US 12,220,323 B2
Expanding intervertebral implants
Mark Weiman, Downingtown, PA (US); Chad Glerum, Pennsburg, PA (US); Ty Hessler, Phoenixville, PA (US); and Albert Hill, Richboro, PA (US)
Assigned to Globus Medical, Inc., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed by GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/512,182.
Application 17/512,182 is a continuation of application No. 16/515,096, filed on Jul. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,179,242.
Prior Publication US 2022/0047399 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/4425 (2013.01) [A61F 2002/30153 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30329 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30538 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30556 (2013.01); A61F 2002/443 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spacer for separating bones of a joint, the spacer comprising:
a first endplate;
a second endplate;
a first slide configured to engage the first and second endplate, wherein the first slide has an angled portion at a proximal end;
a second slide configured to engage the first and second endplate, wherein the second slide has a first hinge portion;
a shaft having a second hinge portion configured to engage the first hinge portion, wherein the shaft is configured to form a changeable angle with respect to the second slide; and
a nut engaged with the shaft and configured to engage the angled portion of the first slide, wherein when the nut is advanced upon the shaft the first slide moves with respect to the second slide causing the endplates to move relatively apart and to thereby increase a height of the spacer,
wherein the first and second slides are mutually and slideably joined by a mating connection enabling relative sliding along a longitudinal axis.