Methods and devices for bilaterally expanding intervertebral body fusion devices
AssigneeWenzel Spine, Inc.
InventorErik EMSTAD
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Abstract
An embodiment includes devices and methods for using an expandable intervertebral body fusion device with two expansion wedges within a generally hollow main body. After implantation into the intervertebral disc space, the expansion wedges are simultaneously moved from the center of the device toward the ends, which flexes the arms of the cage and increases the size of the implant. This expansion stabilizes the device in the disc space and increases the disc height, thereby reducing foraminal compression of spinal nerves and creating a stable motion segment for eventual fusion. Other embodiments are described herein.
Claims18
An intervertebral spacing implant comprising:
- a seat having an outer surface, a first lateral end and a second lateral end;
- two or more first arms, each having a first arm interior surface and a first arm exterior surface, coupled to the first lateral end of the seat and extending in a first lateral direction away from the seat to a first arm distal end, the two or more first arms defining a first internal volume wherein the first internal volume has a first interior perimeter at a first interior location proximal to the seat and a second interior perimeter at a second interior location distal to the first interior location that is less than the first interior perimeter when the two or more first arms are unextended;
- a first spacer configured to moveably fit within the first cage and move in the first lateral direction;
- and
- two or more second arms, each having a second arm interior surface and a second arm exterior surface, coupled to the second lateral end of the seat and extending in a second lateral direction away from the seat to a second arm distal end, the two or more second arms defining a second internal volume.
A method of implanting an intervertebral spacing implant comprising:
- providing an interveterbral spacing implant comprising
- a seat having an outer surface, a first lateral end and a second lateral end;
- two or more first arms, each having a first arm interior surface and a first arm exterior surface, coupled to the first lateral end of the seat and extending in a first lateral direction away from the seat to a first arm distal end, the two or more first arms defining a first internal volume wherein the first internal volume has a first interior perimeter at a first interior location proximal to the seat and a second interior perimeter at a second interior location distal to the first interior location that is less than the first interior perimeter when the two or more first arms are unextended;
- a first spacer configured to moveably fit within the first cage and move in the first lateral direction;
- and
- two or more second arms, each having a second arm interior surface and a second arm exterior surface, coupled to the second lateral end of the seat and extending in a second lateral direction away from the seat to a second arm distal end, the two or more second arms defining a second internal volume;
- positioning the intervertebral spacing implant between a first vertebra and a second vertebra adjacent the first vertebra;
- moving the first spacer in the first lateral direction away from the seat;
- and
- increasing an exterior perimeter of the intervertebral spacing implant at a location along a length of the two or more first arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.