Expandable Interbody Implant With Rotatable Collar for Disc Height Restoration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intervertebral fusion devices face challenges in precise placement and restoration of disc height due to iatrogenic pathologies from surgical access windows and failure to align with natural spinal anatomy, necessitating a device that can be inserted at a collapsed height and expand axially to restore disc space while accommodating various surgical approaches.

Innovation Solution

An expandable fusion device with an upper and lower endplate, an actuation gear, interface collar, and expansion lock that allows insertion from multiple approaches, adjusts orientation, and automatically locks after insertion, enabling height expansion to restore disc height and align with vertebral bodies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed-approach implant is used, then the placement is simple, but the device cannot accommodate various surgical approaches and precise placement is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of various surgical approachesVSAvoidimplant design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The implant includes a rotatable interface collar with multiple angled protrusions that can be oriented to accommodate different surgical approaches (direct anterior, direct lateral, oblique). The lock mechanism can engage with these protrusions at multiple orientations, allowing a single implant design to serve multiple surgical approaches rather than requiring separate approach-specific implants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The interface collar is designed to be rotatable about the central axis of the implant during insertion, allowing dynamic adjustment of the implant's orientation. This rotatability enables the implant to be adapted to different surgical approaches and anatomical variations while maintaining a single standardized implant design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the implant is inserted at collapsed height, then the insertion is easier and access is improved, but the disc height restoration is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion easeVSAvoiddisc height restoration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The implant incorporates an expandable endplate that can be actuated to change its height. The actuation gear engages with the upper endplate and allows the endplate to expand axially, transforming the implant from a collapsed insertion state to an expanded functional state that restores disc height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The implant is designed to be inserted in a collapsed state to facilitate easy placement and access, then subsequently expanded to achieve the desired disc height restoration. This two-stage process allows the implant to overcome the contradiction between insertion ease and height restoration capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If manual orientation adjustment is used, then the placement precision is controllable, but the operation time increases and automation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement precisionVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The lock mechanism automatically engages with the angled protrusions on the interface collar at discrete orientations without requiring manual adjustment. The spring arms automatically push the lock into engagement positions, providing self-aligning and self-locking functionality that achieves precise placement while reducing surgical time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The lock mechanism provides tactile and positional feedback when the spring arms engage with the angled protrusions, indicating to the surgeon when the implant is properly oriented. This automatic feedback mechanism ensures precise placement without requiring time-consuming manual verification and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If an extensive set of fixed-approach implants is used, then each approach can be optimized, but the device complexity and inventory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapproach-specific optimizationVSAvoidnumber of implants required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The implant design integrates multiple approach-specific features into a single universal implant. The rotatable interface collar with multiple angled protrusions and the corresponding lock mechanism allow one implant to accommodate direct anterior, direct lateral, and oblique approaches, eliminating the need for an extensive inventory of separate approach-specific implants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260060815A1Expandable intervertebral interbody implants

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 GLOBUS MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Expandable fusion devices, systems, instruments, and methods thereof. The expandable fusion implant may include an upper endplate and a lower endplate configured to engage adjacent vertebrae, an actuation gear configured to adjust a height of the upper endplate, an interface collar configured to attach to an inserter instrument at multiple orientations for a desired surgical approach, and an expansion and orientation lock configured to lock the orientation of the interface collar and lock the height of the upper endplate. The expandable fusion device is attachable to the inserter instrument to secure the interface collar and disengage the lock from the actuation gear to permit expansion of the upper endplate.