US 12,251,317 B2
Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
Jason Gray, East Greenville, PA (US); and Damien Kahmer, Glenside, PA (US)
Assigned to Globus Medical, Inc., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed by GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/410,335.
Application 17/410,335 is a continuation of application No. 17/409,079, filed on Aug. 23, 2021.
Application 17/409,079 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/870,260, filed on May 8, 2020, granted, now 11,273,052.
Application 16/870,260 is a continuation of application No. 15/996,792, filed on Jun. 4, 2018, granted, now 10,682,241, issued on Jun. 16, 2020.
Application 15/996,792 is a continuation of application No. 15/391,133, filed on Dec. 27, 2016, granted, now 10,010,430, issued on Jul. 3, 2018.
Application 15/391,133 is a continuation of application No. 13/793,668, filed on Mar. 11, 2013, granted, now 9,566,168, issued on Feb. 14, 2017.
Application 13/793,668 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/875,637, filed on Sep. 3, 2010, granted, now 8,845,731, issued on Sep. 30, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0378836 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61F 2/46 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61F 2/28 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/4425 (2013.01) [A61F 2/442 (2013.01); A61F 2/4455 (2013.01); A61F 2/447 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.02); A61F 2002/2817 (2013.01); A61F 2002/2835 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30266 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30387 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30397 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30405 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30411 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30433 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30471 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30482 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30484 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30507 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30517 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30522 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30523 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30528 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30555 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30556 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30558 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30579 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30593 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30601 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30607 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30828 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3083 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30841 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30843 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30904 (2013.01); A61F 2002/443 (2013.01); A61F 2/4465 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00011 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00017 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00023 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00179 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of installing an expandable implant comprising:
inserting an expandable implant in a collapsed position between adjacent vertebrae, the implant comprising:
a front plate;
a rear plate;
a central drive screw threadedly engaged with a drive sleeve, the central drive screw being retained in the rear plate and the drive sleeve affixed to the front plate;
left and right side portion assemblies each including an upper endplate, a lower endplate, an actuator disposed between the upper and lower endplates, and a front ramp;
a pair of front linkages pivotably connecting the front plate to the front ramps; and
a pair of rear linkages pivotably connecting the rear plate to the actuators of the left and right side portion assemblies,
rotating the central drive screw to draw the front plate toward the rear plate to pivot the front and rear linkages, thereby expanding the left and right side portion assemblies in width; and
continuing to rotate the central drive screw to continue to draw the front plate toward the rear plate to move the front ramps, thereby expanding the left and right side portion assemblies in height.