IP Library Granted Patent US 12,350,171
Granted Patent B2
US 12,350,171 · App. 18/436,202 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Variable lordosis spacer and related methods of use

Inventors: Mark Weiman (Downingtown, PA); Chad Glerum (Pennsburg, PA); Alex Burkhardt (Akron, PA); Kevin Gahman (Douglassville, PA)
Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
A61F2/447A61F2/442A61F2/4611A61F2002/2817A61F2002/2835A61F2002/30266A61F2002/30405A61F2002/30411A61F2002/30482A61F2002/30484A61F2002/30538A61F2002/30556A61F2002/30593A61F2002/30601A61F2/30767A61F2002/30828A61F2002/30843A61F2002/30904A61F2/3094A61F2310/00011A61F2310/00017A61F2310/00023A61F2310/00179A61F2310/00407A61F2310/00796
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,350,171
App. No.
18/436,202
Granted
Jul 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An expandable fusion device may include a first endplate and a second endplate. The expandable fusion device may also include first and second ramps configured to mate with both the first and second endplates. The first ramp may include a mating feature having a first angle relative to a vertical axis, and the second ramp may include a mating feature having a second angle relative to the vertical axis such that the first angle is different from the second angle. In particular, the first and second ramps may be configured to provide for symmetrical expansion of the first and second endplates.

Claims (32)

1. An expandable fusion device comprising:

a first endplate having an outer surface that extends from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, the outer surface being configured to engage a first vertebral body;

a second endplate having an outer surface that extends from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, the outer surface being configured to engage a second vertebral body;

a first ramp having a front side, a back side, and first and second lateral sides, the first ramp configured to engage with both the first and second endplates, the front side facing a direction of insertion of the implant, the back side facing away from the direction of insertion; and

a second ramp having a front side, a back side, and first and second lateral sides, the scone ramp configured to engage with both the first and second endplates, the front side facing the direction of insertion of the implant, the back side facing away from the direction of insertion,

wherein a height of the first lateral side of the second ramp is different than a height of the second lateral side of the second ramp,

wherein the expandable fusion device is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, and

wherein in the collapsed configuration the outer surface of the first endplate from the first lateral end to the second lateral end is at a first endplate angle with respect to the outer surface of the second endplate from the first lateral end to the second lateral end.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second ramps are configured to provide for symmetrical expansion of the first and second endplates.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second ramps are configured to mate with both the first and second endplates.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second endplates each include at least one mating feature.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the first ramp includes a mating feature having a first angle relative to a vertical axis.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the second ramp includes a mating feature having a second angle relative to the vertical axis, wherein the first angle is different from the second angle.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the second angle is 5-25°.

9. The device of claim 5 , wherein the first angle is 50-70°.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first ramp includes a curved ramp surface.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first ramp is coupled to the second ramp by an actuating mechanism, and the expandable fusion device is configured to transition from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration via actuation of the actuating mechanism to move the second ramp and the first ramp toward one another.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the actuating mechanism includes a threaded member configured to be threaded through a threaded bore in the second ramp and a corresponding threaded bore in the first ramp.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the actuating mechanism includes one or more snap rings.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein in the expanded configuration, the outer surface of the first endplate from the first lateral end to the second lateral end is at a second endplate angle with respect to the outer surface of the second endplate from the first lateral end to the second lateral end, and wherein the second endplate angle is an oblique angle.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the first endplate angle and the second endplate angle are equal.

16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the outer surfaces of the first and second endplates have one or more of teeth, ridges, keels, or gripping or purchasing projections.

17. An expandable fusion device comprising:

a first endplate having an outer surface that extends from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, the outer surface being configured to engage a first vertebral body;

a second endplate having an outer surface that extends from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, the outer surface being configured to engage a second vertebral body;

a first ramp having a front side, a back side, and first and second lateral sides, the first ramp configured to engage with both the first and second endplates; and

a second ramp having a front side, a back side, and first and second lateral sides, the second ramp configured to engage with both the first and second endplates,

wherein a height of the first lateral side of the second ramp is different than a height of the second lateral side of the second ramp,

wherein the expandable fusion device is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration,

wherein in the collapsed configuration the outer surface of the first endplate from the first lateral end to the second lateral end is at a first endplate angle with respect to the outer surface of the second endplate from the first lateral end to the second lateral end,

wherein the first endplate angle is an oblique angle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2024
From: WEIMAN, MARK; GLERUM, CHAD; BURKHARDT, ALEX; GAHMAN, KEVIN
To: GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 066415/0048 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17520851 · Nov 8, 2021
Continuation 16174501 · Oct 30, 2018
Continuation 15805605 · Nov 7, 2017
Continuation 14449428 · Aug 1, 2014
Continuation In Part 14175601 · Feb 7, 2014
Related Publication 20240180716A1 · Jun 6, 2024
References Cited (258)
US 4349921A · Kuntz · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4599086A · Doty · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4863476A · Shepperd · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4863477A · Monson · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 5123926A · Pisharodi · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5290312A · Kojimoto et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5306310A · Siebels · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5375823A · Navas · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5390683A · Pisharodi · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5522899A · Michelson · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5534030A · Navarro et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5554191A · Lahille et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5571192A · Schonhoffer · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5645596A · Kim · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5653763A · Errico et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5658335A · Allen · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5665122A · Kambin · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5676701A · Yuan et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5782832A · Larsen et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 6039761A · Li et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6045579A · Hochschuler et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6080193A · Hochschuler et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6099531A · Bonutti · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6126689A · Brett · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6176882B1 · Biedermann et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6258125B1 · Paul et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6558423B1 · Michelson · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6562074B2 · Gerbec et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6576016B1 · Hochschuler et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6554863B2 · Paul et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6641614B1 · Wagner et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6648917B2 · Gerbec et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6666891B2 · Boehm, Jr. et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6685742B1 · Jackson · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6692495B1 · Zacouto · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6706070B1 · Wagner et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6719796B2 · Cohen et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6752832B2 · Ulrich · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6814756B1 · Michelson · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6830589B2 · Erickson · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6849093B2 · Michelson · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6852129B2 · Gerbec et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6863673B2 · Gerbec et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6881228B2 · Zdeblick et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6905512B2 · Paes et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7018415B1 · McKay · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7070598B2 · Lim et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7204853B2 · Gordon · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7211112B2 · Baynham et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7217291B2 · Zucherman et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7282063B2 · Cohen et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7316714B2 · Gordon · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7473276B2 · Aebi et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7547325B2 · Biedermann et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7621953B2 · Braddock, Jr. et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7641693B2 · Gutlin et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7682396B2 · Beaurain et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7727280B2 · McLuen · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7749270B2 · Peterman · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7753958B2 · Gordon · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7763078B2 · Peterman et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7771473B2 · Thramann · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7780732B2 · Abernathie · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7799081B2 · McKinley · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7815683B2 · Melkent et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7828849B2 · Lim · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7837734B2 · Zucherman et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7875078B2 · Wysocki et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7901409B2 · Canaveral et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7909869B2 · Gordon · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7951199B2 · Miller · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7985256B2 · Grotz et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8062375B2 · Glerum · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8070813B2 · Grotz et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8105382B2 · Olmos et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8123810B2 · Gordon · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8137405B2 · Kostuik et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8192495B2 · Simpson et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8303663B2 · Jimenez et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8328851B2 · Curran et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8366777B2 · Matthis et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8377140B2 · DeFalco et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8382842B2 · Greenhalgh et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8388686B2 · Aebi et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8394129B2 · Lopez et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8394143B2 · Grotz et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8409286B2 · McKay · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8435296B2 · Kadaba et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8454695B2 · Grotz et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8628578B2 · Miller et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8647386B2 · Gordon · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8696751B2 · Ashley et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8771360B2 · Jimenez et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8894710B2 · Simpson et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8932355B2 · Grotz et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8940049B1 · JImenez et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8956413B2 · Ashley et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8992620B2 · Ashley et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9028550B2 · Shulock et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9358125B2 · JImenez et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9532883B2 · McLuen et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9622878B2 · Grotz · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10172718B2 · Wolters et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10342674B2 · Bruffey et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20020045945A1 · Liu · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020068976A1 · Jackson · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020068977A1 · Jackson · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030149438A1 · Nichols et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030171813A1 · Kiester · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030176926A1 · Boehm et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040030387A1 · Landry et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040049271A1 · Biedermann · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040054412A1 · Gerbec et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040087947A1 · Lim et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040153065A1 · Lim · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050021041A1 · Michelson · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050021145A1 · de Villiers et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050033432A1 · Gordon · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050080422A1 · Otte et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050113916A1 · Branch · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050149188A1 · Cook · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050171541A1 · Boehm · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050251258A1 · Jackson · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050273171A1 · Gordon · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050273174A1 · Gordon · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050278026A1 · Gordon · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050283244A1 · Gordon · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050283245A1 · Gordon · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060004453A1 · Bartish, Jr. et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060015184A1 · Winterbottom et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060022180A1 · Selness · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060058878A1 · Michelson · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060084986A1 · Grinberg et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060122701A1 · Kister · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060129244A1 · Ensign · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060142859A1 · Mcluen · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060149385A1 · Mckay · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060195192A1 · Gordon et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060229729A1 · Gordon · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060241770A1 · Rhoda et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060253201A1 · Mcluen · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070043442A1 · Abernathie · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070050030A1 · Kim · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070050032A1 · Gittings et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070055377A1 · Hanson et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070106388A1 · Michelson · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070191951A1 · Branch · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070255415A1 · Edie et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070270963A1 · Melkent et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070270968A1 · Baynham · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080021559A1 · Thramann · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080065222A1 · Hamada · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080114467A1 · Capote et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080140207A1 · Olmos et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080147194A1 · Grotz et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080161933A1 · Grotz et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080167657A1 · Greenhalgh · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080183204A1 · Greenhalgh et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080221694A1 · Warnick et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080275455A1 · Berry et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080281346A1 · Greenhalgh et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080288073A1 · Renganath et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080300598A1 · Barreiro et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080306488A1 · Altarac et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080319487A1 · Fielding et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080319549A1 · Greenhalgh et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090024217A1 · Levy et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090062833A1 · Song · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076616A1 · Duggal et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090125062A1 · Arnin · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090149956A1 · Greenhalgh et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090149959A1 · Conner et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090204218A1 · Richelsoph · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090222100A1 · Cipoletti et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090240334A1 · Richelsoph · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090270989A1 · Conner et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090281628A1 · Oglaza et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090292361A1 · Lopez · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090299478A1 · Carls et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090312763A1 · McCormack · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100049324A1 · Valdevit · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100070041A1 · Peterman · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100082109A1 · Greenhalgh et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100145455A1 · Simpson et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100179657A1 · Greenhalgh et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100211176A1 · Greenhalgh · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100222816A1 · Gabelberger et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100286783A1 · Lechmann et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110035011A1 · Cain · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110093074A1 · Glerum et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110160861A1 · Jimenez et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110172774A1 · Varela · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110218633A1 · Frey et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110276142A1 · Niemiec et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110301713A1 · Theofilos · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110319997A1 · Glerum et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120035729A1 · Glerum et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120059470A1 · Weiman · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120059472A1 · Weiman · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120059474A1 · Weiman · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120109308A1 · Lechmann et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120130496A1 · Duffield et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120165945A1 · Hansell et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120185049A1 · Varela · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120209386A1 · Triplett et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120215313A1 · Saidha et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120226357A1 · Varela · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120265309A1 · Glerum et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120277861A1 · Steele et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120277870A1 · Wolters et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120323329A1 · Jimenez et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120330426A1 · Mclaughlin et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130023993A1 · Weiman · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130023994A1 · Glerum · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130158663A1 · Miller · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130158669A1 · Sungarian et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130197647A1 · Wolters et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130211526A1 · Alheidt et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130274883A1 · McLuen et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140031936A1 · Weiman · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140067071A1 · Weiman et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140088714A1 · Miller et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140163683A1 · Seifert et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150066145A1 · Rogers et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150088258A1 · Jimenez et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150134064A1 · Grotz et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150216676A1 · Shulock et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150289988A1 · Ashley et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150374508A1 · Sandul · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160166396A1 · McClintock · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160324654A1 · Loebl et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170100258A1 · Jimenez et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170119543A1 · Dietzel et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CA 2088066A1 · 1992 [cited by applicant]
DE 4012622C1 · 1991 [cited by applicant]
DE 4327054C1 · 1995 [cited by applicant]
EP 0576379B1 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
EP 0610837B1 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
EP 3111896A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
FR 2794968A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
JP 2000513263A · 2000 [cited by applicant]
KR 200290058Y1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO 9201428A1 · 1992 [cited by applicant]
WO 9525485A1 · 1995 [cited by applicant]
WO 1999042062A1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO 1999066867A1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO 2002045625A1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO 2004019829A1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO 2004069033A2 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006045094A2 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006047587A2 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006113080A2 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2008044057A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO 2008134515A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009114381A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010103344A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012031267A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015009793A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]