# US 9,750,616 B2 · Interbody fusion device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,616 B2 - Document ID: US9750616B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/768,922 - Filed: 2013-02-15 - Published: 2013-08-22 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-17 - Assignees: Spinal Elements, Inc. - Applicants: Spinal Elements, Inc. - Inventors: Jason Blain; Dean Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750616B2 ## CPC - 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)} - A61B 17/869: {characterised by an open form, e.g. wire helix} - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61F 2002/30289: {helically-coiled} - A61F 2002/30578: {having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws} - A61F 2002/30593: {hollow} - A61F 2002/30787: {inclined obliquely with respect to each other} - A61F 2002/30904: {serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed} - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Devices for fixing interbody fusion devices to bone by helically or corkscrew-shaped elements are provided. Methods for surgically implanting an interbody fusion device using helically-shaped fixation wire are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implantable device comprising: a spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a groove comprising a generally helical shape, the passage having a substantially straight longitudinal axis through its entire length; and a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire, wherein the groove comprising the generally helical shape is configured to guide and house the single wire when the single wire extends through the passage and into a bony structure to secure the spacer to a bone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the helically-shaped body includes a sharp tip capable of piercing the bone on one end and a feature that engages a driving instrument on the opposite end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the generally helical shape of the groove corresponds to a diameter and a pitch of the helically-shaped body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the generally helical shape of both the helically-shaped body and the groove are correspondingly timed such that as the helically-shaped body passes through the spacer, the sharp tip is the first portion of the helically-shaped body to come in contact with the bone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the helically-shaped body and the groove are timed with respect to having a common rotational position about the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the sharp tip comes into contact with the bone from a generally perpendicular direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a design feature that prevents the helically-shaped body from turning once the helically-shaped body has reached a final desired implanted position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the passage in the spacer is configured such that the helically-shaped body extends through the passage to secure the spacer to a superior vertebral body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the spacer has at least a second passage configured such that a second helically-shaped body extends through the second passage to secure the spacer to an inferior vertebral body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the second passage is slanted toward the inferior surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the passage comprises a hole through which the helically-shaped body passes that is smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the helically-shaped body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an opening in the spacer having a hole insert. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the passage and the groove are disposed on the hole insert, and wherein the generally helical shape of the groove corresponds to a diameter and a pitch of the helically-shaped body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the hole insert provides an intermediate layer of material between the helically-shaped body and an inner surface of the opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the passage is slanted toward the superior surface. ### Claim 16 A method for treating a spine, comprising: Inserting a spacer between two vertebral bodies, the spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a groove comprising a generally helical shape, the passage having a substantially straight longitudinal axis through its entire length; and Inserting a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire through the passage to secure the spacer to a vertebral body, wherein the groove comprising the generally helical shape guides and houses the single wire. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising engaging a proximal end of the helically-shaped body to a proximal feature of the passage in the spacer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising inserting a second helically-shaped body through a second passage in the spacer to secure the spacer to a second, adjacent vertebral body. ### Claim 19 An implantable device comprising: a spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a generally helical-shaped groove; and a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire having an outer surface, wherein the generally helical-shaped groove is configured to engage the outer surface of the single wire when the single wire extends through the passage, the fixation device having a substantially straight longitudinal axis when extending through the passage. ### Claim 20 An implantable device comprising: a spacer comprising a superior surface, an inferior surface, a side extending therebetween, and a passage extending through the side, the passage having a generally helical-shaped groove; and a fixation device consisting of a helically-shaped body of a single wire having an outer surface, wherein the generally helical-shaped groove is configured to engage the outer surface of the single wire when the single wire extends through the passage, an opening in the spacer having a hole insert, wherein the passage and the generally helical-shaped groove are disposed on the hole insert.