Expanding, conforming interbody spacer
OwnerDaniel Manwill, Peter Halverson +1inventors
InventorsDaniel Manwill, Peter Halverson, David T. Hawkes
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Abstract
An expanding, conforming interbody implant includes a plurality of superior and a plurality of inferior segments. The segments are adapted to individually expand, contact, and conform to endplates of vertebral bodies to distribute forces equally over the implant and across the vertebral endplates. Once a proper extension of the segments has been achieved, the segments are locked in position. The implant has a stiffness that approximates the stiffness of bone, and the implant minimizes problems with subsidence, endplate fractures, and stress shielding.
Claims20
An expandable, conformable interbody implant, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first plurality of endplate-contacting segments adapted to each independently extend a variable amount in a superior direction from the frame;
- a second plurality of endplate-contacting segments adapted to each independently extend a variable amount in an inferior direction from the frame;
- and
- a locking mechanism adapted to lock the first plurality of endplate-contacting segments and the second plurality of endplate-contacting segments in a variety of independently extended positions, whereby each endplate-contacting segment of the first and second plurality of endplate-contacting segments contacts and supports bone adjacent the expandable, conformable interbody implant.
A method for using an expanding, conforming interbody implant, comprising:
- affixing an expanding, conforming interbody implant to an inserter, the implant comprising:
- a frame;
- a first plurality of endplate-contacting segments adapted to each independently extend a variable amount in a superior direction from the frame;
- a second plurality of endplate-contacting segments adapted to each independently extend a variable amount in an inferior direction from the frame;
- and
- a locking mechanism adapted to lock the first plurality of endplate-contacting segments and the second plurality of endplate-contacting segments in a variety of independently extended positions;
- placing the implant in a desired location using the inserter while the first and second pluralities of endplate-contacting segments are in a retracted position;
- supplying a force that causes the first and second pluralities of endplate-contacting segments to extend and generally conform to surfaces above and below the implant;
- and
- engaging the locking mechanism to secure the first and second pluralities of endplate-contacting segments in extended and conforming positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.