# US 12,599,416 B2 · Adjustable implant

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- Number: US 12,599,416 B2
- Document ID: US12599416B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/668,717
- Filed: 2024-05-20
- Published: 2024-09-12
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-03
- Assignees: NuVasive Specialized Orthopedics, Inc.
- Applicants: NuVasive Specialized Orthopedics, Inc.
- Inventors: Jorge Lopez Camacho; Shawn Placie; Michael Moeller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12599416B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/7216: {for bone lengthening or compression (A61B17/7258 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/7225: {for bone compression}
- A61B 17/7016: {electric or electromagnetic means}
- A61B 17/7002: {Longitudinal elements, e.g. rods}
- A61B 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like}
- A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids}
- A61B 2017/00876: {magnetic}
- A61B 2017/00991: {Telescopic means}
- A61B 2017/681: {Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

One aspect of the disclosure relates to an aspect of the disclosure relates to an adjustable implant including: a housing; a first adjustable member at least partially positioned within the housing and moveable relative to the housing; and a first actuation assembly positioned within the first adjustable member and configured to move the first adjustable member relative to the housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An adjustable implant comprising:
a housing having an internal thread and defining a cavity within the housing;
a first adjustable member at least partially positioned within the housing and moveable relative to the housing within the cavity; and
a first actuation assembly positioned within the first adjustable member and configured to move the first adjustable member relative to the housing, the first actuation assembly including:
an actuator configured to be activated by an external adjustment device;
a gear assembly coupled to the actuator;
an output driver coupled to the gear assembly; and
a nut disposed at least partially surrounding the output driver and having an outer thread configured to communicate with the internal thread of the housing;
an anti-jam feature positioned within the cavity opposite the first adjustable member, wherein the anti-jam feature includes a spring tab;
wherein the output driver of the first actuation assembly includes a complementary tab configured to engage the spring tab of the anti-jam feature when the adjustable implant is in a fully retracted state; and
wherein the spring tab is configured to provide a spring force upon the output driver when the adjustable implant is in the fully retracted state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The adjustable implant of claim 1,
wherein the nut includes at least one flat interior surface configured to engage at least one complementary flat exterior surface of the output driver;
wherein the output driver includes a keyed portion configured to engage a complementary keyed portion of the gear assembly;
wherein the gear assembly includes at least one planetary gear; and
wherein the adjustable implant further comprises a thrust bearing positioned about at least a portion of the output driver within the first adjustable member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The adjustable implant of claim 1, further comprising:
an intermediary member positioned between the housing and the first adjustable member, the intermediary member including at least one groove facing an outer surface of the first adjustable member and at least one groove facing an inner surface of the housing;
a radial seal, o-ring or retainer positioned within the at least one groove facing the outer surface of the first adjustable member; and
a radial seal, o-ring or retainer positioned within the at least one groove facing the inner surface of the housing,
wherein the first adjustable member includes an oblong outer cross-section and the intermediary member includes an oblong inner cross-section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The adjustable implant of claim 1, further comprising:
a second adjustable member at least partially disposed within the housing and moveable relative to the housing, wherein the second adjustable member is positioned within an opposite end of the housing relative to the first adjustable member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The adjustable implant of claim 1, further comprising:
a second adjustable member at least partially disposed within the housing and moveable relative to the housing; and
a second actuation assembly within the second adjustable member configured to move the second adjustable member relative to the housing,
wherein the second adjustable member is positioned within an opposite end of the housing relative to the first adjustable member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The adjustable implant of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a magnetic assembly configured to be rotated upon application of a rotating magnetic field.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The adjustable implant of claim 6, further comprising:
a maintenance member positioned proximate the actuator and configured to maintain a position of the magnetic assembly in the absence of the rotating magnetic field.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The adjustable implant of claim 1, further comprising
an anti-rotation lock configured to move from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to actuation of the actuator;
wherein, in the locked position, the anti-rotation lock is configured to resist rotation of the output driver, and in the unlocked position, permits rotation of the output driver.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The adjustable implant of claim 8, wherein the anti-rotation lock comprises:
a body;
a keyed opening in the body, the keyed opening being configured to receive a complementarily keyed portion of a drive gear, wherein the anti-rotation lock and the drive gear are rotationally fixed to one another;
an opening in the body configured to receive a center pin of the drive gear, and further configured to permit the body to translate axially relative to the center pin; and
a lock tooth disposed on a first end of the body, the lock tooth being configured to releasably mesh with teeth on a ring gear.

### Claim 10

An adjustable implant comprising:
a housing defining a cavity;
a first adjustable member at least partially positioned within the housing and moveable relative to the housing within the cavity; and
a first actuation assembly positioned within the first adjustable member and configured to move the first adjustable member relative to the housing, wherein the first actuation assembly includes:
an actuator configured to be activated by an external adjustment device;
a gear assembly coupled to the actuator;
a roller driver coupled with the gear assembly;
at least one threaded roller positioned radially about and threadingly engaged with both the roller driver and an internal thread of the housing; and
a cage substantially surrounding the roller driver and defining at least one aperture configured to receive the at least one threaded roller therein;
an intermediary member positioned between the housing and the first adjustable member, the intermediary member including at least one groove facing an outer surface of the first adjustable member and at least one groove facing an inner surface of the housing;
a radial seal, o-ring or retainer positioned within the at least one groove facing the outer surface of the first adjustable member; and
a radial seal, o-ring or retainer positioned within the at least one groove facing the inner surface of the housing,
wherein the first adjustable member includes an oblong outer cross-section and the intermediary member includes an oblong inner cross-section.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The adjustable implant of claim 10,
wherein the at least one threaded roller includes four threaded rollers positioned about 90° apart about the roller driver; and
wherein the at least one aperture includes four apertures, each configured to receive a respective threaded roller therein.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The adjustable implant of claim 10,
wherein, upon actuation of the actuator by the external adjustment device, the roller driver is configured to rotate thereby causing the at least one threaded roller to rotate, and
wherein the at least one threaded roller is configured to interact with the internal thread of the housing to cause the first adjustable member to move relative to the housing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The adjustable implant of claim 10, further comprising:
an anti-jam feature positioned within the cavity opposite the first adjustable member,
wherein the anti-jam feature includes a spring tab and the cage of the actuation assembly includes a complementary tab, the tab of the cage configured to engage the spring tab of the anti-jam feature when the adjustable implant is in a fully retracted state; and
wherein the spring tab is configured to provide a spring force upon the cage when the adjustable implant is in the fully retracted state.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The adjustable implant of claim 10,
wherein the roller driver includes a keyed portion configured to engage a complementary keyed portion of the gear assembly;
wherein the gear assembly includes at least one planetary gear; and
wherein the adjustable implant further includes a thrust bearing positioned about at least a portion of the roller driver within the first adjustable member.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The adjustable implant of claim 10, wherein the actuator includes a magnetic assembly configured to be rotated upon application of a rotating magnetic field.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The adjustable implant of claim 15, further comprising:
a maintenance member positioned proximate the actuator and configured to maintain a position of the magnetic assembly in the absence of the rotating magnetic field.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The adjustable implant of claim 10, further comprising:
an anti-rotation lock configured to move from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to actuation of the actuator;
wherein, in the locked position, the anti-rotation lock is configured to resist rotation of an output driver coupled to the gear assembly, and in the unlocked position, permits rotation of the output driver.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The adjustable implant of claim 17, wherein the anti-rotation lock comprises:
a body;
a keyed opening in the body, the keyed opening being configured to receive a complementarily keyed portion of a drive gear, wherein the anti-rotation lock and the drive gear are rotationally fixed to one another;
an opening in the body configured to receive a center pin of the drive gear, and further configured to permit the body to translate axially relative to the center pin; and
a lock tooth disposed on a first end of the body, the lock tooth being configured to releasably mesh with teeth on a ring gear.