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US 9,095,446 B2Granted
Expandable interbody fusion device
AssigneeSpine Wave, Inc.
InventorsMichael Landry, Steve Wysocki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An expandable interbody fusion device includes superior and inferior plates that are configured to receive a sequentially inserted stack of expansion members or wafers. The superior and inferior plates include features that at least initially interlock the two plates until the superior plate is dislodged by pressure from the growing wafer stack. The wafers include features on their top and bottom surfaces that interlock the wafers in multiple degrees of freedom so that the wafer stack is not disrupted when the fusion device is fully expanded. Each wafer also includes features that interlock with the inferior plate until the wafer id dislodged by sequential introduction of another wafer.
Claims24
An expandable interbody fusion device for implantation into the intradiscal space between the opposing vertebral bodies in a spine, comprising:
- an upper plate having an outer surface configured to contact one vertebral body in a spine, and a hub having a mating surface generally opposite said outer surface, said mating surface including a shaped configuration;
- a lower plate having an outer surface configured to contact the other opposing vertebral body and an inner support surface, said lower plate having opposing spaced apart sidewalls and opposing spaced apart front and rear endwalls defining therewithin a fully bounded interior cavity, said support surface being within said interior cavity, said hub of said upper plate being received within said interior cavity with said mating surface facing said support surface and with at least a portion of said outer surface of said upper plate overlying a portion of one of said sidewalls, said front endwall or said rear endwall of said lower plate, said rear endwall defining therethrough a channel in communication with said interior cavity, said upper plate being movable in an expansion direction relative to said lower plate toward the one vertebral body;
- and
- at least one insert configured to be introduced between said upper plate and said lower plate through said channel into said interior cavity in an insertion direction that is substantially perpendicular to said expansion direction and supported by said support surface therewithin, said at least one insert having a complementary mating feature that upon receipt into said interior cavity provides resilient interlocking engagement between said mating feature and the shaped configuration of the mating surface on said hub.
1 more element
An expandable interbody fusion device for implantation into the intradiscal space between the opposing vertebral bodies in a spine, comprising:
- an upper plate having an outer surface configured to contact one vertebral body in a spine, and a lower surface having a shaped configuration;
- a lower plate having an outer surface configured to contact the other opposing vertebral body and an inner support surface, said lower plate having opposing spaced apart sidewalls and opposing spaced apart front and rear endwalls defining therewithin a fully bounded interior cavity, said support surface being within said interior cavity, at least a portion of said upper plate being received within said interior cavity with said lower surface facing said support surface, said rear endwall defining therethrough a channel in communication with said interior cavity, said upper plate being movable in an expansion direction relative to said lower plate toward the one vertebral body;
- a releasable engagement feature between said upper plate and said lower plate;
- a first insert configured to be initially introduced between said upper plate and said lower plate through said channel into said interior cavity in an insertion direction that is substantially perpendicular to said expansion direction and supported by said support surface therewithin, said first insert comprising an upper surface including a including a mating feature thereon along the direction of insertion that upon receipt provides resilient interlocking engagement between said mating feature and the shaped configuration of the lower surface of said upper plate, said first insert comprising a lower surface having a shaped configuration substantially similar to the shaped configuration of said upper plate;
- and
- a second insert configured to be introduced into said device in said insertion direction subsequent to and beneath said first insert through said channel into said interior cavity and supported on said upper support surface between said first insert and said lower plate, said second insert comprising an upper surface including a mating feature thereon along the direction of receipt that upon receipt provides resilient interlocking engagement between said mating feature and the shaped configuration of the lower surface of said first insert;
- said first insert and said second insert being disposed between the opposing sidewalls of said lower plate.
4 more elements
An expandable interbody fusion device for implantation into the intradiscal space between the opposing vertebral bodies in a spine, comprising:
- an upper plate including an outer surface and a lower surface generally opposite said outer surface;
- a lower plate including opposing spaced apart sidewalls and opposing spaced apart front and rear endwalls defining therewithin a fully bounded interior cavity and an inner support surface defining a lower surface of said cavity, a portion of said upper plate being received within said interior cavity, said rear endwall defining therethrough a channel in communication with said interior cavity, said upper plate being movable in an expansion direction away from said lower plate;
- a releasable engagement feature between said upper plate and said lower plate;
- a first insert configured to be initially introduced between said upper plate and said lower plate through said channel into said interior cavity in an insertion direction that is substantially perpendicular to said expansion direction and supported by said support surface therewithin, said first insert comprising an upper surface that upon receipt contacts the lower surface of said upper plate, said first insert comprising a lower surface substantially similar to the lower surface of said upper plate;
- and
- a second insert configured to be introduced into said device in said insertion direction subsequent to and beneath said first insert through said channel into said interior cavity and supported by said support surface between said first insert and said lower plate, said second insert comprising an upper surface that upon receipt contacts the lower surface of said first insert;
- said first insert and said second insert being disposed between the opposing sidewalls of said lower plate.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.