Spinal implant system and method

A spinal implant comprising:

• a first member comprising an inner surface defining a passageway, the first member comprising a groove extending into the inner surface;
• a second member positioned within the passageway and including an outer surface comprising a plurality of helical teeth, the second member including a slot extending into the outer surface, the slot including a gear rack having a plurality of gear teeth, the second member comprising opposing first and second axial surfaces that define a portion of the slot, the first axial surface including the gear rack, the gear teeth being disposed in a linear, serial configuration along the first axial surface;
• a third member positioned in the groove and between the first and second members such that the first member is spaced apart from the second member by the third member and teeth of the third member engage the helical teeth such that rotation of the third member relative to the second member and the first member translates the second member relative to the first member axially to move the spinal implant from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration;
• and
• a tool comprising a shaft, an end of the shaft having a plurality of teeth configured for engagement with the gear teeth such that rotation of the shaft relative to the second member causes translation of the second member relative to the first member.

A spinal implant comprising:

• a first member comprising an inner surface defining a passageway, the first member comprising a groove extending into the inner surface;
• a second member positioned within the passageway and including an outer surface comprising a plurality of helical teeth, the second member including a slot extending into the outer surface, the slot including a gear rack having a plurality of gear teeth, the second member comprising opposing first and second axial surfaces that define a portion of the slot, the first axial surface including the gear rack, the gear teeth being disposed in a linear, serial configuration along the first axial surface, the second member including a wall, the wall comprising the outer surface and an opposite inner surface, the inner surface of the wall defining a bore, the second member including a first opening extending through the wall such that the first opening is in communication with the slot and the bore, the second member comprising a second opening extending through the wall such that the second opening is in communication with the bore, the second opening being coaxial with the first opening;
• and
• a third member positioned in the groove and between the first and second members such that the first member is spaced apart from the second member by the third member and teeth of the third member engage the helical teeth such that rotation of the third member relative to the second member and the first member translates the second member relative to the first member axially to move the spinal implant from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration.