US 12,303,399 B2
Expandable lordotic interbodies and related methods
William Reimels, Hamilton, OH (US); and Max C. Zemezonak, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Alphatec Spine, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by Alphatec Spine, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on May 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/317,796.
Application 18/317,796 is a continuation of application No. 17/190,768, filed on Mar. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,690,732.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/985,610, filed on Mar. 5, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/062,663, filed on Aug. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0285163 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
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 2/447 (2013.01) [A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30156 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30224 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30433 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30471 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3054 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30556 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30579 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30784 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30971 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4627 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An expandable interbody comprising:
a superior shell having a proximal end and a distal end, the superior shell defining a superior surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the superior shell further comprising at least one side wall, wherein the at least one side wall includes a first slot extending distally and away from the superior surface along the side wall;
an inferior shell having a proximal end and a distal end, the inferior shell defining an inferior surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end configured to engage a superior surface of a second vertebral body, the inferior shell further comprising at least one side wall, wherein the at least one side wall includes a second slot extending distally and away from the inferior surface along the side wall; and
a control assembly situated between the superior and inferior shells, the control assembly comprising directly interlocking proximal and distal cages and an adjustment screw defining a longitudinal axis, the proximal cage comprising proximal and distal bores, the distal cage comprising a proximal bore, and the adjustment screw extending through the distal bore of the proximal cage;
wherein the proximal ends of the superior and inferior shells are configured to pivotally engage respective portions of the proximal cage;
wherein the distal cage includes a first lateral projection configured to engage the first slot and a second lateral projection configured to engage the second slot; and
wherein rotation of the adjustment screw causes the distal cage to translate along the longitudinal axis, which in turn causes the respective distal ends of the superior and inferior shells to move apart from an unexpanded state to an expanded state.