IP Library Granted Patent US 11,969,357
Granted Patent B2
US 11,969,357 · App. 17/885,773 · Granted Apr 30, 2024

Tritanium AL implants and instrumentation

Inventors: Christian Karl Schultz (Hoboken, NJ); Bryan D. Milz (Florida, NY); Zinoviy Sosnov (Fair Lawn, NJ)
Assignee: K2M, INC.
A61F2/447A61B17/1757A61F2/30749A61F2/442A61F2/4611B60R19/023A61F2002/3049A61F2002/30593A61F2002/30784A61F2310/00023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,969,357
App. No.
17/885,773
Granted
Apr 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a system that includes an insertion tool and a drill guide. The insertion tool includes a body with a distal portion and a distal end. The body has a first engagement feature extending longitudinally along the distal portion and two arms extending longitudinally from the distal end of the body. The drill guide includes two bores and an open faced channel therebetween. The open faced channel includes a second engagement feature slidably engageable with the first engagement feature on the body of the insertion tool. The two bores are adapted for the disposal of a fastener driver tool therethrough.

Claims (52)

1. An intervertebral spacer assembly comprising:

an intervertebral spacer, the intervertebral spacer comprising:

a superior surface configured to engage a superior vertebral body;

an inferior surface configured to engage an inferior vertebral body and;

at least one bone graft channel oriented to pass through opposing ends of the intervertebral spacer;

a proximal surface comprising:

a first fastener channel configured to receive a first fastener, the first fastener channel oriented to pass through the proximal and superior surfaces of the intervertebral spacer at a first angle;

a second fastener channel configured to receive a second fastener, the second fastener channel oriented to pass through the proximal and inferior surfaces of the intervertebral spacer at a second angle; and

a locking member channel intermediate the first and second fastener channels, the locking member channel comprising:

an inner wall;

an annular ridge formed in the inner wall, the annular ridge being spaced apart from the a least one bone graft channel;

a first pair of recesses formed in the inner wall; and

a second pair of recesses formed in the inner wall and angularly offset from the first pair of recesses about a longitudinal axis of the locking member channel wherein the locking member channel extends from a proximal end of the intervertebral spacer to the at least one bone graft channel; and

a locking member comprising:

a first anti-backout member;

a second anti-backout member; and

a collet comprising:

an annular flange configured to be retained by the annular ridge of the locking member channel in order to rotatably couple the locking member to the intervertebral spacer;

a peripheral wall;

a first stop protrusion projecting from a first side of the peripheral wall; and

a second stop protrusion projecting from a second side of the peripheral wall, opposite the first stop protrusion; wherein:

the locking member is rotatable within the locking member channel between two stable positions comprising an unlocked position and a locked position;

in the unlocked position, the first and second stop protrusions protrude into the first pair of recesses in order to retain the locking member in the unlocked position, and the first and second anti-backout members do not obstruct the first and second fastener channels; and

in the locked position, the first and second stop protrusions protrude into the second pair of recesses in order to retain the locking member in the locked position, and the first and second anti-backout members obstruct the first and second fastener channels in order to prevent the first and second fasteners from backing out of the first and second fastener channels.

2. An intervertebral spacer comprising:

a superior surface configured to engage a superior vertebral body;

an inferior surface configured to engage an inferior vertebral body;

a proximal end comprising:

at least one fastener channel configured to receive a fastener, the at least one fastener channel oriented to pass through the proximal end of the intervertebral spacer and the superior and/or inferior surface of the intervertebral spacer; and

a locking member channel comprising:

an inner wall; and

inner wall engagement features including a first recess and a second recess; and

a locking member comprising:

an anti-backout member;

a collet retainable within the locking member channel; and

collet engagement features including a first protrusion and a second protrusion;

wherein:

 the locking member is rotatable within the locking member channel between an unlocked position and a locked position;

 in the unlocked position, the collet engagement features engage the inner wall engagement features in order to retain the locking member in the unlocked position, independently of any additional component besides the locking member and the intervertebral spacer, and the anti-backout member does not obstruct the fastener channel; and

 in the locked position, the collet engagement features engage the inner wall engagement features to retain the locking member in the locked position, independently of any additional component besides the locking member and the intervertebral spacer, and the anti-backout member obstructs the fastener channel in order to prevent the fastener from backing out of the fastener channel;

wherein the collet is compressible.

3. The intervertebral spacer of claim 2 , wherein the proximal end of the intervertebral spacer comprises: a first stop surface configured to prevent the locking member from rotating in a first direction past the unlocked position; and a second stop surface configured to prevent the locking member from rotating in a second direction past the locked position.

4. The intervertebral spacer of claim 2 , further comprising at least one bone graft channel oriented to pass through opposing ends of the intervertebral spacer.

5. The intervertebral spacer of claim 2 , wherein the at least one fastener channel comprises: a first fastener channel configured to receive a first fastener, the first fastener channel oriented to pass through the proximal end and the superior surface of the intervertebral spacer at a first angle; and a second fastener channel configured to receive a second fastener, the second fastener channel oriented to pass through the proximal end and the inferior surface of the intervertebral spacer at a second angle.

6. The intervertebral spacer of claim 5 , wherein locking member further comprises a second anti-backout member such that in the locked position, the anti-backout member obstructs the first fastener channel and the second anti-backout member obstructs the second fastener channel.

7. The intervertebral spacer of claim 2 , wherein the locking member channel further comprises an annular ridge on the inner wall, the annular ridge being spaced apart from an at least one bone graft channel oriented to pass through opposing ends of the intervertebral spacer.

8. The intervertebral spacer of claim 7 , wherein the locking member channel extends from the proximal end to the at least one bone graft channel.

9. The intervertebral spacer of claim 2 , wherein the superior surface and the inferior surface include teeth.

10. The intervertebral spacer of claim 2 , wherein the anti-backout member includes a drive adapted for receipt of a drive tool, a center of the drive being coaxial with an axis of rotation of the locking member.

11. The intervertebral spacer of claim 2 , wherein the collet includes a slit passing therethrough.

12. The intervertebral spacer of claim 11 , wherein the collet further comprises a pair of surfaces that define the slit, the surfaces being parallel to an axis of rotation of the locking member.

13. The intervertebral spacer of claim 2 , wherein the locking member further comprises an annular flange at a distal end of the collet.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2026
From: K2M, INC.
To: VB SPINE LLC
Reel/Frame 075801/0592 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2025
From: K2M, INC.; VB SPINE US OPCO LLC
To: TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072340/0397 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2025
From: K2M, INC.; VB SPINE US OPCO LLC; VB SPINE LLC
To: ANKURA TRUST COMPANY, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071682/0116 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2022
From: SCHULTZ, CHRISTIAN KARL; MILZ, BRYAN D.; SOSNOV, ZINOVIY
To: K2M, INC.
Reel/Frame 060791/0491 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17688176 · Mar 7, 2022
Continuation 16775672 · Jan 29, 2020
Provisional Application 62799360 · Jan 31, 2019
Related Publication 20220387192A1 · Dec 8, 2022
Cited By (2)
US 12,303,401 US 12,472,079