Patent ID: 8491659
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of installing an intervertebral implant, the method comprising: placing an intervertebral implant down one or more endoscopic tubes and into an intervertebral disc space; and rotating an actuation member of the implant in a first direction to expand the intervertebral implant into contact with vertebral bodies that are adjacent the intervertebral disc space; wherein the rotation of the actuation member causes a central ramp of the implant to move in a first direction, the central ramp comprising an expansion portion and an extension that extends from the expansion portion, the extension is threadingly coupled to the. actuation member, the expansion portion comprises a first side portion and a second side portion, the first side portion comprising a first ramped surface and a second ramped surface, wherein the first and second ramped surfaces of the first side portion are overlapping, the second side portion comprising a first ramped surface and a second ramped surface, wherein the first and second ramped surfaces of the second side portion are overlapping, the first ramped surface of the first side portion and first ramped surface of the second side portion engaging one or more ramped surfaces in a first endplate of the implant to push the first endplate outwardly, the second ramped surface of the first side portion and the second ramped surface of the second side portion engaging one or more ramped surfaces in a second endplate of the implant to push the second “endplate outwardly, wherein the rotation of the actuation member causes a first ramped surface of a driving ramp to engage one or more ramped surfaces in the first endplate and push the first endplate outwardly and further causes a second ramped surface of the driving ramp to engage one or more ramped surfaces in the second endplate to push the second endplate outwardly, and wherein the central ramp comprises a second expansion portion extending from the extension of the central ramp, the second expansion portion comprising a first ramped surface and a second ramped surface, the first ramped surface engaging a central ramped surface in the first endplate, the second ramped surface engaging a central ramped surface in the second endplate.”