# US 9,517,141 B2 · Apparatus for use in spinal interbody fusion

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,517,141 B2
- Document ID: US9517141B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/550,258
- Filed: 2014-11-21
- Published: 2015-03-19
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-12
- Assignees: Spine Wave, Inc.
- Applicants: Spine Wave, Inc.
- Inventors: Scott McLean; Fabio Amaral Pinto; Peter Barreiro; David Boisvert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517141B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- 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 2/4455: {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 2/4601: {for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity}
- A61F 2/4603: {for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof}
- A61F 2002/30131: {horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped}
- A61F 2002/30383: {made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove}
- A61F 2002/30401: {with additional means for preventing or locking said sliding}
- A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection}
- A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30599: {stackable}
- A61F 2002/30601: {telescopic}
- A61F 2002/30604: {modular}
- A61F 2002/30774: {internally-threaded}
- A61F 2002/30777: {Oblong apertures}
- A61F 2002/30784: {Plurality of holes}
- A61F 2002/30828: {parallel}
- A61F 2002/3093: {for promoting ingrowth of bone 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 2220/0008: Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
- A61F 2250/0009: for adjusting thickness
- A61F 2310/00005: The prosthesis being constructed from a particular material
- 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

An expandable interbody fusion device includes superior and inferior endplates that are configured to receive a sequentially inserted stack of expansion members or wafers in interlocking engagement. The expansion members are formed to each have a generally U-shaped rearward facing opening. The superior and inferior endplates have openings through their outer surfaces in at least partial alignment and communication with the rearward facing openings of the expansion members. The inferior endplate has a fully bounded cavity for telescoping receipt of the superior endplate. The inferior endplate also has a fully bounded channel extending through the rear endwall thereof in direct communication with the rearward facing opening of at least one expansion member for the receipt of bone graft material into the device to promote fusion between opposing vertebral bodies of the spine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for use in spinal interbody fusion, comprising:
an expandable device including a first outer surface for contacting one vertebral body in a spine and a second outer surface for contacting a second opposing vertebral body in said spine, a front end and a rear end, and an interior cavity therewithin, said rear end including a rear endwall between said first outer surface and said second outer surface, said rear endwall having a channel extending therethrough in communication with said interior cavity and an attachment surface on said rear endwall spaced from said channel; and
an inserter releasably attached to said device at said rear end without passing through said interior cavity to the front end of said device, said inserter comprising an elongate track for inserting an insert into said expandable device and an elongate guide pin detachably connected to said inserter track, said track being releasably attached to said device at said rear endwall, said guide pin being releasably attached to said device at said attachment surface, said track being removable from said device and said guide pin to expose said channel while said guide pin remains attached to said device, wherein said inserter supports a plurality of inserts for sequential insertion into said channel, one beneath the other, each of said inserts having a rearward facing opening and a pushing surface engaged by a driver of said inserter to insert said inserts into said device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a first opening through said first outer surface and a second opening through said second outer surface and a channel through said rear end, said first opening and said second opening being in communication with said interior cavity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon detachment of said inserter track from said device and said guide pin, said guide pin serves as a locator for subsequent attachment to another apparatus, including an apparatus for the introduction of graft material into said device through said channel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said expandable device comprises a first endplate defining said first outer surface and said first opening therethrough, and a second endplate defining said second outer surface and said second opening therethrough, said first endplate and said second endplate being movable relative to each other in an expansion direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said second endplate includes said channel at a rear end thereof, said rear end of said second endplate including a connection surface for releasable attachment of said inserter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said connection surface includes at least one notch adjacent the rear end of said second endplate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said inserter includes a distal end comprising at least one finger releasably engaged in said at least one notch.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said guide pin has a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end having a threaded extent, and wherein said attachment surface includes a threaded opening in receipt of said threaded extent of said guide pin.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said inserter includes a track assembly having a distal end and a proximal end, said track assembly comprising said inserter track and said guide pin, said inserter track supporting said guide pin and being detachable therefrom.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said inserter includes a rotatable quick disconnect member at the proximal end of said track assembly for allowing said track assembly to be detached from said guide pin while said guide pin remains releasably connected to said rear end of said second endplate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said track assembly supports at least one insert of said plurality of inserts for insertion into said expandable device through said channel through the rear end of said second endplate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said track assembly further comprises an elongate driver translatably movable thereon, said driver having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being configured to engage said insert and drive said insert into said expandable device through said channel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said insert comprises an elongate body having a front end, a rear end, and a rearward facing opening defining a U-shaped opening, a base of said opening defining a pushing surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said driver is sized and configured to enter said U-shaped opening of said insert and engage said pushing surface of said insert.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said inserter includes an actuator attached to said track assembly and operable to translatably move said driver along said track assembly.

### Claim 16

An apparatus for use in spinal interbody fusion, comprising:
an interbody fusion device including a first outer surface for contacting one vertebral body in a spine and a second outer surface for contacting a second opposing vertebral body in said spine, a front end and a rear end, and an interior cavity therewithin, said rear end including a rear endwall between said first outer surface and said second outer surface, said rear endwall having a channel extending therethrough in communication with said interior cavity and an attachment surface on said rear endwall spaced from said channel; and
an inserter attached to said device at said rear end without passing through said interior cavity to the front end of said device, said inserter comprising an elongate guide pin and an elongate track detachably connected to said guide pin, said track being releasably attached to said device at said rear endwall, said guide pin being releasably attached to said device at said attachment surface, said track being removable from said device and said guide pin to expose said channel while said guide pin remains attached to said device;
wherein upon detachment of said inserter track from said device and said guide pin, said guide pin serves as a locator for subsequent attachment to another apparatus, including an apparatus for the introduction of graft material into said device through said channel.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said device comprises a first opening through said first outer surface and a second opening through said second outer surface, said first opening and said second opening being in communication with said interior cavity.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said rear endwall includes a connection surface for attachment of said inserter thereto.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said elongate guide pin has a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end having a threaded extent, and wherein said attachment surface includes a threaded opening in releasable attachment with said threaded extent of said guide pin.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, further including a bone graft delivery apparatus accessing said channel for the introduction of bone graft material into said interior cavity through said channel, wherein said guide pin serves as a locator for and supports said bone graft delivery apparatus.