Spinal implant system and method

A spinal implant system comprising:

• an outer body extending along a first longitudinal axis between opposite first and second ends, the outer body comprising an inner surface, the inner surface defining a bore and a first thread, the outer body being linear along the first longitudinal axis from the first end of the outer body to the second end of the outer body;
• a hollow inner shaft extending along a second longitudinal axis between opposite first and second ends, the second end of the inner shaft being positioned in the bore, the inner shaft comprising an outer surface defining a second thread that mates with the first thread, the second thread comprising a series of gear teeth;
• a first end plate coupled to the first end of the inner shaft, the first end plate defining a third longitudinal axis;
• a second end plate coupled to the second end of the outer body, the second end plate defining a fourth longitudinal axis that extends perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis;
• and
• a driver comprising a gear configured to engage the gear teeth such that rotation of the driver relative to the outer body rotates the inner shaft relative to the outer body to translate the inner shaft relative to the outer body along the first longitudinal axis,
• wherein the fourth longitudinal axis is parallel to the third longitudinal axis as the inner shaft translates relative to the outer body along the first longitudinal axis, and
• wherein the inner shaft comprises a plurality of tiers, the tiers defining the second thread, the tiers being fixed relative to one another as the inner shaft translates relative to the outer body along the first longitudinal axis.

A spinal implant system comprising:

• an outer body extending along a first longitudinal axis between opposite first and second ends, the outer body comprising an inner surface, the inner surface defining a bore and a first thread, the outer body being curved along the first longitudinal axis;
• a hollow inner shaft extending along a second longitudinal axis between opposite first and second ends, the second end of the inner shaft being positioned in the bore, the inner shaft comprising an outer surface defining a second thread that mates with the first thread, the second thread comprising a series of gear teeth;
• a first end plate coupled to the first end of the inner shaft, the first end plate defining a third longitudinal axis;
• a second end plate coupled to the second end of the outer body, the second end plate defining a fourth longitudinal axis that extends perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis;
• and
• a driver comprising a gear configured to engage the gear teeth such that rotation of the driver relative to the outer body rotates the inner shaft relative to the outer body to translate the inner shaft relative to the outer body along the first longitudinal axis,
• wherein the fourth longitudinal axis extends at an acute angle relative to the third longitudinal axis as the inner shaft translates relative to the outer body along the first longitudinal axis, and
• wherein the inner shaft comprises a plurality of tiers, the tiers defining the second thread, the tiers moving relative to one another such that the inner shaft bends along the second longitudinal axis as the inner shaft translates relative to the outer body along the first longitudinal axis such that the inner shaft bends along the second longitudinal axis.