Expandable vertebral implant and method
AssigneeSeaSpine Orthopedics Corporation
InventorsMichael Roscoe Harper, Samuel Hunter Hatcher, Adam James Lipson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and methods for assembling an expandable vertebral implant for engagement between vertebrae. The implant may expand and/or collapse between a variety of lengths. The implant may include an inner core, an outer core, and/or a middle core such that the inner and outer cores may be moveable relative to each other along an axis. The middle core may include one or more gear teeth. The implant may include one or more locking mechanisms. The implant may include one or more endplates. One endplate may be fixed and/or polyaxial. A tool may be used to vary the length of the implant.
Claims42
A spinal implant comprising:
- an expandable body configured to expand from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis, the expandable body having an outer core, a middle core, and an inner core threadedly coupled and moveable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, the middle core configured to simultaneously rotate about and translate along the longitudinal axis within the outer core and to cause the inner core to simultaneously translate along the longitudinal axis with respect to both the middle core and the outer core thereby adjusting a body length of the expandable body;
- and
- wherein:
- one or more locking mechanisms coupled to the outer core are configured to physically contact and engage with the middle core, and
- the middle core or the outer core is a single-piece monolithic mechanism, the middle core comprises internal threads and external threads, and the outer core comprises internal threads.
A spinal implant comprising:
- an expandable body having an adjustable length along a longitudinal axis thereof, the expandable body further comprising a first core, a second core configured to simultaneously translate and rotate within the first core along the longitudinal axis, and a third core configured to translate along the longitudinal axis within the second core, wherein rotation of the second core within the first core causes the third core to simultaneously translate along the longitudinal axis with respect to both the second core and the first core thereby adjusting a body length of the expandable body;
- and
- wherein:
- one or more locking mechanisms coupled to the outer core are configured to physically contact and engage with the second core,
- the second core comprising external threads, the external threads comprising a plurality of gear teeth radially extended from the outer surface of the second core, and
- the one or more locking mechanism further comprising a locking member configured to move along the longitudinal axis to engage or disengage with one or more of the plurality of the gear teeth to lock or unlock second core relative to the first core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.