IP Library Granted Patent US 11,304,818
Granted Patent B2
US 11,304,818 · App. 16/009,616 · Granted Apr 19, 2022

Expandable spinal interbody assembly

Inventors: Michael S. Butler (St. Charles, IL); Madeline Wolters (Carol Stream, IL); Daniel Predick (West Lafayette, IN)
Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
A61F2/4425A61B17/8858A61F2/30771A61F2/442A61F2/446A61F2/447A61F2/4455A61F2002/3037A61F2002/3055A61F2002/3092A61F2002/30133A61F2002/30143A61F2002/30148A61F2002/30158A61F2002/30164A61F2002/30179A61F2002/30187A61F2002/30387A61F2002/30428A61F2002/30471A61F2002/30482A61F2002/30507A61F2002/30523A61F2002/30538A61F2002/30556A61F2002/30579A61F2002/30594A61F2002/30784A61F2002/30827A61F2002/30841A61F2002/30904A61F2002/30934A61F2002/30985A61F2002/4415A61F2310/00017A61F2310/00023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,304,818
App. No.
16/009,616
Granted
Apr 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An expandable implant includes a top support assembly defining an upper surface configured to engage a first portion of bone, a first central aperture extending from the upper surface to an interior of the implant, and a first grid structure surrounding the first central aperture; a bottom support assembly defining a lower surface configured to engage a second portion of bone, a second central aperture extending from the lower surface to the interior, and a second grid structure surrounding the second central aperture; and a control assembly coupled to the top support assembly and the bottom support assembly and configured to control relative movement between the top support assembly and the bottom support assembly between a collapsed position and an expanded position.

Claims (42)

1. An expandable implant, comprising:

a top support assembly comprising an upper surface configured to engage a first portion of bone, a first central aperture extending from the upper surface to an interior of the implant, and a first grid structure surrounding the first central aperture;

a bottom support assembly comprising a lower surface configured to engage a second portion of bone, a second central aperture extending from the lower surface to the interior, and a second grid structure surrounding the second central aperture; and

a control assembly coupled to the top support assembly and the bottom support assembly and configured to control relative movement between the top support assembly and the bottom support assembly between a collapsed position and an expanded position along a first direction, wherein the control assembly comprises a front portion coupled to a rear portion via a control shaft, the front portion comprising a solid bull nose;

wherein the first grid structure comprises a first plurality of elongated apertures extending from the upper surface toward the interior along the first direction, and the second grid structure comprises a second plurality of elongated apertures extending from the lower surface toward the interior along the first direction, each of the first plurality of elongated apertures and the second plurality of elongated apertures being elongated along the first direction such that a length of each aperture along the first direction is greater than a width of each aperture along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

wherein the control shaft includes a tool recess and an access port configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of the implant and the interior and

wherein the access port is open to the tool recess at a proximal end of the control shaft and includes a distal port opening on a surface which is not parallel to the proximal end of the control shaft.

2. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the first grid structure forms a series of grooves and teeth on the upper surface and the second grid structure forms a series of grooves and teeth on the lower surface.

3. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the top support assembly includes at least one upper side portion defining an upper web structure and the bottom support assembly includes at least one lower side portion defining a lower web structure, wherein the upper web structure defines a first plurality of voids and the lower web structure defines a second plurality of voids.

4. The expandable implant of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the first plurality of voids and at least a portion of the second plurality of voids extend from the exterior of the implant to the interior.

5. The expandable implant of claim 3 , wherein the upper web structure and the lower web structure each form multiple web structures having honeycomb patterns.

6. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the upper support assembly and the lower support assembly are each formed by a single 3D printing operation.

7. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the upper support assembly and the lower support assembly are made of a titanium alloy.

8. An expandable implant comprising:

a top support assembly comprising an upper surface and an upper side portion, the upper surface configured to engage a first portion of bone, the upper side portion extending downward from the upper surface and defining a first side surface, the upper side portion including an upper web structure defining a first plurality of voids extending from the first side surface in the upper side portion;

a bottom support assembly comprising a lower surface and a lower side portion, the lower surface configured to engage a second portion of bone, the lower side portion extending downward from the lower surface and defining a second side surface, the lower side portion including a lower web structure defining a second plurality of voids extending from the second side surface in the lower side portion;

a first wedge member slidably coupled to the top and bottom support assemblies, the first wedge member comprising a solid bull nose;

a second wedge member slidably coupled to the top and bottom support assemblies; and

a control shaft coupled to the first and second wedge members and configured to control relative movement between the top support assembly and the bottom support assembly between a collapsed position and an expanded position;

wherein the upper web structure and the lower web structure each form multiple web structures having honeycomb patterns;

wherein the control shaft includes a tool recess and an access port configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of the implant and an interior of the implant; and

wherein the access port extends obliquely relative to a longitudinal axis of the control shaft.

9. The expandable implant of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the first plurality of voids and at least a portion of the second plurality of voids extend from the exterior of the implant to the interior.

10. The expandable implant of claim 8 , wherein the top support assembly includes a first central aperture extending from the upper surface to the interior of the implant, and a first grid structure surrounding the first central aperture, and wherein the bottom support assembly includes a second central aperture extending from the lower surface to the interior, and a second grid structure surrounding the second central aperture.

11. The expandable implant of claim 10 , wherein the first grid structure includes a first plurality of elongated apertures extending from the upper surface toward the interior along a first direction, and the second grid structure includes a second plurality of elongated apertures extending from the lower surface toward the interior along the first direction such that a length of each elongated aperture along the first direction is greater than a width of each elongated aperture along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

12. The expandable implant of claim 10 , wherein the first grid structure forms a series of grooves and teeth on the top surface and the second grid structure forms a series of grooves and teeth on the lower surface.

13. An expandable implant, comprising:

a top support assembly including:

an upper surface configured to engage a first portion of bone;

a first central aperture extending from the upper surface to an interior of the implant;

a first grid structure surrounding the first central aperture and comprising a first plurality of elongated apertures extending from the upper surface toward the interior along a first direction; and

at least one side portion extending downward from the upper surface and defining an upper web structure comprising a plurality of voids extending from a first side surface along a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction;

a bottom support assembly including:

a lower surface configured to engage a second portion of bone;

a second central aperture extending from the lower surface to the interior;

a second grid structure surrounding the second central aperture and comprising a second plurality of elongated apertures extending from the lower surface toward the interior along the first direction; and

at least one lower side portion extending upward from the lower surface and defining a lower web structure comprising a plurality of voids extending from a second side surface along the second direction; and

a control assembly coupled to the top support assembly and the bottom support assembly and configured to control relative movement between the top support assembly and the bottom support assembly between a collapsed position and an expanded position;

wherein each of the first plurality of elongated apertures and the second plurality of apertures is elongated along the first direction such that a length of each aperture along the first direction is greater than a width of each aperture along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

wherein the control assembly comprises a front portion coupled to a rear portion via a control shaft, the front portion comprising a solid bull nose;

wherein the control shaft includes a tool recess and an access port configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of the implant and the interior; and

wherein the tool recess is configured to interact with a driving tool, and wherein the access port Is configured such that the driving tool is not permitted to pass into the access port.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2023
From: ASSOCIATED BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: LIFE SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 064275/0446 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2021
From: LIFE SPINE, INC.
To: ASSOCIATED BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 056728/0438 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2020
From: FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: LIFE SPINE, INC.; GIZMO MEDICAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 054843/0755 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2020
From: LIFE SPINE, INC.; GIZMO MEDICAL, LLC
To: ST. CLOUD CAPITAL PARTNERS III SBIC, LP
Reel/Frame 054844/0239 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2018
From: BUTLER, MICHAEL S.; WOLTERS, MADELINE; PREDICK, DANIEL
To: LIFE SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 047794/0139 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 15497011 · Apr 25, 2017
Continuation In Part 14714821 · May 18, 2015
Continuation In Part 13802110 · Mar 13, 2013
Related Publication 20180296361A1 · Oct 18, 2018
Cited By (4)
US 12,193,948 US 12,336,917 US 12,427,033 US 12,653,693