Expandable allograft cage
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorSusan J. Drapeau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spinal implant for insertion into and positioning in an intervertebral space is provided. The spinal implant includes an intervertebral cage having at least two cage ends and a spacer for insertion into the intervertebral cage between the at least two cage ends, the spacer configured to distract the intervertebral space to a desired height. The intervertebral cage and spacer comprise bone, and in some embodiments, allograft bone. A method for fusing two adjacent vertebrae utilizing the intervertebral allograft cage and spacer is also provided.
Claims20
A spinal implant for positioning between adjacent vertebrae, the spinal implant comprising:
- an intervertebral cage having at least two cage ends, each cage end configured to contact adjacent vertebrae, a spacer configured for insertion into the intervertebral cage between the at least two cage ends so as to distract the adjacent vertebrae to a desired height, the spacer comprising a length that is smaller than a length of the at least two cage ends, wherein the intervertebral cage and spacer are made entirely of bone and the bone is positively charged or negatively charged.
A method for fusing two adjacent vertebrae comprising:
- placing an intervertebral cage having at least two ends into an intervertebral space adjacent vertebrae in need of fusion, the intervertebral cage configured to receive a spacer between the at least two ends, the spacer comprising a length that is smaller than a length of the at least two ends;
- placing the spacer into the intervertebral cage so as to increase distance between the adjacent vertebrae in need of fusion, wherein the intervertebral cage and the spacer are made entirely of allograft bone and the allograft bone is positively charged or negatively charged.
A method of treating a spinal defect, the method comprising:
- preparing a disc space between adjacent vertebrae having the spinal defect to receive a spinal cage, the spinal cage comprising two ends opposite each other and a channel disposed between the two ends configured for receiving a spacer, the spacer comprising a length that is smaller than a length of the two ends;
- implanting the spinal cage into the disc space;
- inserting the spacer into the channel between the two ends of the spinal cage;
- and orienting the spacer for interlocking with the spinal cage so as to increase distance between the adjacent vertebrae, wherein the spinal cage and the spacer are made entirely of allograft bone and the allograft bone is positively charged or negatively charged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.