Expandable interbody device

An expandable interbody device;

• said expandable interbody device comprises a drive block, a top endplate, a bottom endplate, a first drive arrangement, and a second drive arrangement;
• said first drive arrangement includes a first drive screw, a first left side slide, a second left side slide, a first upper left side linkage, a second upper left side linkage, a first lower left side linkage and a second lower left side linkage;
• said first upper left side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said first left side slide and said top endplate;
• said first lower left side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said first left side slide and said bottom endplate;
• said second upper left side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said second left side slide and said top endplate;
• said second lower left side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said second left side slide and said bottom endplate;
• said second drive arrangement includes a second drive screw, a first right side slide, a second right side slide, a first upper right side linkage, a second upper right side linkage, a first lower right side linkage and a second lower right side linkage;
• said first upper right side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said first right side slide and said top endplate;
• said first lower right side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said first right side slide and said bottom endplate;
• said second upper right side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said second right side slide and said top endplate;
• said second lower right side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said second right side slide and said bottom endplate;
• said first left side slide is positioned on a left side portion of said expandable interbody device;
• said first right side slide is positioned on a right side portion of said expandable interbody device;
• said first drive screw and said second drive screw are independently rotatably from one another;
• rotation of said first drive screw causes simultaneous movement of said first and second left side slides;
• and wherein rotation of said second drive screw causes simultaneous movement of said first and second right side slides;
• said drive block includes first and second screw cavities that extend along 50-100% of a longitudinal length of said drive block;
• at least 50% of a longitudinal length of said first and second screw cavities are spaced apart from one another;
• said first screw cavity is configured to receive said first drive screw;
• said second screw cavity is configured to receive said second drive screw;
• said first and second screw cavities are positioned generally parallel to one another;
• rotation of said first drive screw causes movement of said first and second left side slides in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis of said drive block;
• and wherein rotation of said second drive screw causes movement of said first and second right side slides in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis of said drive block;
• said first and second left side slides each include an opening wherein a portion of said first drive screw is threadedly inserted therein;
• and said first and second right side slides each include an opening wherein a portion of said second drive screw is threadedly inserted therein;
• said first drive screw includes a non-slide region that inhibits or prevents longitudinal movement of said first drive screw in said drive block when said first drive screw is rotated;
• and wherein said second drive screw includes a non-slide region that inhibits or prevents longitudinal movement of said second drive screw in said drive block when said second drive screw is rotated;
• said drive block includes left and right side slide guides to facilitate in maintaining a longitudinal position of said top and bottom endplates relative to said drive block as said top and bottom endplates move between a fully closed and a fully expanded position;
• said top endplate includes left and right side flanges;
• and wherein said left side flange is configured to move along and adjacent to said left-side slide guide of said drive block when said top endplate moves between said fully closed and said fully expanded position;
• and
• wherein said right side flange is configured to move along and adjacent to said right-side slide guide of said drive block when said top endplate moves between said fully closed and said fully expanded position;
• said bottom endplate includes left and right side flanges;
• and wherein said left side flange is configured to move along and adjacent to said left-side slide guide of said drive block when said bottom endplate moves between said fully closed and said fully expanded position;
• and
• wherein said right side flange is configured to move along and adjacent to said right-side slide guide of said drive block when said bottom endplate moves between said fully closed and said fully expanded position.

A method for using an expandable interbody device comprising:

• providing said expandable interbody device;
• said expandable interbody device comprises a drive block, a top endplate, a bottom endplate, a first drive arrangement, and a second drive arrangement;
• said first drive arrangement includes a first drive screw, a first left side slide, a first upper left side linkage, and a first lower left side linkage;
• said first upper left side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said first left side slide;
• said first upper left side linkage engages said top endplate;
• said first lower left side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said first left side slide;
• said first lower left side linkage engages said bottom endplate;
• said second drive arrangement includes a second drive screw, a first right side slide, a first upper right side linkage, and a first lower right side linkage;
• said first upper right side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said first right side slide;
• said first upper right side linkage engages said top endplate;
• said first lower right side linkage is rotatably or pivotally connected to said first right side slide;
• said first lower right side linkage engages said bottom endplate;
• said first left side slide is positioned on a left side portion of said expandable interbody device;
• said first right side slide is positioned on a right side portion of said expandable interbody device;
• said first drive screw and said second drive screw are independently rotatably from one another;
• said drive block includes left and right-side slide guides;
• inserting said expandable interbody device into a patient;
• and
• rotating one or both of said first and second drive screws to cause movement of at least a portion of said top endplate relative to at least a portion of said bottom endplate;
• said left and right-side slide guides to facilitate in causing a longitudinal position of said drive block to move relative to said top and bottom endplates as said top and bottom endplates move between a fully closed and a fully expanded position.