Expandable pedicle screw assembly

Abstract

Provided herein are various expandable pedicle screw assemblies and associated surgical methods. In one exemplary embodiment, the methods and devices provide a pedicle screw assembly having a support anchor, a retractable shaft or screw, and one or more blades operatively connected to the retractable shaft. Expansion of the retractable shaft within the support anchor may be effective to move the blades between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration in which the blades are biased laterally away from the screw assembly. In some embodiments, the biasing of the blades begins along a distal end of the screw assembly and/or the amount of biasing is maximized along the distal end. The retractable shaft may help to impart structural rigidity to the assembly, preventing breakage, while the blades may help to maximize screw purchase with the surrounding bone tissue, preventing displacement and pull-out.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.