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

Claim 9:
10. A method for stabilizing adjacent vertebral bodies comprising the steps of:
providing a spinal implant system comprising:
a first endplate including 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, wherein the first through opening is the only through opening that extends between the upper surface and the lower surface of the first endplate;
a second endplate including 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, wherein the second through opening is the only through opening that 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, wherein a third through opening extends between the anterior end, the posterior end, and the first and second sidewalls of the middle portion; and
a threaded actuation member received in the middle portion;
wherein the middle portion is 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 the first dovetail comprises a first ramped surface on the middle portion in contact with the first endplate and the second dovetail comprises a second ramped surface on the middle portion in contact with the second endplate,
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 at least a portion of the first, second, and third through openings are aligned along an axis extending vertically through the middle portion when the middle portion is in the second position; and
positioning the spinal implant between adjacent vertebral bodies.