# US 2014/0207235 A1 · Expandable allograft cage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0207235 A1 - Document ID: US20140207235A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/748,227 - Filed: 2013-01-23 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-23 - Assignees: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. - Applicants: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. - Inventors: Susan J. Drapeau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140207235A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/442: {Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient (non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455)} - A61F 2/4455: {for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442)} - A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section} - B30B 15/06: Platens or press rams - A61F 2002/30062: {(bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive} - A61F 2002/30224: {cylindrical} - A61F 2002/30331: {made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit} - A61F 2002/30448: {using adhesives} - A61F 2002/30481: {using a locking clip} - A61F 2002/30492: {using a locking pin} - A61F 2002/30599: {stackable} - A61F 2002/30604: {modular} - A61F 2002/30772: {Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section} - A61F 2002/30795: {Blind bores, e.g. of circular cross-section} - A61F 2002/3082: {Grooves} - A61F 2002/30904: {serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed} - A61F 2002/3093: {for promoting ingrowth of bone tissue} - A61F 2310/00221: containing calcia or calcium oxide - A61F 2310/00359: Bone or bony tissue - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - B30B: PRESSES IN GENERAL (producing ultra-high pressure or ultra-high pressure and high temperature to effect modifications of a substance, e.g. for making artificial diamonds B01J3/00 ){(compressing means for refuse receptacles B65F1/1405)} ## Abstract A spinal implant for insertion into and positioning in an intervertebral space is provided. The spinal implant includes an intervertebral cage having at least two cage ends and a spacer for insertion into the intervertebral cage between the at least two cage ends, the spacer configured to distract the intervertebral space to a desired height. The intervertebral cage and spacer comprise bone, and in some embodiments, allograft bone. A method for fusing two adjacent vertebrae utilizing the intervertebral allograft cage and spacer is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spinal implant for positioning between adjacent vertebrae, the spinal implant comprising: an intervertebral cage having at least two cage ends, each cage end configured to contact adjacent vertebrae, a spacer configured for insertion into the intervertebral cage between the at least two cage ends so as to distract the adjacent vertebrae to a desired height, the spacer comprising a length that is smaller than a length of the at least two cage ends, wherein the intervertebral cage and spacer are made entirely of bone and the bone is positively charged or negatively charged. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the bone is negatively charged with a negatively-charged ionic force change agent or is positively charged with a positively-charged ionic force change agent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cage ends and the spacer are made entirely of allograft bone or xenograft bone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a body that is a preformed osteoconductive insert. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A spinal implant according claim 1, wherein the intervertebral cage and/or spacer comprise demineralized allograft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A spinal implant according to claim 5, wherein the intervertebral cage and/or spacer have a portion comprising demineralized bone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a body that has a dowel, wedge, cylinder, prism, cuboid, cone or pyramid shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) A spinal implant according to claim 2, wherein the intervertebral cage and/or spacer comprise grooves, recesses, projections, serrations or combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A spinal implant according to claim 8, wherein the serrations have shapes comprising triangular, pyramid, cone, spike, keel shapes or combinations thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is configured to impart a substantially vertical expansion to the spinal implant. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) A spinal implant according to claim 2, wherein the spacer is configured to impart an angular expansion to the spinal implant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A spinal implant according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cage ends and the spacer are joined together utilizing an adhesive, the at least two cage ends comprising grooves or serrations configured to interlock with the spacer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A spinal implant according to claim 11, wherein the at least two cage ends comprise horizontal grooves or serrations positioned at an angle from a horizontal on a side adjacent to or facing the spacer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A spinal implant according to claim 12, wherein an angle to distract adjacent vertebrae from a horizontal can vary from about 0° to 12°. ### Claim 15 A method for fusing two adjacent vertebrae comprising: placing an intervertebral cage having at least two ends into an intervertebral space adjacent vertebrae in need of fusion, the intervertebral cage configured to receive a spacer between the at least two ends, the spacer comprising a length that is smaller than a length of the at least two ends; placing the spacer into the intervertebral cage so as to increase distance between the adjacent vertebrae in need of fusion, wherein the intervertebral cage and the spacer are made entirely of allograft bone and the allograft bone is positively charged or negatively charged. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, wherein each end of the intervertebral cage comprises grooves or serrations configured to interlock with the spacer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, wherein the intervertebral cage is placed using a cannula. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, wherein the spacer is in a shape of a dowel, a wedge, a cylinder, a prism, a cuboid, a cone or a pyramid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, wherein the intervertebral cage and the spacer are used in a surgical procedure comprising a posterior lumbar interbody fusion, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, an anterior lumbar interbody fusion or a direct lateral interbody fusion. ### Claim 20 A method of treating a spinal defect, the method comprising: preparing a disc space between adjacent vertebrae having the spinal defect to receive a spinal cage, the spinal cage comprising two ends opposite each other and a channel disposed between the two ends configured for receiving a spacer, the spacer comprising a length that is smaller than a length of the two ends; implanting the spinal cage into the disc space; inserting the spacer into the channel between the two ends of the spinal cage; and orienting the spacer for interlocking with the spinal cage so as to increase distance between the adjacent vertebrae, wherein the spinal cage and the spacer are made entirely of allograft bone and the allograft bone is positively charged or negatively charged.