US 2012/0071978 A1 · DISTRACTIBLE INTERVERTEBRAL IMPLANT

Abstract

A distractible intervertebral implant configured to be inserted in an insertion direction into an intervertebral space that is defined between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body is disclosed. The implant may include a first body and a second body. The first body may define an outer surface that is configured to engage the first vertebral body, and an opposing inner surface that defines a rail. The second body may define an outer surface that is configured to engage the second vertebral body, and an inner surface that defines a recess configured to receive the rail of the first body. The second body moves in a vertical direction toward the second vertebral body as the second body is slid over the first body and the rail is received in the recess.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A distractible intervertebral implant configured to be inserted into an intervertebral space along an insertion direction, the intervertebral space defined between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body that is spaced from the first vertebral body along a vertical direction, the distractible intervertebral implant comprising:

a first implant body that defines an outer surface configured to face the first vertebral body when the distractible intervetbral implant is disposed in the intervertebral space, and an opposed inner surface that defines a rail;
and
a second implant body that defines an outer surface configured to face the second vertebral body when the distractible intervetbral implant is disposed in the intervertebral space, and an opposed inner surface that defines a recess configured to receive the rail of the first body,
wherein the second implant body is configured to move along the vertical direction as the second implant body is translated over the first implant body and the rail is received by the recess, so as to distract the first and second vertebral bodies.

1 more element

a first implant body that includes a pair of first side regions, and defines an outer surface configured to face the first vertebral body when the distractible intervetbral implant is disposed in the intervertebral space;
and
a second implant body including a pair of second side regions, each second side region having an anterior end that is angled toward the first implant body as the anterior end extends in a direction opposite the insertion direction, the second implant body defining an outer surface configured to face the second vertebral body when the distractible intervetbral implant is disposed in the intervertebral space,
wherein the anterior end of each second side region of the second implant body is configured to contact a respective one of the first side regions of the first implant body as the second implant body is translated along the first implant body, thereby causing the outer surface of the second implant body to move away from the outer surface of the first implant body.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Distractible intervertebral implant

Life of this patent

Distractible intervertebral implant

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27