Plastically deformable inter-osseous device

An orthopedic stabilizing device for placement in an interosseous space defined by adjacent bony surfaces, comprising:

• a deformable monolithic body having a distal anterior end and a proximal posterior end, an upper bone contact structure and a lower bone contact structure, a first locator arm more proximate the distal anterior end and a second locator arm more proximate the proximal posterior end, each locator arm being joined to a respective upper bone contact structure and a lower bone contact structure without discontinuity by a deformable joint and having a length between said upper bone contact structure and said lower bone contact structure, the length of said first locator arm being greater than the length of said second locator arm, said upper bone contact structure being movable relative to said lower bone contact surface about said deformable joints, said device being expandable along a height axis between a first unexpanded height to a second expanded height by deformation of the monolithic body, wherein the height of said body at said distal anterior end is greater than the height at said proximal posterior end at the expanded second height, a load-bearing column formable between said locator arms, at least a first column portion of said load-bearing column projecting inwardly within said body in a fixed direction from one of said upper bone contact structure or said lower bone contact structure and a second column portion of said load-bearing column projecting inwardly within said body in a fixed direction facing said first column portion, said second column portion being supported by a center section of said body disposed between said upper bone contact structure and said lower bone contact structure, said load-bearing column not being formed at the first height and said first column portion and said second column portion being operative at the second expanded height to form said load-bearing column along the height axis that spans the distance between said upper bone contact structure and said lower bone contact structure.

An orthopedic stabilizing device for placement in an interosseous space defined by adjacent bony surfaces, comprising:

• a deformable monolithic body having a distal anterior end and a proximal posterior end, an upper bone contact structure and a lower bone contact structure, a first locator arm adjacent the distal anterior end and a second locator arm adjacent the proximal posterior end, and a center section supported by said body and translatable between said upper bone contact structure and said lower bone contact structure, each locator arm being joined to a respective upper bone contact structure and a lower bone contact structure without discontinuity by a deformable joint and having a length between said upper bone contact structure and said lower bone contact structure, the length of said first locator arm being greater than the length of said second locator arm, said upper bone contact structure being movable relative to said lower bone contact surface about said deformable joints, said device being expandable along a height axis between a first unexpanded height to a second expanded height by deformation of the monolithic body, wherein the height of said body at said distal anterior end is greater than the height at said proximal posterior end at the expanded second height, a first partial column on one of said upper bone contact structure or said center section, a first engagement surface on the other of said upper bone contact structure or said center section, a second partial column on one of said lower bone contact structure or said center section, a second engagement surface on the other of said lower bone contact structure or said center section, said first and second partial column portions and said first and second engagement surfaces being disposed between said first and second locator arms, said center section being movable in a direction transverse to said expanded height, said first and said second partial columns not being engaged with said respective first and second engagement surfaces at said first height and operative to form upon expansion a load-bearing column along the height axis by the direct engagement of said first partial column with said first engagement surface and the second partial column with said second engagement surface, said load-bearing column spanning the distance between said upper bone contact structure and said lower bone contact structure at said second expanded height.