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US 9,314,348 B2Granted
Bilaterally expanding intervertebral body fusion device
AssigneeWenzel Spine, Inc.
InventorErik Emstad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment includes an expandable intervertebral body fusion device with two expansion wedges within a generally hollow main body. After implantation into the intervertebral disc space, the expansion wedges are simultaneously moved from the center of the device toward the ends, which flexes the arms of the cage and increases the size of the implant. This expansion stabilizes the device in the disc space and increases the disc height, thereby reducing foraminal compression of spinal nerves and creating a stable motion segment for eventual fusion. Other embodiments are described herein.
Claims25
An intervertebral spacing implant system comprising:
- a first seat having a first lateral end;
- first branches coupled to the first lateral end of the first seat and extending in a first lateral direction away from the first seat, the first seat and the first branches forming a first cage defining a first internal volume, each first branch having a first inward side and a first outward side;
- a first spacer configured to fit within the first cage and move in the first lateral direction upon the urging of a spacer-advancing instrument, the first spacer and first cage configured such that one or more first branches will move from an unextended position to an extended position when the first spacer is urged in the first lateral direction;
- one or more first shoulders formed on the first inward side of one or more first branches, the one or more first shoulders configured to reversibly secure the first spacer near a first lateral end of the first branches;
- wherein the first internal volume between the first lateral end of the first seat and the first spacer is unoccupied by any link member when the first spacer is secured by the one or more first shoulders;
- a second seat having a second lateral end;
- second branches coupled to the second lateral end of the second seat and extending in a second lateral direction away from the second seat, the second seat and the second branches forming a second cage defining a second internal volume, each second branch having a second inward side and a second outward side;
- a second spacer configured to fit within the second cage and move in the second lateral direction upon the urging of the spacer-advancing instrument, the second spacer and the second cage configured such that one or more second branches will move from an unextended position to an extended position when the second spacer is urged in the second lateral direction;
- one or more second shoulders formed on the inward side of one or more second branches, the one or more second shoulders configured to reversibly secure the second spacer near a second lateral end of the second plurality of branches;
- wherein the second internal volume between the second proximal end of the second seat and the second spacer is unoccupied by any link member when the second spacer is secured by the one or more second shoulders;
- wherein the first seat, second seat, first branches, and second branches are all monolithic with each other.
8 more elements
An intervertebral spacing implant system comprising:
- a first seat having a first lateral end;
- first branches coupled to the first lateral end of the first seat and extending in a first lateral direction away from the first seat, the first seat and the first branches forming a first cage defining a first internal volume, each first branch having a first inward side and a first outward side;
- a first spacer configured to fit within the first cage and move laterally in the first lateral direction upon the urging of a spacer-advancing instrument, the first spacer and first cage configured such that one or more first branches will move from an unextended position to an extended position when the first spacer is urged in the first lateral direction;
- one or more first shoulders formed on the first inward side of one or more first branches, the one or more first shoulders configured to reversibly secure the first spacer near a first lateral end of the first branches;
- wherein the first internal volume between the first lateral end of the first seat and the first spacer is unoccupied by any link member when the first spacer is secured by the one or more first shoulders;
- a second seat having a second lateral end;
- second branches coupled to the second lateral end of the second seat and extending in a second lateral direction away from the second seat, the second seat and the second branches forming a second cage defining a second internal volume, each second branch having a second inward side and a second outward side;
- a second spacer configured to fit within the second cage and move laterally in the second lateral direction upon the urging of the spacer-advancing instrument, the second spacer and the second cage configured such that one or more second branches will move from an unextended position to an extended position when the second spacer is urged in the second lateral direction;
- one or more second shoulders formed on the inward side of one or more second branches, the one or more second shoulders configured to reversibly secure the second spacer near a second lateral end of the second plurality of branches;
- wherein the second internal volume between the second proximal end of the second seat and the second spacer is unoccupied by any link member when the second spacer is secured by the one or more second shoulders;
- wherein the first seat, second seat, first branches, and second branches are all monolithic with each other;
- wherein the second lateral direction is opposite the first lateral direction;
- wherein the first and second seats are non-resilient and directly contact each other at a point equidistant from the first lateral end of the first branches and the second lateral end of the second plurality of branches.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.