Apparatus having at least one actuatable planar surface and method using the same for a spinal procedure

An apparatus, comprising:

• a link assembly;
• a first member coupled to the link assembly and configured to actuate the link assembly, the link assembly including a first link coupled to the first member, the first link including a gear portion, the link assembly including a second link coupled to the first member, the second link including a gear portion, the gear portion of the first link matingly coupled to the gear portion of the second link, the link assembly having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• a second member having a substantially planar surface coupled to the link assembly at a first location;
• a third member having a substantially planar surface coupled to the link assembly at a second location, the first location and the second location being on opposite sides of the first member;
• and
• the link assembly configured such that the substantially planar surface of the second member and the substantially planar surface of the third member maintain a symmetrical relation relative to the first member during movement of the link assembly between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a link assembly;
• a first member defining an axis, the first member coupled to the link assembly and configured to actuate the link assembly, the link assembly including a first link coupled to the first member, the first link including a gear portion, the link assembly including a second link coupled to the first member, the second link including a gear portion, the gear portion of the first link being matingly coupled to the gear portion of the second link, the link assembly having a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration;
• a second member having a substantially planar surface coupled to the link assembly at a first location;
• a third member having a substantially planar surface coupled to the link assembly at a second location, the first location and the second location being on opposite sides of the axis defined by the first member;
• and
• the link assembly configured such that the substantially planar surface of the second member and the substantially planar surface of the third member move an equal distance away from the axis through a range of motion between the collapsed configuration of the link assembly and the expanded configuration of the link assembly.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an actuating member;
• an arm coupled to the actuating member, the arm defining an axis, the arm having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the arm and the second portion of the arm each having a proximal end and a distal end, the first portion of the arm configured to contact at least a portion of a vertebra, the second portion of the arm configured to contact at least a portion of the vertebra, the portion of the vertebra associated with the first portion of the arm being different than the portion of the vertebra associated with the second portion of the arm;
• a mandrel coupled to the actuating member, the mandrel configured to move between a first configuration in which the mandrel is positioned adjacent the distal end of the first portion of the arm and the distal end of the second portion of the arm, and a second configuration in which the mandrel is positioned adjacent the proximal end of the first portion of the arm and the proximal end of the second portion of the arm;
• and
• the first portion of the arm and the second portion of the arm being disposed substantially parallel when the mandrel is in the first configuration, the distal end of the first portion and the distal end of the second portion being disposed at a substantially equal distance from the axis when the mandrel is in the second configuration.

A method, comprising:

• inserting a link assembly into an area of a patient while the link assembly is in a collapsed configuration, the area of the patient being one of a bone structure and a soft tissue area;
• moving the link assembly from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration;
• rotating the link assembly such that material disposed within the area of the patient is captured within the link assembly;
• moving the link assembly from the expanded configuration to an intermediate configuration, the material being disposed within the link assembly while the link assembly is in the intermediate configuration;
• and
• removing the link assembly from the area of the patient.