Articulating expandable intervertebral implant
AssigneeGlobus Medical, Inc.
InventorsMark Weiman, Kurt Faulhaber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spacer for separating bones of a joint, the spacer includes a frame having a longitudinal axis, and ramped surfaces. An endplate configured to engage a bone of the joint has ramped surfaces mateable with the ramped surfaces of the frame. When the endplate is moved relative to the frame in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the frame, the endplate is moved in a direction away from the frame to increase the height at least one end of the spacer. A second endplate configured to engage a second bone of the joint can be similarly configured.
Claims12
A spacer for separating bones of a joint, the spacer comprising:
- a frame having a longitudinal axis;
- a first endplate configured to contact the frame and engage a first bone;
- a second endplate configured to contact the frame and engage a second bone adjacent the first bone;
- a link moveable with respect to the frame along the longitudinal axis and pivotally coupled to the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the link comprises a body portion having endplate engaging projections at one end,
- a nut configured to move the link along the longitudinal axis when rotated,
- wherein the body portion of the link comprises a slot, wherein a pin extends through the slot and through a head portion of an actuating screw to couple the link and the actuating screw.
A spacer for separating bones of a joint, the spacer comprising:
- a frame having a longitudinal axis;
- a first endplate configured to contact the frame and engage a first bone;
- a second endplate configured to contact the frame and engage a second bone adjacent the first bone;
- a link moveable with respect to the frame along the longitudinal axis and pivotally coupled to the first endplate and the second endplate,
- an actuating screw configured to move the link along the longitudinal axis when rotated,
- wherein as the actuating screw is rotated, the first endplate and the second endplate pivot at the link to vertically move away from the frame;
- wherein the spacer has a nut threadably engaged with the actuating screw, wherein actuating the actuating screw includes rotating the nut to longitudinally move the actuating screw with respect to the frame.
A spacer for separating bones of a joint, the spacer comprising:
- a frame having a longitudinal axis;
- a first endplate configured to contact the frame and engage a first bone;
- a second endplate configured to contact the frame and engage a second bone adjacent the first bone;
- a link moveable with respect to the frame along the longitudinal axis and pivotally coupled to the first endplate and the second endplate,
- an actuating screw configured to move the link along the longitudinal axis when rotated,
- wherein as the actuating screw is rotated, the first endplate and the second endplate pivot at the link to vertically move away from the frame;
- wherein the first endplate is curved along a substantial portion of its length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.