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US 8,845,734 B2Granted
Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
AssigneeGlobus Medical, Inc.
InventorMark Weiman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a central ramp, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the central ramp capable of being moved in a first direction to move the first and second endplates outwardly and into an expanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed down an endoscopic tube.
Claims18
An intervertebral implant comprising:
- a first endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the first end, second ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the second end, and a central ramped surface disposed between the first and second ramped surfaces;
- a second endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the first end, second upper surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the second end, and a central ramped surface disposed between the first and second ramped surfaces;
- a central ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the central ramp comprises a ramped expansion portion at one end of the intervertebral implant and a central ramp extension, wherein the central ramp extension extends from a rod receiving extension having an opening therethrough,
- a driving ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate at an opposite end of the intervertebral implant from the expansion portion of the central ramp, wherein the driving ramp is configured to engage the second ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the second ramped surfaces of the second endplate,
- wherein the ramped expansion portion is configured to engage the first ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the first ramped surfaces of the second endplate,
- wherein the central ramp extension comprises ramped surfaces configured to engage the central ramped surface of the first endplate and the central ramped surface of the second endplate, and
- an actuation member comprising a head portion and an actuation member extension that extends through the longitudinal through bore of the driving ramp to engage the central ramp extension, wherein rotational movement of the actuation member in a first direction causes the first endplate and the second endplate to move outwardly away from one another.
4 more elements
An intervertebral implant comprising:
- a first endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the first end, second ramped surfaces on either side of the first endplate proximate the second end, and a central ramped surface disposed between the first and second ramped surfaces;
- a second endplate comprising a first end, a second end, an upper surface connecting the first end and the second end, first ramped surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the first end, second ramped surfaces on either side of the second endplate proximate the second end, and a central ramped surface disposed between the first and second ramped surfaces;
- a central ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the central ramp comprises:
- a ramped expansion portion at one end of the intervertebral implant and comprising an upwardly facing ramped surface configured to engage the first ramped surfaces of the second endplate, and a downwardly facing ramped surface configured to engage the first ramped surfaces of the first endplate;
- and
- a central ramp extension comprising an upwardly facing ramped surface projecting from the central ramped extension, the upwardly facing ramped surface being configured to engage the central ramped surface of the second endplate, and a downwardly facing ramped surface projecting from the central ramped extension, the downwardly facing ramped surface being configured td engage the central ramped surface of the first endplate, wherein the central ramp extension extends from a rod receiving extension having an opening therethrough,
- a driving ramp disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate at an opposite end of the intervertebral implant from the expansion portion of the central ramp, wherein the driving ramp has a longitudinal through bore, wherein the driving ramp is configured-to engage the second ramped surfaces of the first endplate and the second ramped surfaces of the second endplate;
- and
- an actuation member comprising a head portion and an actuation member extension that extends through the longitudinal through bore of the driving ramp to be received within an opening in the central ramp extension, wherein rotational movement of the actuation member in the first direction pulls the central ramp and the driving ramp towards one another, thereby forcing the first and second endplates outwardly and away from one another,
- wherein the intervertebral implant is configured for insertion into an intervertebral space through a cannula having a diameter of less than about 15 millimeters.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.