Patent ID: 11957603
Assignee: GLOBUS MEDICAL INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A method for stabilizing adjacent vertebral bodies comprising the steps of:
providing a spinal implant system comprising:
a first endplate including an anterior end, a posterior end, an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface of the first endplate includes surface protrusions, wherein a first through opening extends between the upper surface and the lower surface of the first endplate;
a second endplate including an anterior end, a posterior end, an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the lower surface of the second endplate includes surface protrusions, wherein a second through opening extends between the upper surface and the lower surface of the second endplate;
an elongate, translatable middle portion that extends between the first endplate and the second endplate, wherein the middle portion comprises an anterior end, a posterior end, a first sidewall extending between the anterior end and the posterior end of the middle portion, and a second sidewall extending between the anterior end and the posterior end of the middle portion; and
a threaded actuation member received in the middle portion;
wherein the middle portion is a single unitary member,
wherein the middle portion is connected to the first endplate via a first dovetail and is connected to the second endplate via a second dovetail,
wherein translation of the middle portion along a longitudinal axis extending through the middle portion, from a first position to a second position, causes the first endplate to separate away from the second endplate, and
wherein the anterior end of the middle portion is generally aligned with the anterior end of the first endplate along an axis extending vertically through the anterior end of the middle portion and is further generally aligned with the anterior end of the second endplate along the axis extending vertically through the anterior end of the middle portion when the middle portion is in the second position; and
positioning the spinal implant between adjacent vertebral bodies.