# US 9,517,142 B2 · Insert for insertion into an expandable spinal interbody fusion device

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- Number: US 9,517,142 B2
- Document ID: US9517142B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/550,305
- 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: Fabio Amaral Pinto; Peter Barreiro
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517142B2

## 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 insert for insertion into an expandable interbody fusion device between two opposing vertebral bodies of a spine, comprising:
an elongate body having a generally planar upper surface, a generally planar opposite lower surface, a front end and a rear end;
at least one locking surface on said elongate body for cooperative locking engagement with said device, said locking surface including a T-bar configuration on one of said upper surface and said lower surface and a T-slot configuration on the other of said upper surface and said lower surface;
a rearwardly facing opening extending through said upper surface, said lower surface and said rear end, and a pushing surface between said upper and lower surface within and communicating with said rearward facing opening;
said body including a pair of spaced opposing arms joined by a base extending therebetween, said arms having a U-shaped configuration defining said rearwardly facing opening, a surface of said base defining said pushing surface; and
said locking surface including at least one resilient interlocking element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The insert of claim 1, wherein said at least one resilient interlocking element comprises a resiliently deflectable prong.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The insert of claim 2, wherein said locking surface includes two resiliently deflectable prongs.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The insert of claim 3, wherein said two resiliently deflectable prongs project outwardly from said insert.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The insert of claim 4, wherein said two resiliently deflectable prongs are disposed on said base adjacent the front end of said elongate body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The insert of claim 4, wherein said two resiliently deflectable prongs extend generally linearly and substantially centrally along the elongate longitudinal direction of said body on said base adjacent said front end of said insert.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The insert of claim 1, wherein said one resilient locking element is disposed on one of said upper surface and said lower surface.

### Claim 8

An insert for insertion into an expandable interbody fusion device between two opposing vertebral bodies of a spine, comprising:
an elongate body having a generally planar upper surface, a generally planar opposite lower surface, a front end and a rear end, said body including a pair of spaced opposing arms joined by a base adjacent the front end of said body, said base defining a cavity extending through said upper surface and said lower surface of said base, said arms defining a U-shaped rearwardly facing opening extending through said rear end and said upper surface and said lower surface, said base defining a pushing surface communicating with said rearwardly facing opening, said pushing surface being disposed between said cavity and said rearwardly facing opening, and said base including at least one resilient locking surface extending into said cavity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The insert of claim 8, wherein said insert is formed of biocompatible material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The insert of claim 9, wherein said biocompatible material is a polymeric material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The insert of claim 10, wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group of polymeric materials consisting of PEEK and carbon-reinforced PEEK.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The insert of claim 8, wherein said locking surface includes two resilient interlocking elements.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The insert of claim 8, wherein said locking surface lies substantially centrally along the elongate longitudinal direction of said body into said base adjacent said front end of said insert.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The insert of claim 8, wherein said locking surface projects outwardly from said insert body.