Granted Patent B2

US 12,433,764 · App. 18/372,778 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Inventors: Erik Wagner (Austin, TX); Michael Schular (Pittsburgh, PA)

Assignee: Tyler Fusion Technologies, LLC

A61F2/447A61F2/4455A61F2/4611A61F2002/2835A61F2002/30507A61F2002/30556A61F2002/30772A61F2002/30904A61F2/4465A61F2002/4627

Abstract

Claims (53)

1. An intervertebral implant system comprising:

an intervertebral implant comprising:

a first wedge;

a second wedge;

an upper body engaged with the first wedge and the second wedge;

a lower body engaged with the first wedge and the second wedge;

a cage housing the first and second wedges, wherein the cage comprises a first proximal opening, a second proximal opening, a first seat on a first side of the cage and a second seat on a second, opposing side of the cage; and

a drive gear operatively engaged with the first wedge via the first proximal opening to move the first and second wedges in opposite directions; and

an implant insertion device comprising:

a handle comprising:

a first extension and a second extension for positioning in the first and second seats of the cage;

at least one holder for releasably securing the intervertebral implant to the handle, wherein the at least one holder is spring loaded such that the at least one holder is biased to apply pressure to a surface of the intervertebral implant during use; and

an engaging member for operatively engaging the drive gear of the intervertebral implant.

2. The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second wedges is positioned off center.

3. The intervertebral implant system of claim 2 , wherein the first wedge comprises an opening.

4. The intervertebral implant system of claim 2 , wherein the drive gear is positioned off center.

5. The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein the drive gear comprises:

a worm gear; and

a shaft extending from the worm gear.

6. The intervertebral implant system of claim 5 , wherein the drive gear further comprises a stop engaged with the first wedge.

7. The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein the implant is filled with biological material.

8. The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein the upper body includes at least one pair of recessed tracks.

9. The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein the lower body includes at least one pair of recessed tracks.

10. The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein the intervertebral implant comprises a curved cross-section.

11. The intervertebral implant system of claim 1 , wherein the implant insertion device is disposable.

12. A method for manipulating the spacing between two adjacent vertebral bodies, the method comprising:

removing at least a portion of a disc between two vertebrae of a spine to create a space between the two vertebrae;

positioning an intervertebral implant in the space between the two vertebrae, wherein the intervertebral implant comprises:

a first wedge;

a second wedge;

an upper body engaged with the first wedge and the second wedge;

a lower body engaged with the first wedge and the second wedge;

a cage housing the first and second wedges, wherein the cage comprises a first proximal opening, a second proximal opening, a first seat on a first side of the cage and a second seat on a second, opposing side of the cage; and

a drive gear operatively engaged with the first wedge via the first proximal opening to move the first and second wedges in opposite directions;

wherein the intervertebral implant is positioned in the space between the two vertebrae using an implant insertion device, the implant insertion device comprising:

a handle comprising:

a first extension and a second extension for positioning in the first and second seats of the cage; and

at least one holder for releasably securing the intervertebral implant to the handle, wherein the at least one holder is spring loaded such that the at least one holder is biased to apply pressure to a surface of the intervertebral implant during use; and

an engaging member for operatively engaging the drive gear of the intervertebral implant; and

rotating the drive gear in a first direction so as to move the first and second wedges in opposite directions so as to increase a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the drive gear further comprises a stop engaged with the first wedge.

14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising rotating the drive gear in a second direction so as to move the first and second wedges in the same direction so as to decrease the separation distance between the upper body and the lower body.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the drive gear comprises:

a worm gear; and

a shaft extending from the worm gear.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first and second wedges is positioned off center.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first wedge comprises an opening.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the drive gear is positioned off center.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the implant is filled with biological material.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the upper body includes at least one pair of recessed tracks.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the lower body includes at least one pair of recessed tracks.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the intervertebral implant comprises a curved cross-section.

23. The method of claim 12 , wherein the implant insertion device is disposable.

Continuity (6)

References Cited (400)