US 12,263,092 B2
Stabilizing vertebrae with articulating 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 Mar. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/709,973.
Application 17/709,973 is a continuation of application No. 16/722,214, filed on Dec. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,337,824.
Prior Publication US 2022/0218495 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01); A61F 2/46 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/4425 (2013.01) [A61F 2002/3008 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30092 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30131 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30624 (2013.01); A61F 2002/307 (2013.01); A61F 2002/443 (2013.01); A61F 2/4455 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4632 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4635 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00329 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for stabilizing adjacent vertebral bodies, said method comprising:
providing a spacer for separating bones of a joint;
inserting the spacer between the adjacent vertebral bodies; and
positioning the spacer into a deployment position, wherein the spacer includes:
first and second driven modules, each including:
first and second endplates, each having
a first side forming a bone engaging surface, and
a second side opposite to the first side and having at least two ramps extending from the second side in a direction away from the first side;
a shaft having:
a first end having threads, and
a second end opposite to the first end having at least two ramp followers each mateable with a ramp of the second side of one of the first and second endplates;
a collar slidably disposed upon the shaft proximate the shaft first end, the collar having at least two ramp followers each mateable with a ramp of the second side of one of the first and second endplates;
a nut threadably engaged with the shaft first end, the nut rotatable to push the collar in the direction of the shaft second end to thereby slide the at least two ramp followers of the second end of the shaft and the at least two ramp followers of the collar against mated ramps of the first and second endplates to thereby push the endplates apart relative to each other; and
at least one link plate joined to each of the first and second driven modules by a hinge connection,
wherein the collar of each of the two driven modules includes a threaded sleeve engageable by a surgical tool to couple the spacer and the tool.