FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This present disclosure relates to stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of the spine by inserting an intervertebral implant, and more particularly an intervertebral implant that is adjustable in height and/or angularity and associated methods.

BACKGROUND

Bones and bony structures are susceptible to a variety of weaknesses that can affect their ability to provide support and structure. Weaknesses in bony structures have numerous potential causes, including degenerative diseases, tumors, fractures, and dislocations. Advances in medicine and engineering have provided doctors with a plurality of devices and techniques for alleviating or curing these weaknesses.

In some cases, the spinal column requires additional support in order to address such weaknesses. One technique for providing support is to insert a spacer between adjacent vertebrae.

SUMMARY

To meet this and other needs, expandable implants, systems, and methods are provided. The expandable implant may be expandable and adjustable in height and/or angularity. The implant may be inserted into an intervertebral disc space at a minimized height, and then expanded axially to restore height loss in the disc space. The implant may provide distraction as well as achieving optimal height restoration. The implant may also change in lordotic angulation independently from its expansion. This independent expansion and lordotic angulation may solve some of the problems currently encountered, such as excessive impaction during insertion, visual obstruction, and imperfect matching with patient's lordosis due to discrete increments in lordotic angulation. It will be appreciated that although generally described with respect to lordotic angulation, the implant may also be configured to provide kyphotic expansion and angulation to treat kyphosis as well.

In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure provides an implant for therapeutically separating bones of a joint. The implant includes a first end plate extending between an anterior end and a posterior end. The first end plate has a bone engaging surface, at least one anterior ramped surface and at least one posterior ramped surface on a side opposite the bone engaging surface. A second end plate extends between an anterior end and a posterior end. The second end plate has a bone engaging surface, at least one anterior ramped surface and at least one posterior ramped surface on a side opposite the bone engaging surface. A posterior actuator is positioned between the first and second end plates and has a corresponding number of first guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one first end plate posterior ramped surface and a corresponding number of second guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one second end plate posterior ramped surface. A pivot member is pivotally connected to each first guiding ramp surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate posterior ramped surface and a pivot member is pivotally connected to each second guiding ramped surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate posterior ramped surface. An anterior actuator is positioned between the first and second end plates and has a corresponding number of third guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one first end plate anterior ramped surface and a corresponding number of fourth guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one second end plate anterior ramped surface. A pivot member is pivotally connected to each third guiding ramp surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate anterior ramped surface and a pivot member is pivotally connected to each fourth guiding ramped surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate anterior ramped surface. An actuator assembly extends between the posterior actuator and the anterior actuator and is configured to selectively move the posterior actuator and the anterior actuator simultaneously, move posterior actuator independently of the anterior actuator, or move the anterior actuator independently of the posterior actuator.

In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an implant including a first end plate extending between an anterior end and a posterior end. The first end plate defines at least one anterior ramped surface and at least one posterior ramped surface. A second end plate extends between an anterior end and a posterior end and defines at least one anterior ramped surface and at least one posterior ramped surface. A posterior actuator is positioned between the first and second end plates and has a corresponding number of first guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one first end plate posterior ramped surface and a corresponding number of second guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one second end plate posterior ramped surface. A pivot member is pivotally connected to each first guiding ramp surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate posterior ramped surface and a pivot member is pivotally connected to each second guiding ramped surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate posterior ramped surface. An anterior actuator is positioned between the first and second end plates and has a corresponding number of third guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one first end plate anterior ramped surface and a corresponding number of fourth guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one second end plate anterior ramped surface. A pivot member is pivotally connected to each third guiding ramp surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate anterior ramped surface and a pivot member is pivotally connected to each fourth guiding ramped surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate anterior ramped surface. An actuator assembly extends between the posterior actuator and the anterior actuator. The actuator assembly includes an actuator screw extending between a posterior end and an anterior end with a first external thread set proximate the posterior end and a second external thread set proximate the anterior end wherein the first and second external thread sets are oppositely handed. The posterior end of the actuator screw extends through and threadably engages a through passage in the posterior actuator. The actuator assembly further includes an actuator nut extending between a posterior end and an anterior end with a through passage extending from the posterior end to the anterior end and defining an internal thread within the through passage. The internal thread is threadably engaged with the second set of external threads. The actuator nut extends through the anterior actuator such that the actuator nut is axially fixed relative to the anterior actuator but rotatable relative thereto. Rotation of the actuator screw while the actuator nut does not rotate causes the posterior actuator and the anterior actuator to move simultaneously, rotation of the actuator screw and the actuator nut together causes the posterior actuator to move independently of the anterior actuator, and rotation of the actuator nut while the actuator screw does not rotate causes the anterior actuator to move independently of the posterior actuator.

In at least one embodiment, the implant may include one or more bearings. The bearings may be configured to connect one or both of the end plates to the actuator assembly and allow the actuator screw to rotate regardless of end plate angulation. For example, the posterior end of the actuator screw may include a ball which is supported in a spherical bearing supported by the first and second end plates. In an alternative arrangement, the implant may be provided without bearings present, such that the end plates would be free to pivot or translate without restriction.

In at least one embodiment, the disclosure provides a method of fusing adjacent vertebral bodies including inserting an implant defining a longitudinal axis extending between distal and proximal ends between bones of the joint, the implant includes a first end plate extending between an anterior end and a posterior end. The first end plate has a bone engaging surface, at least one anterior ramped surface and at least one posterior ramped surface on a side opposite the bone engaging surface. A second end plate extends between an anterior end and a posterior end. The second end plate has a bone engaging surface, at least one anterior ramped surface and at least one posterior ramped surface on a side opposite the bone engaging surface. A posterior actuator is positioned between the first and second end plates and has a corresponding number of first guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one first end plate posterior ramped surface and a corresponding number of second guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one second end plate posterior ramped surface. A pivot member is pivotally connected to each first guiding ramp surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate posterior ramped surface and a pivot member is pivotally connected to each second guiding ramped surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate posterior ramped surface. An anterior actuator is positioned between the first and second end plates and has a corresponding number of third guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one first end plate anterior ramped surface and a corresponding number of fourth guiding ramp surfaces configured to be positioned opposite the at least one second end plate anterior ramped surface. A pivot member is pivotally connected to each third guiding ramp surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate anterior ramped surface and a pivot member is pivotally connected to each fourth guiding ramped surface and in sliding engagement with the respective at least one first plate anterior ramped surface. An actuator assembly extends between the posterior actuator and the anterior actuator and is configured to selectively move the posterior actuator and the anterior actuator simultaneously, move posterior actuator independently of the anterior actuator, or move the anterior actuator independently of the posterior actuator. The method further includes actuating the actuator assembly after the implant is inserted to move the first and second end plates relative to one another to increase or decrease the lordotic angle or to move the first and second endplates farther apart to separate bones of the joint.

