion cage, comprising:
- a first end plate and a second end plate which are configured to contact adjacent vertebral bodies;
- a distal movable block fixed to be movable relative to plate slope portions formed on one end of the first end plate and one end of the second end plate;
- a proximal movable block fixed to be movable relative to plate slope portions formed on another end of the first end plate and another end of the second end plate;
- an adjustment member rotatably fixed to the proximal movable block and screwed to the distal movable block to adjust a distance between the distal movable block and the proximal movable block;
- a first guide portion formed on the first end plate toward the second end plate;
- and
- a second guide portion formed on the second end plate toward the first end plate to limit, by sliding with the first guide portion, a movement direction in which the first end plate and the second end plate are moved close to or away from each other,
- a removable portion which is connected to the adjustment member via a connection portion, and is disconnected from the adjustment member when a predetermined torque is applied to an end portion of the adjustment member in a proximal direction,
- wherein the first guide portion and the second guide portion support a load in the length or width direction of the first end plate and the second end plate.
A spinal fusion cage, comprising:
- a first end plate and a second end plate which are configured to contact adjacent vertebral bodies;
- a distal movable block fixed to be movable relative to plate slope portions formed on one end of the first end plate and one end of the second end plate;
- a proximal movable block fixed to be movable relative to plate slope portions formed on another end of the first end plate and another end of the second end plate;
- an adjustment member rotatably fixed to the proximal movable block and screwed to the distal movable block to adjust a distance between the distal movable block and the proximal movable block;
- a first guide portion formed on the first end plate toward the second end plate;
- and
- a second guide portion formed on the second end plate toward the first end plate to limit, by sliding with the first guide portion, a movement direction in which the first end plate and the second end plate are moved close to or away from each other,
- a removable portion which is connected to the adjustment member via a connection portion, and is disconnected from the adjustment member when a predetermined torque is applied to an end portion of the adjustment member in a proximal direction,
- a first bone screw inserted through a first bone screw hole formed on the first end plate and a second bone screw inserted through a second bone screw hole formed on the second end plate,
- wherein the first guide portion and the second guide portion support a load in the length or width direction of the first end plate and the second end plate, and
- wherein a block slider is formed on each of the distal movable block and the proximal movable block, and a plate slider slidable with respect to the block slider is formed on the plate slope portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.