US 11,938,036 B2
Expandable interbody device
Jason Blain, Encinitas, CA (US); David Solum, San Jose, CA (US); Dean Johnson, Solano Beach, CA (US); and Markanthony Flores, Chula Vista, CA (US)
Assigned to Spinal Elements, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by Spinal Elements, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/838,860.
Application 16/838,860 is a continuation of application No. 16/049,503, filed on Jul. 30, 2018, granted, now 10,646,351.
Application 16/049,503 is a continuation of application No. 15/608,079, filed on May 30, 2017, granted, now 10,034,765, issued on Jul. 31, 2018.
Application 15/608,079 is a continuation of application No. 14/333,336, filed on Jul. 16, 2014, granted, now 9,668,876, issued on Jun. 6, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/912,360, filed on Dec. 5, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/912,432, filed on Dec. 5, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2020/0276028 A1, Sep. 3, 2020
Int. Cl. A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01); A61F 2/46 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/4455 (2013.01) [A61F 2/30771 (2013.01); A61F 2/441 (2013.01); A61F 2/447 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3006 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3008 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30217 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30281 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30367 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30405 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30408 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30556 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30579 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30593 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30601 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30774 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30785 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30828 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30878 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30904 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3092 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3093 (2013.01); A61F 2/4603 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4622 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4627 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00017 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00023 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00029 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00179 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00203 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00239 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00407 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of implanting an expandable interbody device between adjacent vertebrae comprising:
positioning the expandable interbody device between adjacent vertebrae, wherein the expandable interbody device comprises:
an upper structure;
a lower structure configured to slideably couple with the upper structure;
a screw mechanism between the upper structure and the lower structure, wherein the screw mechanism comprises a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section comprising a keyed shaft configured to slideably engage with a matching keyed bore on the proximal section such that the screw mechanism rotates as a unit; and
a coupler, wherein the coupler comprises a proximal side configured to engage the proximal section and a distal side configured to engage the distal section;
rotating the screw mechanism to change a length of the screw mechanism from a first length to a second length which causes a distance between the upper structure and the lower structure to change from a first distance to a second distance to form a chamber; and
injecting material into the chamber.