Expandable spinal implant system with a biased tip and method of using same

An expandable spinal implant system comprising:

• an insertion instrument comprising a cannula and a driver shaft removably and rotatably disposed within the cannula;
• an expandable spinal implant deployable between a collapsed position and an expanded position in a disc space between upper and lower vertebral bodies, the expandable spinal implant comprising:
• frame comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, a frame proximal end having a proximal wall, and a frame distal end having a distal wall, the frame proximal end having a proximal end width, and the frame distal wall defining a central longitudinal axis, a distal aperture being defined in the distal wall coaxial with the central longitudinal axis;
• a plug movably disposed in the distal aperture;
• a first endplate pivotably engaged with the frame and configured to expand outward from the frame when the plug is moved in a distal direction, the first endplate including an upper surface, a first endplate proximal end, a first endplate distal end, a first endplate first lateral surface extending between the first endplate proximal end and the first endplate distal end, an opposing first endplate second lateral surface extending between the first endplate proximal end and the first endplate distal end, one of the first endplate first lateral surface and the first endplate second lateral surface including an anterior tip projecting from the first endplate distal end;
• and
• a second endplate pivotably engaged with the frame and configured to expand outward from the frame when the plug is moved in a distal direction, the second endplate including a lower surface, a second endplate proximal end, a second endplate distal end, a second endplate first lateral surface extending between the second endplate proximal end and the second endplate distal end, and an opposing second endplate second lateral surface extending between the second endplate proximal end and the second endplate distal end;
• the second endplate first lateral surface and the second endplate second lateral surface including an anterior portion projecting therefrom along a second axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis, the anterior portion extending to an anterior tip;
• and
• an endplate operably engaged with the frame and configured to move relative to the frame when the plug is moved by the insertion instrument;
• wherein the driver shaft is configured to be removable from the cannula, such that after the plug has been moved distally relative to the frame, a bone growth promoting material may be introduced into the frame of the expandable spinal implant through the cannula;
• and
• wherein when the implant is in the collapsed position, the anterior projection and the anterior tip define a distal end hooked portion.

A method of deploying an expandable spinal implant in a disc space between an upper vertebral surface and a lower vertebral surface, the method comprising:

• utilizing the expandable implant, the expandable implant comprising:
• a frame comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, a frame proximal end having a proximal wall, and a frame distal end having a distal wall, the frame proximal end having a proximal end width, and the frame distal wall defining a central longitudinal axis, a distal aperture being defined in the distal wall coaxial with the central longitudinal axis;
• a plug movably disposed in the distal aperture;
• a first endplate pivotably engaged with the frame and configured to expand outward from the frame when the plug is moved in a distal direction, the first endplate including an upper surface, a first endplate proximal end, a first endplate distal end, a first endplate first lateral surface extending between the first endplate proximal end and the first endplate distal end, an opposing first endplate second lateral surface extending between the first endplate proximal end and the first endplate distal end;
• a second endplate pivotably engaged with the frame and configured to expand outward from the frame when the plug is moved in a distal direction, the second endplate including a lower surface, a second endplate proximal end, a second endplate distal end, a second endplate first lateral surface extending between the second endplate proximal end and the second endplate distal end, and an opposing second endplate second lateral surface extending between the second endplate proximal end and the second endplate distal end;
• and
• the first endplate first lateral surface and the first endplate second lateral surface including an anterior portion projecting therefrom along a second axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis, the anterior portion extending to an anterior tip the first endplate distal end;
• wherein when the implant is in the collapsed position, the first endplate distal end and the second endplate distal end define a distal end beveled portion;
• and
• wherein when the implant is in the collapsed position, the anterior tip projecting from the first endplate distal end, and the anterior tip projecting from the second endplate distal end define a distal end hooked portion;
• inserting the implant in the collapsed position into the disc space between the upper and lower vertebral bodies, the distal end hooked portion hooking at least partially around a vertebral foramen, thereby avoiding interference with neural elements located within the vertebral foramen, the neural elements including at least a spinal cord;
• rotating at least the distal end hooked portion to a TLIF/transverse pathway;
• continuing to insert the implant in the TLIF/transverse pathway into the disc space between the upper vertebral body and the lower vertebral body until at least one of the distal end hooked portion and the distal end beveled portion engage substantially a continuous portion of anterior apophyseal rims of each of the upper and lower vertebral bodies;
• and
• expanding the first and second endplates.