# US 2021/0275318 A1 · Expandable Lordotic Interbodies and Related Methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0275318 A1 - Document ID: US20210275318A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/190,768 - Filed: 2021-03-03 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05 - Assignees: Alphatec Spine, Inc. - Applicants: Alphatec Spine, Inc. - Inventors: William Reimels - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210275318A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section} - 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 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61F 2002/30156: {triangular} - 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 2002/30383: {made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove} - A61F 2002/30405: {made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves} - A61F 2002/30433: {using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws} - A61F 2002/30471: {connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type} - A61F 2002/30476: {locked by an additional locking mechanism} - A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw} - A61F 2002/30537: {adjustable} - A61F 2002/3054: {about a connection axis or implantation axis for selecting any one of a plurality of radial orientations between two modular parts, e.g. Morse taper connections, at discrete positions, angular positions or continuous positions} - A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness} - A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices} - A61F 2002/30784: {Plurality of holes} - A61F 2002/30827: {Plurality of grooves} - A61F 2002/30828: {parallel} - A61F 2002/30971: {Laminates, i.e. layered products} - A61F 2002/4627: {with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument} - 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) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to an expandable interbody that includes superior and inferior shells enclosing a control mechanism that includes interlocking proximal and distal cages as well as an adjustment screw that longitudinally translates the distal cage relative to the proximal cage and thereby expands interbody by pushing apart the distal ends of the superior and inferior shells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expandable interbody comprising: a superior shell having a proximal end and a distal end, the superior shell defining a superior surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end configured to engage an inferior surface of a first vertebral body, the superior shell further comprising a pair of side walls, wherein at least one side wall includes a first angled slot extending distally and away from the superior surface along the side wall; an inferior shell having a proximal end and a distal end, the inferior shell defining an inferior surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end configured to engage a superior surface of a second vertebral body, the inferior shell further comprising a pair of side walls, wherein at least one side wall includes a second angled slot extending distally and away from the inferior surface along the side wall; and a control assembly situated between the superior and inferior shells, the control assembly comprising interlocking proximal and distal cages and an adjustment screw defining a longitudinal axis, the proximal cage comprising proximal and distal bores, the distal cage comprising a proximal bore, and the adjustment screw extending through the distal bore of the proximal cage; wherein a proximal portion of the proximal cage includes a pair of superior hinge points about which the superior shell pivots and a pair of inferior hinge points about which the inferior shell pivots; wherein the distal cage includes a first lateral projection configured to engage the first angled slot and a second lateral projection configured to engage the second angled slot; and wherein rotation of the adjustment screw causes the distal cage to translate along the longitudinal axis, which in turn causes the respective distal ends of the superior and inferior shells to move apart from an unexpanded state to an expanded state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The expandable interbody of claim 1, wherein the adjustment screw is a twin screw comprising a proximal screw and a distal screw, the proximal screw having a threaded bore open at its distal end with the distal screw threadingly engaged in the threaded bore. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The expandable interbody of claim 2, wherein a distal end of the distal screw engages the distal cage such that the distal screw is rotationally fixed relative to the distal cage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The expandable interbody of claim 1, wherein the distal bore of the proximal cage is threaded, and wherein the adjustment screw threadingly engages the threaded distal bore of the proximal cage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The expandable interbody of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the adjustment screw is configured to abut an inner surface on the distal end of the distal cage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The expandable interbody of claim 1, wherein the distal cage further comprises a retention pin configured to hold the adjustment screw in place longitudinally relative to the distal cage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The expandable interbody of claim 1, wherein the distal cage further comprises distal ramped surfaces configured to slidingly engage respective ramp surfaces on the superior and inferior shells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The expandable interbody of claim 1, wherein the distal cage further comprises a superior rounded surface and an inferior rounded surface each configured to slidingly engage respective interior surfaces of the superior and inferior shells. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The expandable interbody of claim 8, wherein the superior and inferior rounded surfaces are rods secured to the distal cage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The expandable interbody of claim 9, wherein the rods serve as both the first and the second lateral projections of the distal cage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The expandable interbody of claim 9, wherein the rods comprise a material having a lower coefficient of friction than the material comprising the distal cage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The expandable interbody of claim 1, further comprising deployable superior and/or inferior retention prongs configured to deploy when the expandable interbody is transitioned from the unexpanded state to the expanded state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The expandable interbody of claim 12, wherein the superior and/or inferior retention prongs are configured to retract when the expandable interbody is transitioned from the expanded state to the unexpanded state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The expandable interbody of claim 12, wherein the superior shell comprises a superior opening in the superior surface toward the distal end of the superior shell, the superior opening configured to allow the deployable superior retention prong to pass there through when deployed, and wherein the inferior shell comprises an inferior opening in the inferior surface toward the distal end of the inferior shell, the inferior opening configured to allow the deployable inferior retention prong to pass there through when deployed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The expandable interbody of claim 12, wherein the superior and/or inferior retention prongs are rotatably connected to the distal cage of the control assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The expandable interbody of claim 15, wherein translation of the distal cage along the longitudinal axis causes the superior and/or inferior retention prongs to deploy or retract. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The expandable interbody of claim 12, wherein the distal cage further comprises a superior rounded surface and an inferior rounded surface each configured to slidingly engage respective interior surfaces of the superior and inferior shells; wherein the superior and inferior rounded surfaces are rods secured to the distal cage; and wherein the superior and/or inferior retention prongs are attached to the respective rods of the distal cage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The expandable interbody of claim 1, wherein in the unexpanded state, respective side walls of the superior and inferior shells contact each other to enclose the control assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The expandable interbody of claim 1, wherein the respective distal ends of the superior and inferior shells are curved so as to enclose the distal end of the distal cage when the interbody is in the unexpanded state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The expandable interbody of claim 1, wherein at least one of the superior shell, inferior shell, proximal cage, distal cage, and adjustment screw comprises a porous material.