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US 2022/0015923 A1Published application
Expandable fusion device with independent expansion systems
AssigneeIntegrity Implants Inc.
InventorEugene Shoshtaev
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variety of expandable cage improvements are provided. The cages can have a width expansion assembly that operates independently of a height expansion assembly and the wedges and ramps do not need to make contact with each other. Wedges, or movable spacers with pivotal link connections, can be used, and any portion of the cage can be expanded in width or in height in an amount that differs from other portions of the cage to provide any of a multitude of desired cage shapes. Interdigitating fingers, slidable and/or pivoting, are provided to distribute stresses over a vertebral endplate as desired.
Claims20
A cage with independent width and height expansion, the cage comprising:
- a beam assembly having
- a proximal end, a distal end, and a long axis disposed between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a first beam with a proximal end and a distal end, a second beam with a proximal end and a distal end, and a third beam with a proximal end and a distal end;
- and,
- a collapsed state and an expanded state;
- a wedge assembly having a first wedge and a second wedge, the first wedge movably connected to a first guide and configured for increasing the width of the cage when the first wedge is moved in the direction of the long axis relative to the beam assembly;
- wherein,
- the first wedge is positioned between the first beam and the third beam;
- and,
- the first guide (i) is movably positioned between the first beam and the second beam, and, (ii) does not provide an expansion in height by being moved in the direction of the long axis relative to the beam assembly;
- and,
- a ramp assembly having a ramp movably positioned between the first beam and the second beam and configured for increasing the height of the cage with a movement of the ramp in the direction of the long axis relative to the beam assembly;
- wherein,
- the translation of the wedge increases the width of the cage without increasing the height of the cage;
- the translation of the ramp increases the height of the cage without increasing the width of the cage;
- and,
- the ramp is configured to translate independently of the wedge assembly in the direction of the long axis.
14 more elements
A 3-beam cage with asymmetric vertical expansion, the cage comprising:
- a beam assembly having a first end, a second end, a first beam, a second beam, a spanning beam, and a long axis;
- a width expansion assembly positioned between the first beam and the spanning beam and having
- a first spacer rotatably connected to a first pivotal link, the first pivotal link rotatably connected to the spanning beam at the first end of the cage;
- and,
- a second spacer rotatably connected to a second pivotal link, the second pivotal link rotatably connected to the spanning beam at the second end of the cage;
- wherein a first movement of the first spacer in the direction of the long axis rotates the first pivotal link to expand the width of the first end of the cage, and a first movement of the second spacer in the direction of the long axis rotates the second pivotal link to expand the width of the second end of the cage;
- and,
- a height expansion assembly positioned between the first beam and the second beam and having a ramp movably connected to the first beam and the second beam, wherein a movement of the ramp in the direction of the long axis expands the height of the cage only at the first beam and the second beam.
5 more elements
A 4-beam cage with asymmetric vertical expansion, the cage comprising:
- a beam assembly having a first end, a second end, a first beam, a second beam, a third beam, a fourth beam, and a long axis;
- a width expansion assembly positioned between the first beam and the third beam and having
- a first spacer rotatably connected to a first pivotal link and a second pivotal link;
- a second spacer rotatably connected to third pivotal link and a fourth pivotal link;
- the first pivotal link rotatably connected at the first end to the first beam and the third beam;
- the second pivotal link rotatably connected at the first end to the second beam and the fourth beam;
- the third pivotal link rotatably connected at the second end to the first beam and the third beam;
- the fourth pivotal link rotatably connected at the second end to the second beam and the fourth beam;
- wherein a first movement of the first spacer in the direction of the long axis rotates the first pivotal link and the second pivotal link to expand the first end of the cage, and a first movement of the second spacer in the direction of the long axis rotates the third pivotal link and the fourth pivotal link to expand the second end of the cage;
- and,
- a height expansion assembly positioned (i) between the first beam and the third beam, and (ii) between the second beam and the fourth beam;
- wherein, the height expansion assembly has
- a first ramp connected to the first pivotal link;
- a second ramp connected to the second pivotal link;
- a first post connected to the third pivotal link;
- and
- a second post connected to the fourth pivotal link;
- wherein,
- a second movement of the first spacer in the direction of the long axis moves the first pivotal link and the second pivotal link to expand the first end of the cage;
- and,
- the second spacer does not have a second movement in the direction of the long axis and the first post and the second post do not expand the second end of the cage.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.