US 12,419,759 B2
Expandable support device and method of use
E. Skott Greenhalgh, Lower Gwynedd, PA (US); and John-Paul Romano, Chalfont, PA (US)
Assigned to SeaSpine Orthopedics Corporation, Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by SEASPINE ORTHOPEDICS CORPORATION, Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/069,792.
Application 18/069,792 is a continuation of application No. 16/921,731, filed on Jul. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,534,312.
Application 16/921,731 is a continuation of application No. 15/488,956, filed on Apr. 17, 2017, granted, now 10,702,392, issued on Jul. 7, 2020.
Application 15/488,956 is a continuation of application No. 13/870,584, filed on Apr. 25, 2013, granted, now 9,622,876, issued on Apr. 18, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/638,148, filed on Apr. 25, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/638,146, filed on Apr. 25, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2023/0123742 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/44 (2006.01); A61B 17/88 (2006.01); A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01); A61F 2/46 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/447 (2013.01) [A61B 17/8852 (2013.01); A61F 2/4425 (2013.01); A61F 2/4455 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30387 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30405 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30507 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30556 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30579 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30593 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30904 (2013.01); A61F 2002/443 (2013.01); A61F 2002/448 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0025 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of implanting a spinal interbody device comprising the steps of:
providing a spinal interbody device comprising:
a proximal ring structure having a proximal ring structure opening therethrough, said proximal ring structure opening having a proximal ring structure opening direction, wherein said proximal ring structure includes a first end and a second end, wherein said proximal ring structure opening decreases in width along a longitudinal axis of the interbody device from said first end towards said second end;
a distal ring structure having a distal ring structure opening therethrough, wherein said distal ring structure includes a first end and a second end, wherein said distal ring structure opening decreases in width along said longitudinal axis from said first end towards said second end; and
wherein there is a sequence progressing along said longitudinal axis of said first end of said distal ring structure followed by said second end of said proximal ring structure followed by said second end of said distal ring structure followed by said first end of said proximal ring structure; and
a first endplate and a second endplate, wherein said first endplate and said second endplate are opposed to each other and are suitable to bear against respective vertebrae;
actuating the spinal interbody device to cause relative motion between said proximal ring structure and said distal ring structure along said longitudinal axis, said relative motion including at least relative translation along a first motion direction along said longitudinal axis, and wherein, at any permitted relative position of said proximal ring structure and said distal ring structure, when viewed along said proximal ring structure opening direction, said proximal ring structure opening and said distal ring structure opening partially but not completely overlap with each other; and
moving at least one of said first endplate and said second endplate toward or away from said proximal ring structure or said distal ring structure in a second motion direction different from said first motion direction because of said relative motion between said proximal ring structure and said distal ring structure.