# US 9,039,770 B2 · Apparatus for anterior intervertebral spinal fixation and fusion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,770 B2 - Document ID: US9039770B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/335,382 - Filed: 2011-12-05 - Published: 2013-01-03 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-29 - Assignees: Alphatec Spine, Inc. - Applicants: Joseph Aferzon; Joshua Aferzon - Inventors: Joseph Aferzon; Joshua Aferzon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039770B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/4425: {made of articulated components} - A61F 2/446: {having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones} - A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section} - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61F 2002/30365: {with additional means for limiting said rotation} - A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices} - A61F 2002/30593: {hollow} - A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes} - A61F 2002/30845: {with cutting edges} - A61F 2002/4445: {Means for culturing intervertebral disc tissue} - 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 2220/0016: with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes - A61F 2220/0033: made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit - 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 A spinal fixation device includes a housing and a plurality of blades. Each blade includes a body having a central opening configured to rotate on a shaft within the housing. Control openings on opposing sides of the central opening are sized to engage prongs of a rotating tool. At least one cutting extension with a sharp leading edge extends from the body in an orientation about an axis of the shaft. Upon rotation of the blade by the rotating tool about the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension is oriented, the at least one cutting extension will break an endplate of a vertebra and hook into the vertebra. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fixation device comprising: a housing configured to house a plurality of blades; each of the plurality of blades including: a body having a central opening configured to rotate on a shaft within the housing; control openings on opposing sides of the central opening sized to engage prongs of a rotating tool; and at least one cutting extension with a sharp leading edge extending from the body in an orientation about an axis of the shaft; wherein upon rotation of a blade by the rotating tool about the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension is oriented, the at least one cutting extension will break an endplate of a vertebra and hook into the vertebra. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting extension includes two opposing cutting extensions with sharp leading edges which hook into adjacent vertebrae. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the at least one cutting extension is in a first orientation for clockwise rotation about the shaft or a second orientation for counterclockwise rotation about the shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of blades includes at least one first blade having the at least one cutting extension in the first orientation and at least one second blade having at the at least one cutting extension in the second orientation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one first blade and the at least one second blade alternate between the first orientation and the second orientation when preloaded onto the shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the control openings are configured to permit advancement of the prongs through the body such that the at least one first blade and the at least one second blade are rotated sequentially on the shaft with the prongs of the rotating tool via the control openings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the body includes a shape configured to expand a disk space as the blade is rotated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising means for locking the blades. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the control openings are configured to engage the prongs of the rotating tool by advancement of the prongs through the control openings and along a path parallel to the shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the control openings are configured to permit sequential rotation by the prongs from superficial to deep within the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the control openings and the central opening extend through the body in a direction along a path parallel to the shaft. ### Claim 12 A fixation device comprising: a housing with a leading deep surface and a trailing outer surface, weight bearing sides, and top and bottom surfaces; a shaft running from the leading deep surface to the trailing outer surface of the housing; a plurality of blades, each of the blades comprising: a body having a central opening configured to rotate on the shaft within the housing of the fixation device; control openings on opposing sides of the central opening sized to engage prongs of a rotating tool; and at least one cutting extension with a sharp leading edge extending from the body in an orientation about an axis of the shaft; wherein upon rotation of a blade by the rotating tool about the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension is oriented, the at least one cutting extension will break an endplate of a vertebra and hook into the vertebra. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein at least one first blade and at least one second blade of the plurality of blades includes two opposing cutting extensions with sharp leading edges which hook into adjacent vertebrae to rigidly secure the adjacent vertebrae in relation to each other and to the device to prevent separation of the vertebrae from the device during spinal motion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the at least one first blade and the at least second blade are imbricated between each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the at least one first blade and the at least second blade are rotated individually or as a group. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the body of the at least one first blade and the at least second blade has a shape configured to expand a disk space as the blade is rotated.