Expandable interbody implant and method

A method for treating a spine, the spine including a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the first vertebra having a first endplate that is adjacent a spinal disc, the second vertebra having a second endplate that is adjacent the spinal disc, the first vertebra having a pedicle and a body wall, the method comprising:

• (a) forming a channel that extends through the first vertebra, wherein the channel extends through the pedicle or the body wall and the channel extends through the first endplate, the channel having a channel axis and a channel diameter, the channel axis at the first endplate being oblique or perpendicular to the first endplate;
• (b) providing an expandable implant, the expandable implant comprising a plurality of supports and means for linking the plurality of supports, the plurality of supports being capable of moving apart from one another, the plurality of supports having a support first end and a support second end and a support axis that extends from the support first end to the support second end, the plurality of supports having a support height, the expandable implant having an unexpanded diameter that is perpendicular to the support axis;
• (c) advancing the expandable implant through the channel, wherein the unexpanded diameter is configured to permit passage of the expandable implant through the channel;
• and
• (d) expanding the expandable implant to an expanded condition, wherein the expanding comprises moving the plurality of supports apart from one another, the expandable implant having an expanded diameter when the expandable implant is in the expanded condition, the expanded diameter being perpendicular to the support axis,
• wherein the expanded diameter is configured to be greater than the channel diameter at the first endplate;
• and
• wherein the support height is configured to permit the support second end to be positioned adjacent the second endplate while the support first end is positioned adjacent the first endplate while the support axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first endplate.

A method for treating a spine, the spine including a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the first vertebra having a first endplate that is adjacent a spinal disc, the second vertebra having a second endplate that is adjacent the spinal disc, the first vertebra having a body and a pedicle, the method comprising:

• (a) forming a channel that extends through the first vertebra, wherein the channel extends through the pedicle and through the first endplate, the channel having a channel diameter, the channel having a pedicle region, a central region, and an endplate region,
• wherein the channel diameter for the central region is greater than the channel diameter for the pedicle region and the channel diameter for the central region is greater than the channel diameter for the endplate region;
• (b) providing an implant, the implant having an implant diameter, wherein the implant diameter is configured to permit passage of the implant through the pedicle region and through the endplate region;
• (c) introducing the implant into the pedicle region;
• and
• (d) advancing the implant through the channel, wherein at least a portion of the implant advances at least to the first endplate.