Intervertebral implant device with lordotic expansion

Abstract

An expandable interbody fusion implant device has a frame, two ramp assemblies, a threaded drive shaft and at least one base plate, preferably two. The frame has a first lateral side and a second lateral side and a distal end and a proximal end. Each ramp assembly has a translating ramp with a threaded opening, a first pivoting hinged ramp and a second pivoting hinged ramp. Each base plate is hinged to a first lateral side of the frame. Each base plate is hinged to the distal ramp assembly and the proximal ramp assembly at an end of one of said pivoting hinged ramps of each ramp assembly. The drive shaft has a distal drive shaft component having threads for translating the distal ramp assembly and a proximal drive shaft component having threads for translating the proximal ramp assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expandable interbody fusion implant device comprises:
 a frame having a first lateral side and a second lateral side and a distal end and a proximal end;   two ramp assemblies, one being a distal ramp assembly and the other a proximal ramp assembly, each ramp assembly has a translating ramp with a threaded opening, a first pivoting hinged ramp and a second pivoting hinged ramp;   two overlying base plates disposed between the distal end and the proximal end of the frame, each base plate being hinged to a first lateral side of the frame, a first base plate overlying a second base plate, each base plate being hinged to the distal ramp assembly and the proximal ramp assembly at an end of one of said pivoting hinged ramps of each ramp assembly;   a threaded drive shaft pinned to the proximal end of the frame, the drive shaft having a distal drive shaft component having threads for translating the distal ramp assembly and a proximal drive shaft component having threads for translating the proximal ramp assembly, each drive shaft component being coupled to the other, the proximal drive shaft component being affixed to the frame at the proximal end of the frame; and   wherein rotation of the drive shaft drives the distal ramp assembly and proximal ramp assembly simultaneously in opposite directions to selectively expand or contract a distance between the two base plates laterally relative the second lateral side of the frame, simultaneous rotation of both distal and proximal drive shaft components drives the distal and proximal ramps to selectively expand or contract a distance between both first and second base plates to a selected inclination of the first and second base plates relative to the frame over a range of lordotic angles.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 1  wherein each translating ramp has an exterior lift surface to guide and support the pivoting hinged ramps during expansion or contraction of the base plates. 
     
     
         3 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 1  wherein during expansion of the base plates the distal ramp assembly moves directionally toward the distal end of the frame on rotation of the distal drive shaft component as the proximal ramp assembly simultaneously moves directionally toward the proximal end of the frame on rotation of the proximal drive shaft component, increasing the inclination of the base plates relative to the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 2  wherein each pivoting hinged ramp has a bearing support surface configured to slide on the exterior lift surface of the translating ramp. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 4  wherein each pivoting hinged ramp bearing support surface is complimentary to the exterior lift surface. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 5  wherein the complimentary surface of both the pivoting hinged ramp bearing support surface and the exterior lift surface being inclined with a sloped flat feature. 
     
     
         7 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 1  wherein each translating ramp has a pair of opposing sides, each side has a pair of guide channels or grooves configured to receive a projecting rail positioned inside the frame along each first and second lateral side of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 7  wherein each base plate has pockets to which the pivoting hinged ramps are pinned and each translating ramp has a hinge guide channel or hinge guide groove for receiving and guiding one of the pivoting hinged ramps, each pivoting hinged ramp has a lateral side keyed into the hinge guide channel or hinge guide groove. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 1  wherein the distal end of the frame has a tapered end configured to facilitate insertion between vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 1  wherein the proximal end of the frame has an opening for receiving an end of the threaded drive shaft and further has the first lateral side with slotted channels to receive a hinge pin fixed to the first or second base plates, the hinge pins configured to allow the base plates to pivot relative to the frame during expansion or contraction. 
     
     
         11 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 10  wherein the first and second base plates each have at the proximal end an end plate with a fastener opening for securing the implant to a vertebral body, each end plate being integral to and movable with the base plate during expansion or contraction. 
     
     
         12 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 11  wherein each end plate further has a locking tab attached to the end plate, the locking tab being rotatable to cover a portion of the fastener from loosening after being affixed to a vertebral body. 
     
     
         13 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 1  wherein the base plates have a laterally inclined outer surface configured to match or mimic a lordotic curvature of the lumbar spine. 
     
     
         14 . An expandable interbody fusion implant device comprises:
 a frame having a first lateral side and a second lateral side and a distal end and a proximal end;   two ramp assemblies, one being a distal ramp assembly and the other a proximal ramp assembly, each ramp assembly has a translating ramp with a threaded opening, and at least one pivoting hinged ramp;   at least one overlying base plate disposed between the distal end and the proximal end of the frame, the at least one base plate being hinged to a first lateral side of the frame, the at least one base plate being hinged to the distal ramp assembly and the proximal ramp assembly at an end of one of said pivoting hinged ramps of each ramp assembly;   a threaded drive shaft pinned to the proximal end of the frame, the drive shaft having a distal drive shaft component having threads for translating the distal ramp assembly and a proximal drive shaft component having threads for translating the proximal ramp assembly, each drive shaft component being coupled to the other, the proximal drive shaft component being affixed to the frame at the proximal end of the frame; and   wherein rotation of the drive shaft drives the distal ramp assembly and proximal ramp assembly simultaneously in opposite directions to selectively expand or contract a distance between the two base plates laterally relative the second lateral side of the frame, simultaneous rotation of both distal and proximal drive shaft components drives the distal and proximal ramps to selectively expand or contract a distance between both first and second base plates to a selected inclination of the first and second base plates relative to the frame over a range of lordotic angles.   
     
     
         15 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 14  wherein each translating ramp has an exterior lift surface contoured to guide and support the pivoting hinged ramps during expansion or contraction of the at least one base plate. 
     
     
         16 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 14  wherein during expansion of the at least one base plate, the distal ramp assembly moves directionally toward the distal end of the frame on rotation of the first drive shaft component as the proximal ramp assembly moves directionally toward the proximal end of the frame on rotation of the proximal drive shaft component. 
     
     
         17 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 15  wherein each pivoting hinged ramp has a bearing support surface configured to slide on the exterior lift surface of the translating ramp. 
     
     
         18 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 17  wherein each pivoting hinged ramp bearing support surface is complimentary to the exterior lift surface. 
     
     
         19 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 18  wherein the complimentary surface of both the pivoting hinged ramp bearing support surface and the exterior lift surface being inclined with a sloped flat feature. 
     
     
         20 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 14  wherein each translating ramp has a pair of opposing sides, each side has a pair of guide channels or grooves configured to receive a projecting rail positioned inside the frame along each first and second lateral side of the frame. 
     
     
         21 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 20  wherein the at least one base plate has pockets to which the pivoting hinged ramps are pinned and each translating ramp has a hinge guide channel or hinge guide groove for receiving and guiding one of the pivoting hinged ramps, each pivoting hinged ramp has a lateral side keyed into the hinge guide channel or hinge guide groove. 
     
     
         22 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 14  wherein the distal end of the frame has a tapered end configured to facilitate insertion between vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         23 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 14  wherein the proximal end of the frame has a first opening and a second opening for receiving the proximal drive shaft component, and further has lateral sides with slotted channels to receive a pin fixed to the lateral side of each of the at least one base plate, the pin configured to allow the at least one base plate to pivot relative to the first lateral side of the frame during expansion or contraction. 
     
     
         24 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 23  wherein the at least one base plate or the frame and one base plate each has at the proximal end an end plate with a fastener opening for securing the implant to a vertebral body, each end plate being integral to and selectively movable with the at least one base plate during expansion or contraction. 
     
     
         25 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 24  wherein each end plate further has a locking tab attached to the end plate, the locking tab being rotatable to cover a portion of the fastener from loosening after being affixed to a vertebral body. 
     
     
         26 . The expandable interbody fusion implant device of  claim 25  wherein the implant has a longitudinal length extending between the distal end and the proximal end and a lateral width between opposing first and second lateral sides and the at least one base plate has a convex outer surface having a crowned or peak extending from a midline of the implant and decreasing toward each distal and proximal end, the convex outer surface configured to be complimentary to the endplate of an adjacent vertebral body wherein the convex curvature of the endplate of the vertebral body provides a bearing surface area over a range of angulations of the base plates.