# US 8,540,452 B2 · Flexible joint arrangement incorporating flexure members

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- Number: US 8,540,452 B2
- Document ID: US8540452B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/651,266
- Filed: 2009-12-31
- Published: 2010-08-19
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31
- Assignees: SpineX Tec, LLC
- Applicants: Omar F. Jimenez; Nicholas Ransom Powley
- Inventors: Omar F. Jimenez; Nicholas Ransom Powley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540452B2

## CPC

- F16C 11/12: incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs
- 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 2/4425: {made of articulated components}
- 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 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section}
- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- E05D 1/02: made of one piece
- E05D 1/04: with guide members shaped as circular arcs
- E05F 1/00: Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
- F16F 1/025: {characterised by having a particular shape (F16F1/04, F16F1/14, F16F1/18, F16F1/32, F16F1/34 take precedence)}
- F16M 11/38: by folding {, e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms}
- A61F 2/482: {Electrical means}
- A61F 2002/30485: {plastically deformable}
- A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw}
- A61F 2002/30523: {by means of meshing gear teeth}
- A61F 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation}
- A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness}
- A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30601: {telescopic}
- A61F 2002/30904: {serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed}
- A61F 2002/443: {having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component}
- A61F 2002/448: {comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants}
- A61F 2220/0025: Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- Y10T 403/45: Flexibly connected rigid members
- Y10T 403/54: Flexible member is joint component
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- 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)
- E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00)
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Flexible joint arrangements employ at least one flexure member that interfaces with wrapping surfaces defined on the bases to which the ends of the flexure member are connected. The flexure members are configured to define a traveling instantaneous axis of rotation that moves along a path defined by the interface of the flexure and the wrapping surfaces as the bases move relative to each other. The flexure members and the bases can be constructed of a monolithic material. The wrapping surfaces of the bases can be asymmetric in cross-sectional shape. The radius of curvature of the traveling instantaneous axis of rotation can be configured to change only in discrete quantum steps without reversals. The flexible joint arrangement can be configured as one or more three bar linkages in which the middle bar is rigid and the outer bars are flexure members in accordance with the various embodiments.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flexible joint comprising:
a top base comprising a lower surface;
a bottom base comprising an upper surface; and
a plurality of flexure assemblies disposed between and unitarily formed with the top and bottom bases, each flexure assembly comprising:
an intermediate block comprising opposing upper and lower surfaces;
upper and lower structural members each disposed between the intermediate block and a respective one of the top and bottom bases, each structural member including opposing upper and lower surfaces and opposing side surfaces;
a flexure member disposed on each opposing upper and lower surface of each structural member, the flexure members connecting each structural member to a respective one of the upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate block and to a respective lower or upper surface of one of the top and bottom bases;
wherein the opposing upper and lower surfaces of the structural members, the upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate block, the lower surface of the top base, and the upper surface of the bottom base each comprise a wrapping surface adjacent a corresponding flexure member, and wherein the wrapping surfaces of the top base, bottom base, and intermediate block define an arcuate curve;
wherein each structural member is rotatable with respect to the top and bottom bases to move the top base relative to the bottom base, such that the top base and the bottom base are movable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration relative to each other,
the compressed configuration characterized by:
the top and bottom bases being moved toward each other such that the wrapping surfaces of each structural member are aligned with a side surface of a respective flexure member so that the flexure members conform to the shape of the wrapping surfaces of the structural member, and one of the opposing side surfaces of each structural member is shaped to correspondingly engage one of the respective upper or lower surfaces of the top and bottom bases; and
the expanded configuration characterized by:
the top and bottom bases being displaced from each other such that the arcuate wrapping surfaces of each of the top base, bottom base, and the opposing upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate block are engaged with an opposing side surface of a respective one of the flexure members so that the flexure members conform to the shape of the arcuate wrapping surfaces.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flexible joint of claim 1, wherein the arcuate wrapping surfaces of the top base and the bottom base provide a guide for rotation of the flexure members and define a radius of curvature of at least a portion of the flexure members as the top base and bottom base are moved relative to each other, wherein the wrapping surfaces provide a guide for rotation of the flexure members by interfacing with the flexure members as they rotate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The flexible joint of claim 2, wherein the arcuate wrapping surfaces have either a concave or convex cross-sectional shape.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The flexible joint of claim 1, wherein the flexure members are selected from the group consisting of: a band flexure, a circular flexure, an elliptical flexure and a leaf flexure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The flexible joint of claim 1, wherein the arcuate wrapping surfaces of the top base and the bottom base each have a geometry that is different from a geometry of the other wrapping surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The flexible joint of claim 2, wherein the interfacing of the arcuate wrapping surfaces with the flexure members results in translational movement of the structural members.