Expandable intervertebral implant
AssigneeElevation Spine, Inc.
InventorsErik Emstad, Andrea Cragen, Charles Gilbride, Martin Klazmer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some embodiments, an expandable intervertebral implant may include a superior plate configured to engage a superior vertebra, an inferior plate configured to engage an inferior vertebra, wherein the inferior plate is spaced apart from the superior plate by a gap, one or more first sliders moveable along a first direction to urge linear expansion of the gap, and one or more second sliders moveable along a second direction, nonparallel to the first direction, to urge angular expansion of the gap.
Claims15
An expandable intervertebral implant comprising:
- a superior plate configured to engage a superior vertebra;
- an inferior plate configured to engage an inferior vertebra, wherein the inferior plate is spaced apart from the superior plate by a gap;
- one or more first sliders moveable along a first direction to urge linear expansion of the gap;
- one or more second sliders moveable along a second direction, nonparallel to the first direction, to urge angular expansion of the gap;
- and
- a bevel gear mechanism configured to actuate movement of the one or more second sliders along the second direction;
- wherein:
- the bevel gear mechanism comprises a turnbuckle comprising a first axis of rotation and a bevel gear comprising a second axis of rotation;
- the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation;
- and
- the turnbuckle is threadably connected to each of the one or more second sliders.
An expandable intervertebral implant comprising:
- a superior plate configured to engage a superior vertebra;
- an inferior plate configured to engage an inferior vertebra, wherein the inferior plate is spaced apart from the superior plate by a gap;
- a first slider moveable transverse to an anterior-posterior direction to urge expansion of the gap;
- a second slider moveable in a direction opposite to the first slider to urge expansion of the gap;
- and
- a bevel gear mechanism configured to actuate movement of the first slider;
- wherein:
- the bevel gear mechanism comprises a turnbuckle comprising a first axis of rotation and a bevel gear comprising a second axis of rotation;
- the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation;
- and
- the turnbuckle is threadably connected to the first slider and the second slider.
An expandable intervertebral implant comprising:
- a superior plate configured to engage a superior vertebra;
- an inferior plate configured to engage an inferior vertebra, wherein the inferior plate is spaced apart from the superior plate by a gap;
- a bevel gear mechanism;
- and
- an expansion mechanism, configured to urge linear expansion and angular expansion of the gap, comprising a height wedge top coupled with the superior plate and a height wedge bottom coupled with the inferior plate,
- wherein:
- the height wedge top is configured to remain parallel to the superior plate during linear expansion and angular expansion of the gap;
- the height wedge bottom is configured to remain parallel to the inferior plate during linear expansion and angular expansion of the gap;
- the expansion mechanism further comprises one or more first sliders moveable along a first direction to urge linear expansion of the gap;
- the expansion mechanism further comprises one or more second sliders moveable along a second direction, nonparallel to the first direction, to urge angular expansion of the gap;
- the bevel gear mechanism is configured to actuate movement of the one or more second sliders along a second direction and comprises a turnbuckle comprising a first axis of rotation and a bevel gear comprising a second axis of rotation;
- the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation;
- and
- the turnbuckle is threadably connected to each of the one or more second sliders.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.