# US 9,750,552 B2 · Expandable fixation assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,552 B2 - Document ID: US9750552B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/615,898 - Filed: 2015-02-06 - Published: 2015-06-04 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-06 - Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc. - Applicants: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc. - Inventors: Kai Stephan; Bryan J. Griffiths; Samuel Leuenberger; Robert J. Schoutens; Marcello Memmolo; Daniela Pricope; Rainer Ponzer; Andre Schlienger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750552B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/844: {with expandable anchors or anchors having movable parts} - A61B 17/686: {Plugs, i.e. elements forming interface between bone hole and implant or fastener, e.g. screw} - A61B 17/688: {for reattaching pieces of the skull} - A61B 17/84: Fasteners therefor {or fasteners being internal fixation devices} - A61B 17/8635: {Tips of screws} - A61B 17/864: {hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated} - A61B 17/8685: {comprising multiple separate parts} - A61B 17/683: {comprising bone transfixation elements, e.g. bolt with a distal cooperating element such as a nut} - A61B 17/7001: {Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae (A61B17/7058 takes precedence)} - A61B 17/7062: {Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs (rib fixation devices A61B17/8076); Tools for such devices} - A61B 17/863: {with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper} - 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)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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 Expandable fixation assemblies, expandable cranial fixation assemblies, and expandable intervertebral implant assemblies are provided for securing structures to bone and for securing bones and/or bone segments with respect to each other. An expansion member can be moved through at least a portion of an expandable fixation body, thereby causing expansion of the expandable fixation body, such that bone engagement features of the expandable fixation body engage surrounding structure, such as bone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expandable intervertebral implant assembly configured to be implanted into an intervertebral space between first and second vertebrae that are spaced from one another along a first direction, the assembly comprising: an intervertebral implant comprising an implant body having upper and lower surfaces configured to face the first and second vertebrae, respectively, the upper and lower surfaces spaced from one another along the first direction such that at least a portion of the implant body is solid from the upper surface to the lower surface, the implant body further having first and second ends that are spaced from one another along a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, the implant body defining at least a first bore that extends into the first end towards the second end along a bore axis that extends along the second direction; and a first expansion member, wherein the assembly is configured such that, when the first expansion member is biased through the first bore along the bore axis in the second direction, the first expansion member causes the expandable intervertebral implant assembly to expand along the first direction and engage with the first and second vertebrae, and the assembly is configured such that the expandable intervertebral implant assembly remains expanded after the first expansion member is removed from the first bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant body has one or more bone engagement structures formed thereon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 2, wherein the bone engagement structures include teeth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises at least a first expandable fixation assembly disposed within the first bore, wherein the first expandable fixation assembly includes the first expansion member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 1, wherein the implant body further includes at least a first slot formed therethrough, the first slot intersecting with the first bore, and wherein the expandable intervertebral implant assembly further includes at least a first pair of engagement structures, the first pair of engagement structures disposed within the first slot on opposite sides of the first expansion member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 5, wherein: the first pair of engagement structures includes first and second engagement structures that define upper and lower bone engagement surfaces, respectively; and when the first expansion member is biased through the internal bore, the first expansion member causes at least one of the first and second engagement structures to move away from the other of the at least one of the first and second engagement structures. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 6, wherein the upper and lower bone engagement surfaces have bone engagement structures formed thereon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 7, wherein the bone engagement structures are teeth. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 4, wherein the first expandable fixation assembly further includes a first fixation member that defines an axial bore, and the first expansion member is disposed within the axial bore of the first fixation member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 1, wherein, the assembly is configured such that, when the first expansion member is biased through the first bore, the first expansion member causes at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant body to move away from the other of the at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 1, wherein the first expansion member comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end and an opposing distal end, and further comprises a mandrel that extends from the distal end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 11, wherein the elongate shaft has a maximum cross-sectional dimension in a select direction that is perpendicular to an axis of the elongate shaft, and the mandrel has a maximum cross-sectional dimension in the select direction that is greater than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the elongate shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 1, wherein: the implant body defines a second bore that extends into the first end towards the second end along a second bore axis; and the assembly further comprises a second expansion member, wherein the assembly is configured such that, when the second expansion member is biased through the second bore along the second bore axis, the second expansion member causes the expandable intervertebral implant assembly to expand along the first direction and engage with the first and second vertebrae. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 13, wherein the second bore is spaced from the first bore along a third direction, perpendicular to both the first and second directions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 13, wherein the second bore is spaced from the first bore along the first direction. ### Claim 16 An expandable intervertebral implant assembly configured to be implanted into an intervertebral space between first and second vertebrae that are spaced from one another along a first direction, the assembly comprising: an intervertebral implant comprising an implant body having upper and lower surfaces configured to face the first and second vertebrae, respectively, the upper and lower surfaces spaced from one another along the first direction such that at least a portion of the implant body is solid from the upper surface to the lower surface, the implant body further having first and second ends that are spaced from one another along a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, the implant body defining at least a first bore that extends into the first end towards the second end along a bore axis; and at least a first expandable fixation assembly disposed within the first bore, wherein the first expandable fixation assembly includes a first expansion member and includes a first fixation member that defines an axial bore, the first expansion member being disposed within the axial bore of the first fixation member, wherein: the axial bore of the first fixation member has an inner dimension, and the first expansion member has an outer dimension that is greater than the inner dimension such that, when the first expansion member is biased through the axial bore of the first fixation member, the first expansion member causes the first fixation member to expand; and the assembly is configured such that, when the first expansion member is biased through the first bore along the bore axis, the first expansion member causes the expandable intervertebral implant assembly to expand along the first direction and engage with the first and second vertebrae. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 16, wherein expansion of the first expansion member causes the expandable intervertebral implant assembly to expand. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 16, wherein: the implant body further includes a first slot formed therethrough, the first slot intersecting with the first bore; the expandable intervertebral implant assembly further includes first and second engagement structures disposed within the first slot on opposite sides of the first expansion member; and when the first expansion member is biased through the axial bore of the first fixation member, expansion of the first expansion member causes at least one of the first and second engagement structures to move away from the other of the at least one of the first and second engagement structures. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The expandable intervertebral implant assembly of claim 16, wherein expansion of the first expansion member causes at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant body to move away from the other of the at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant body.