Expandable spacer and method for use thereof
AssigneeGlobus Medical, Inc.
InventorChad Glerum
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expandable implant is disclosed having an adjustable height for insertion between two adjacent bony structures or joint surfaces, for example between two adjacent spinal vertebrae. The implant includes at least one gear associated with at least one threaded shaft. Rotation of the gear engages the threaded shaft to expand the implant. The implant can be inserted in a collapsed configuration and expanded in situ. The invention also provides methods for using the implant to facilitate arthrodesis or fusion of adjacent joint surfaces or spinal vertebrae.
Claims14
An expandable implant for insertion in a space between adjacent bony structures, comprising:
- a first threaded shaft;
- a second threaded shaft;
- a base plate coupled to the first and second threaded shafts;
- a first gear operably coupled to the first threaded shaft and the base plate;
- a second gear operably coupled to the second threaded shaft and the base plate, wherein each of the first and second gears includes an interior surface having threads matably engaged with respective ones of the first and second threaded shafts;
- and
- a third gear disposed between and operatively engaged with the first and second gears, wherein rotation of the third gear causes rotation of the first and second gears which initiates displacement of the first and second threaded shafts within the base plate, wherein the first and second threaded shafts are extendable in a direction away the base plate,
- wherein the base plate and the first and second threaded shafts are configured to engage bony structures to support or distract the bony structures relative to each other.
An expandable implant for insertion in a space between adjacent bony structures comprising:
- a first threaded shaft:
- a second threaded shaft;
- a bottom plate having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface including a base configured for receiving the first and second threaded shafts;
- and
- a pair of decoupled actuation gears, a first gear of the pair operably coupled to the first threaded shaft and a second gear of the pair operably coupled to the second threaded shaft;
- and
- a wedge coupled to the base and configured to enable angular displacement of the base to preserve correct angular displacement of bone,
- whereby rotation of the first gear in a first direction initiates rotation of the second gear in a second direction, opposite the first direction, initiating rotation of the first threaded shaft and then the second threaded shaft such that the shafts extend to engage adjacent bony structures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.