# US 2019/0167440 A1 · Spinal Fusion Implants And Methods For Deploying Such Implants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167440 A1 - Document ID: US20190167440A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/265,117 - Filed: 2019-02-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Benvenue Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Benvenue Medical, Inc. - Inventors: James Lee; Jeffrey L. Emery; Timothy McGrath; Laurent Schaller; Andrew Huffmaster; Ebrahim Mohammad Quddus - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167440A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/446: {having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones} - A61B 17/8852: {capable of being assembled or enlarged, or changing shape, inside the bone or disc} - 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 2/4601: {for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity} - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect} - A61F 2/4603: {for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof} - A61F 2002/30014: {differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility} - A61F 2002/3008: {radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers} - A61F 2002/30092: {using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol} - A61F 2002/30242: {spherical} - A61F 2002/30383: {made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove} - A61F 2002/30462: {retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable} - A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw} - A61F 2002/30593: {hollow} - A61F 2002/3082: {Grooves} - A61F 2002/30827: {Plurality of grooves} - A61F 2002/4415: {elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner} - A61F 2002/444: {for replacing the nucleus pulposus} - A61F 2220/0016: with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus are disclosed for distracting tissue. The devices and methods may include insertion of first and second elongated members into the space between two tissue layers, with an augmenting elongated member inserted therebetween to form a distraction device between the tissues to be distracted. The distraction device defines a generally annular configuration, with a locking member secured to one of the elongated members at a plurality of locations to maintain the distraction device in the generally annular configuration. The augmenting elongated member may be shorter than the first and second elongated members such that a window is defined between the proximal and distal ends of the augmenting elongated member when the distraction device and the first and second elongated members are in the generally annular configuration. Bone graft material or bone filler may be introduced into the interior of the distraction device through the window. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-27. (canceled) ### Claim 28 A tissue distraction device comprising a plurality of elongated members insertable between adjacent tissue layers of a spine, wherein one of the plurality of elongated members is configured to engage an upper tissue layer, another one of the plurality of elongated members is configured to engage a lower tissue layer, and an elongated element is associated with at least one of the plurality of elongated members, at least partially formed of a material having shape memory properties, and configured to automatically move said at least one of the plurality of elongated members from a constrained, generally linear configuration to an unconstrained, generally less linear configuration. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein said material comprises Nitinol. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein said material comprises a shape memory polymer. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein the elongated element is at least partially positioned within said at least one of the plurality of elongated members. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein the elongated element is fully embedded within said at least one of the plurality of elongated members. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein the elongated element is secured to an outer surface of said at least one of the plurality of elongated members. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The tissue distraction device of claim 33, wherein the elongated element is secured to a lateral side of said at least one of the plurality of elongated members. ### Claim 35 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein the elongated element is configured as a wire. ### Claim 36 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein the elongated element is configured as a tube. ### Claim 37 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein said at least one of the plurality of elongated members comprises an augmenting elongated member configured to be at least partially positioned between said one of the plurality of elongated members and said another one of the plurality of elongated members. ### Claim 38 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein the elongated element is associated with said one of the plurality of elongated members or said another one of the plurality of elongated members. ### Claim 39 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction of claim 28, further comprising a second elongated element, wherein the elongated elements are associated with different elongated members. ### Claim 40 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein said unconstrained, generally less linear configuration comprises an arcuate configuration. ### Claim 41 (depends on 28) The tissue distraction device of claim 28, wherein said unconstrained, generally less linear configuration comprises an annular configuration. ### Claim 42 A method of assembling a structure in vivo between two body tissue layers comprising first and second elongated members and an augmenting elongated member, the method comprising: delivering the first and second elongated members between two body tissue layers in a generally linear configuration to define at least a portion of a structure having a dimensional aspect in a direction extending generally from one of said body tissue layers to the other body tissue layer; and inserting at least a portion of the augmenting elongated member between and in contact with said first and second elongated members to spread the first and second elongated members apart to increase the dimensional aspect of at least a portion of the structure, wherein an elongated element at least partially formed of a material having shape memory properties is associated with the augmenting elongated member, and said inserting said at least a portion of the augmenting elongated member between and in contact with said first and second elongated members includes the elongated element causing said at least a portion of the augmenting elongated member to automatically move from a constrained, generally linear configuration to an unconstrained, generally less linear configuration. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein said material comprises Nitinol. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the elongated element is fully embedded within the augmenting elongated member. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the elongated element is configured as a wire. ### Claim 46 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein said unconstrained, generally less linear configuration comprises an arcuate configuration. ### Claim 47 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein said unconstrained, generally less linear configuration comprises an annular configuration.