Expandable spinal implant and flexible driver
AssigneeGlobal Medical Inc
InventorPaul C. McAfee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Expandable spinal implants and drivers connected by a bendable joint are disclosed. The flexible connector allows the implant and driver to move to different angular orientations with respect to each other, and to apply rotational force or torque from the driver to the implant and its expansion mechanism. During insertion of an implant into the desired position, the driver may be oriented in the same or different direction than the long axis of the implant. After the spinal implant is placed in the desired position, the driver is used to expand the implant in selected dimensions.
Claims17
A method of deploying an expandable spinal implant into a patient, said method comprising:
- preparing a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a driver, the expandable spinal implant, and a flexible connector releasably connected to the driver and the implant, wherein the flexible connector is configured to be rotatable by the driver to expand the spinal implant, wherein the flexible connector comprises a helical spring;
- inserting the implant at an insertion orientation;
- rotating the implant to a desired orientation using the driver and the flexible connector;
- expanding the implant with the driver;
- disengaging the driver from the implant.
A method of deploying an expandable spinal implant into a patient, said method comprising:
- preparing a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
- a driver having a proximal end and a distal end;
- and
- a flexible connector releasably attached to the distal end of the driver,
- wherein the flexible connector is structured and arranged to engage and expand a spinal implant when torque is applied to the flexible connector from the driver,
- inserting the implant at an insertion orientation;
- rotating the implant to a desired orientation using the driver and the flexible connector;
- expanding the implant with the driver;
- disengaging the driver from the implant,
- wherein the distal end of the driver comprises a hex-head connector including at least two radially expandable engagement members releasably engageable with the flexible connector.
A method of deploying an expandable spinal implant into a patient, said method comprising:
- preparing a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
- the expandable spinal implant having upper and lower plates expandable away from each other;
- an expansion mechanism structured and arranged to move the upper and lower plates away from each other, wherein the expansion mechanism comprises a rotatable distractor paddle engageable with an inner contact surface of each of the upper and lower plates;
- and
- a flexible connector engageable with the expansion mechanism;
- inserting the implant at an insertion orientation;
- rotating the implant to a desired orientation using the driver and the flexible connector;
- expanding the implant with the driver;
- disengaging the driver from the implant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.