US 11,712,344 B2
Vertebral body replacement
Benjamin Arnold, San Diego, CA (US); Rich Mueller, Carlsbad, CA (US); William Smith, Las Vegas, NV (US); and Sharath Bellary, Cumberland, MD (US)
Assigned to NuVasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by NuVasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 6, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/533,189.
Application 16/533,189 is a continuation of application No. 15/498,296, filed on Apr. 26, 2017, granted, now 10,413,421.
Application 15/498,296 is a continuation of application No. 14/744,470, filed on Jun. 19, 2015, granted, now 9,636,233, issued on May 2, 2017.
Application 14/744,470 is a continuation of application No. 13/964,836, filed on Aug. 12, 2013, abandoned.
Application 13/964,836 is a continuation of application No. 12/661,206, filed on Mar. 12, 2010, granted, now 9,387,090, issued on Jul. 12, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/159,792, filed on Mar. 12, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/260,375, filed on Nov. 11, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2019/0358055 A1, Nov. 28, 2019
Int. Cl. A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61F 2/46 (2006.01); A61F 2/28 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/4465 (2013.01) [A61F 2/28 (2013.01); A61F 2/44 (2013.01); A61F 2/447 (2013.01); A61F 2/4455 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61F 2002/2835 (2013.01); A61F 2002/305 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3055 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30235 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30393 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30395 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30405 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30433 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30507 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30556 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30579 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30593 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30601 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30772 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30777 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30779 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30785 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30789 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30904 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4622 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4627 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4628 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00017 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00023 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for implanting a vertebral body implant into a space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra of a spine, the method comprising:
providing an intermediate expansion member that extends between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis and is configured to transition between a collapsed state and an expanded state to adjust an adjustable length, wherein the intermediate expansion member comprises:
an outer core comprising a first plate attachment feature at the first end and an exterior surface having a pair of indented slots on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis,
an inner core comprising an externally threaded portion, and a second plate attachment feature at the second end, wherein the inner core is at least partially disposed within the outer core,
a rotation ring comprising an attachment feature configured to longitudinally fix the rotation ring to the outer core, and an internally threaded portion configured to threadably engage the externally threaded portion of the inner core,
wherein the rotation ring is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereby adjusting the adjustable length by a static length of the rotation ring;
connecting a first endplate to the first plate attachment feature, wherein the first endplate comprises an anterior side, a posterior side, a pair of opposing lateral sides, a first surface configured to engage the first vertebra, and a second surface that comprises a first recess configured to receive the first plate attachment feature therein;
connecting a second endplate to the second plate attachment feature;
connecting a first loading block configured to align the first endplate with the first plate attachment feature;
connecting a second loading block configured to align the second endplate with the second plate attachment feature,
wherein each of the first and second loading blocks comprises an endplate profile trench having a central post configured to be received through one of the first endplate and the second endplate;
releasably mounting an inserter tool to the intermediate expansion member, wherein the inserter tool is configured to drive rotational movement of the rotation ring;
inserting the intermediate expansion member in the collapsed state from a lateral direction, relative to the first and second vertebrae, into the space between the first and second vertebrae;
engaging the rotation ring with the inserter tool;
and
linearly translating an inner core relative to the outer core by rotational movement of the rotation ring, thereby adjusting the intermediate expansion member to a desired length.