Expandable intervertebral implant and methods of use thereof

A method of implanting an expandable intervertebral implant comprising:

• engaging a distal tip of an insertion tool with an expandable intervertebral implant, the expandable intervertebral implant comprising:
• a telescoping first sidewall having a first leading end and a first trailing end and comprising a male portion received in a female portion, the first sidewall further comprising a first sidewall groove extending for most of an overall length of the first sidewall;
• a second sidewall having a second leading end and a second trailing end, the second leading end coupled to the first leading end of the first sidewall by a first hinge, the second trailing end coupled to the first trailing end of the first sidewall by a second hinge, the second sidewall including a plurality of links situated between the first hinge and the second hinge, the second sidewall further comprising a second sidewall groove extending for most of an overall length of the second sidewall, wherein in a delivery configuration the first sidewall groove and second sidewall groove face each other to form a channel extending most of an overall length of the implant, wherein the channel is configured to receive a distal portion of a delivery tool therein, wherein the plurality of links includes a first link, a second link, and a third link;
• and
• a locking element including a mating feature on the male portion of the first sidewall dimensioned to engage a mating feature on the female portion of the first sidewall,
• such that the insertion tool engages an insertion tool aperture on a medial face of the leading end of the second sidewall of the expandable intervertebral implant, wherein a shaft of the insertion tool is accommodated by a channel formed by the second sidewall and the telescoping first sidewall;
• laterally inserting the expandable intervertebral implant into a patient with the insertion tool;
• pushing a proximal end of the expandable intervertebral implant towards a distal end of the expandable intervertebral implant using the insertion tool to cause the telescoping first sidewall to decrease in length and the first hinge and the second hinge of the second sidewall to pivot, thereby causing a poster-anterior width of the expandable intervertebral implant to expand;
• and
• disengaging the insertion tool from the expandable intervertebral implant to remove the insertion tool from the patient.