US 12,440,348 B2
Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
Mark Weiman, Downingtown, PA (US)
Assigned to Globus Medical Inc., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed by GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed on May 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/661,210.
Application 18/661,210 is a continuation of application No. 18/327,254, filed on Jun. 1, 2023, granted, now 12,059,358.
Application 18/327,254 is a continuation of application No. 17/192,231, filed on Mar. 4, 2021.
Application 17/192,231 is a continuation of application No. 15/386,286, filed on Dec. 21, 2016, granted, now 10,973,649, issued on Apr. 13, 2021.
Application 15/386,286 is a continuation of application No. 13/961,603, filed on Aug. 7, 2013, granted, now 9,561,116, issued on Feb. 7, 2017.
Application 13/961,603 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/531,844, filed on Jun. 25, 2012, granted, now 8,852,279, issued on Oct. 7, 2014.
Application 13/531,844 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/875,637, filed on Sep. 3, 2010, granted, now 8,845,731, issued on Sep. 30, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2024/0293234 A1, Sep. 5, 2024
Int. Cl. A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61F 2/46 (2006.01); A61F 2/28 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/4455 (2013.01) [A61F 2/442 (2013.01); A61F 2/4465 (2013.01); A61F 2/447 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61F 2002/2817 (2013.01); A61F 2002/2835 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30266 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30387 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30405 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30411 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30433 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30471 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30482 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30484 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30495 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30507 (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 2002/30828 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30841 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30843 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30904 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4662 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00011 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00017 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00023 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00179 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An expandable intervertebral implant comprising:
a first endplate having an upper side, a lower side and a lateral side extending downwardly from the lower side, the lateral side including a proximal ramped surface and a distal ramped surface, the lateral side further having a third ramped surface disposed between the proximal ramped surface and the distal ramped surface;
a second endplate having an upper side, a lower side and a lateral side extending upwardly from the upper side, the lateral side of the second endplate including a proximal ramped surface, a distal ramped surface and a complementary ramped surface facing the third ramped surface in a non-slidable manner;
a distal ramp having an internally threaded bore, a first ramped surface in sliding engagement with the distal ramped surface of the first endplate and a second ramped surface in sliding engagement with the distal ramped surface of the second endplate;
a proximal ramp having:
a ramp body including:
a through bore;
a first proximal ramped surface in sliding engagement with the proximal ramped surface of the first endplate;
a second proximal ramped surface in sliding engagement with the proximal ramped surface of the second endplate;
a lock opening in communication with the through bore; and
a translation lock disposed in the lock opening;
an actuator having a head disposed in the through bore of the proximal ramp and a threaded shaft threadably engaged with the internally threaded bore of the distal ramp and defining a longitudinal axis of the expandable intervertebral implant, wherein:
the actuator is engaged with the translation lock such that the actuator rotates about the longitudinal axis, but is translationally fixed relative to the proximal ramp;
wherein the actuator is configured to be rotated in one direction to cause the distal ramp to translate longitudinally and proximally toward the proximal ramp which causes the first and second endplates to move away from one another to an implant expanded position such that the third ramped surface of the first endplate moves away from the complementary ramped surface of the second endplate in a non-slidable manner;
wherein the actuator is configured to be rotated in the other direction to cause the distal ramp to translate longitudinally and distally away from the proximal ramp which causes the first and second endplates to move towards one another to an implant collapsed position; and
in the implant collapsed position, at least a portion of the lateral sides of the first and second endplates overlap to provide a reduced vertical profile for an easier insertion into an intervertebral space, and at least a part of the proximal ramp extends proximally of a proximal end of the first endplate.