US 2016/0095717 A1Published application

Expandable interbody implant

OwnerNicholas Poulosinventor

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Abstract

An intervertebral implant that can be surgically introduced between adjacent vertebrae and expanded in situ to occupy an optimal space between the vertebrae. The implant is inserted into the evacuated disc space obliquely and then oriented so as to extend laterally across the anterior adjacent vertebrae with its outer ends of the implant supported by the cortical rims on the opposite sides of the vertebrae. The implant has two body members with a space therebetween so the implant may be then distracted and a spacer of predetermined thickness that may be inserted within the space between the body members so as to maintain a desired amount of distraction. The upper and lower surfaces of the implant may have a desired lordotic angle. A method of using an implant is disclosed which permits endoscopic visualization of the disc space.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An expandable spinal implant for insertion in a disc space between two adjacent vertebrae bodies to be fused together by bone graft material placed in said disc space, said vertebrae bodies each having a cortical rim, said disc space being defined by an annulus attached to said adjacent vertebrae bodies, said implant comprising an elongate body having a height and a width such that said implant is capable of being inserted into the disc space through an incision in the annulus, and said implement having a length such that said implant is at least in part supported by at least two spaced locations on at least one of said cortical rims of said vertebrae bodies when the implant is installed in the disc space, said implant having a lower body member and an upper body member each of which is adapted to be cooperable with a distractor for distraction of said body members while said implant is within said disc space a desired amount such that the disc space is correspondingly distracted, said implant further comprising a spacer configured to be inserted into said disc space through said incision in said annulus and to be positioned between said upper and lower body members when the upper and lower body members are distracted within said disc space such that said implant with said spacer installed between said upper and lower body members maintains said adjacent vertebrae bodies in a distracted state.

A spinal implant for insertion in a disc space between two adjacent vertebrae bodies, said disc space being defined by an annulus wall attached to said adjacent vertebrae bodies, each of said vertebrae bodies having an cortical rim and an endplate within its cortical rim, said implant comprising an elongate body that may be inserted within the disc space through an incision in a posterolateral portion of said annulus wall, with one end of the implant being at least partially received in a first opening formed in the anterior annulus wall generally opposite said incision, said implant being maneuverable within said disc space so that with said implant being oriented so that with its said one end remaining in register with said first opening and so that with said implant extending generally laterally of said vertebrae bodies its other end being at least partially received within a second opening in said annulus wall generally opposite said first opening such that said implant is least in part supported on the cortical rim of at least one of said vertebrae bodies, said implant having a lower body member and an upper body member, each of said body members being adapted to receive an operating blade of a distractor so that upon operation of said distractor said body members are forced apart a desired amount so as to in turn distract the disc space, said implant further comprising a spacer of a predetermined thickness that may be inserted through said incision into said disc space and positioned between said upper and lower body members while said body members are distracted.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/966,604Filed 11 Dec 2015
Priority: 18 Feb 2011
Published: 7 Apr 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification29 codes

A61F 2/4455
For the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs: for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion…
A61B 17/025
For holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors: joint distractors
A61F 2/442
For the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs: intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient
A61F 2/4465
For the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages: having a circular or kidney shaped…

Family

Application13/030,618Continuation in part · filed 18 Feb 2011
Application61/610,198Us provisional application · filed 13 Mar 2012
Application13/543,126Continuation · filed 6 Jul 2012
Application14/520,892Continuation · filed 22 Oct 2014
Application14/966,604Continuation
Application13/543,126Continuation in part
US 2012/0089228 A1Published application
US 2013/0178939 A1Published application
US 2015/0045891 A1Published application
US 8,480,748 B2Related patent
US 8,906,099 B2Related patent
US 9,211,195 B2Related patent
US 2016/0095717 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.