US 12,376,967 B2
Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
Mark Weiman, Downingtown, PA (US); and Hilliary Kopp, Virginia Beach, VA (US)
Assigned to Globus Medical, Inc., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed by GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed on Aug. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/817,209.
Application 17/817,209 is a continuation of application No. 17/091,515, filed on Nov. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,446,162.
Application 17/091,515 is a continuation of application No. 15/635,267, filed on Jun. 28, 2017, granted, now 10,842,644, issued on Nov. 24, 2020.
Application 15/635,267 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/189,188, filed on Jun. 22, 2016, granted, now 10,085,849, issued on Oct. 2, 2018.
Application 15/189,188 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/014,189, filed on Feb. 3, 2016, granted, now 9,907,673, issued on Mar. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0026598 A1, Jan. 26, 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 2/44 (2013.01); A61F 2/442 (2013.01); A61F 2/4455 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30266 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30387 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30405 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30411 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30471 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30482 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30484 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30517 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30522 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30523 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30538 (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 2002/30622 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30841 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30843 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30904 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0016 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00011 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00017 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00023 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00179 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An expandable spacer for deployment between vertebral bodies comprising:
a first endplate;
a second endplate;
a main body positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate;
a translation body;
a driver coupled to the main body and the translation body, and adapted to translate the translation body relative to the main body which changes the first and second endplates between a collapsed position and an expanded position, wherein an angle between the first and second endplates in the expanded position is different than the angle in the collapsed position,
wherein the driver includes a stem and a collar, wherein the stem is coupled to the main body and the translation body and wherein the stem and the collar form a ratcheting mechanism;
wherein the stem comprises a head and a shaft,
the stem further comprises ratchet teeth that extend along a length of the shaft,
wherein the stem further comprises one or more flat areas that are positioned adjacent to the ratchet teeth,
wherein the collar further comprises ratchet recesses,
wherein the stem is rotatable between a locked position and a disengaged position, wherein in the locked position the ratchet teeth of the stem are engaged with the ratchet recesses of the collar, thereby creating a ratcheting mechanism that allows for expansion of the implant, and wherein in the disengaged position the stem is rotated such that the one or more flat areas are positioned adjacent the ratchet recesses such that the ratcheting mechanism is not operable.