Expandable Spinal Cages

An expandable spinal cage having a first configuration and a second configuration and configured to engage a vertebra, comprising:

• a fixed member having a proximal end, a distal end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side substantially opposite the first lateral side, a base, and an open end substantially opposite the base, the base, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the open end, and the inner surface cooperatively defining a cavity, the inner surface and the outer surface cooperatively defining a first passageway on the proximal end in fluid communication with the cavity, the first lateral side defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the second lateral side defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the first lateral side inner surface defining a first slot, the second lateral side inner surface defining a second slot, the fixed member defining a second passageway extending from the inner surface of the first lateral side to the outer surface of the first lateral side, and a third passageway extending from the inner surface of the second lateral side to the outer surface of the second lateral side;
• a lifting member partially disposed within the cavity of the fixed member and comprising a contacting member and a transition member, the contacting member having a lower surface and an upper surface configured to contact the vertebra, the contacting member being disposed adjacent the open end, the transition member in contact with the lower surface, the transition member defining a first stabilizing mechanism configured to engage the first slot, the transition member defining a second stabilizing mechanism configured to engage the second slot;
• a driving member disposed within the cavity of the fixed member and configured to exert force on the lifting member;
• and
• a locking member configured to be inserted into the first passageway and contact the driving member to transition the expandable spinal cage from the first configuration to the second configuration;
• wherein the upper surface is disposed further from the base when the expandable spinal cage is in the second configuration than when the expandable spinal cage is in the first configuration.

An expandable spinal cage having a first configuration and a second configuration and configured to engage a vertebra, comprising:

• a fixed member having a proximal end, a distal end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side substantially opposite the first lateral side, a base, an open end substantially opposite the base, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the base, the open end, and the inner surface cooperatively defining a cavity, the inner surface and the outer surface cooperatively defining a passageway on the proximal end in fluid communication with the cavity, the first lateral side defining a first lateral side inner surface, the second lateral side defining a second lateral side inner surface, the first lateral side inner surface defining a first slot, the second lateral side inner surface defining a second slot;
• a lifting member partially disposed within the cavity of the fixed member and comprising a contacting member, a transition member, a connecting member, and a hinge member, the contacting member having a lower surface and an upper surface configured to contact the vertebra, the contacting member being disposed adjacent the open end, the transition member in contact with the lower surface, the transition member defining a first stabilizing mechanism configured to engage the first slot, the transition member defining a second stabilizing mechanism configured to engage the second slot;
• a driving member disposed within the cavity of the fixed member and configured to exert force on the lifting member;
• and
• a locking member configured to be inserted into the passageway and contact the driving member to transition the expandable spinal cage from the first configuration to the second configuration;
• wherein the upper surface is disposed further from the base when the expandable spinal cage is in the second configuration than when the expandable spinal cage is in the first configuration;
• wherein the upper surface is disposed on a plane that is set at a first, non-orthogonal angle to a plane on which the base is disposed when the expandable spinal cage is in the second configuration;
• and
• wherein the first, non-orthogonal angle is between about 1° and about 30°.