Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof

An intervertebral implantation system comprising:

• a housing body having an anterior end, a posterior end, an anterior wall comprising an anterior opening, a posterior wall comprising a posterior opening, a first side wall connecting the anterior wall and the posterior wall, and a second side wall disposed opposite the first side wall and connecting the anterior wall and the posterior wall, each of the first and second side walls having an elongate slot;
• a first endplate disposed partially above the housing body and having a first opening configured to receive bone graft material;
• a second endplate disposed on an opposite side of the first endplate and having a second opening configured to receive bone graft material;
• a translator received in the housing body between the first and second endplates and configured to slidably engage the first endplate, the translator including first and second angled portions configured to slidably engage the first and second endplates and a bridge disposed between the first and second angled portions;
• a pair of laterally extending pins each received in one of the elongate slots of the first and second side walls and threaded into the translator;
• and
• an actuator threadingly received in a posterior end of the housing body and threadingly attached to the translator,
• wherein rotation of the actuator in a first direction causes translation of the translator which causes the first and second angled portions to push against the first and second endplates to move the first and second endplates away from the housing body into an expanded state.

A method for stabilizing spinal vertebrae comprising the steps of:

• providing an intervertebral implantation system comprising:
• a housing body having an anterior end, a posterior end, an anterior wall comprising an anterior opening, a posterior wall comprising a posterior opening, a first side wall connecting the anterior wall and the posterior wall, and a second side wall disposed opposite the first side wall and connecting the anterior wall and the posterior wall, each of the first and second side walls having an elongate slot;
• a first endplate disposed partially above the housing body;
• a second endplate disposed partially below the housing body;
• a translator received in the housing body and slidably coupled to the first endplate, the translator including first and second angled portions configured to slidably engage the first and second endplates and a bridge disposed between the first and second angled portions;
• and
• a pair of laterally extending pins each received in one of the elongate slots of the first and second side walls and threaded into the translator;
• an actuator received in the posterior end of the housing body and threadingly attached to the translator, wherein rotation of the actuator in a first direction causes translation of the translator which causes the first and second angled portions to push against the first and second endplates to vertically move the first and second endplates away from the housing body into an expanded state;
• positioning the intervertebral implantation system in an unexpanded state between adjacent vertebral bodies;
• and
• expanding the intervertebral implantation system into the expanded state to stabilize the adjacent vertebral bodies.