Anchored intervertebral implants

A method for implanting an intervertebral spacer and a locking plate assembly between first and second vertebral bodies of a subject's spine, the method comprising:

• inserting an expandable interbody spacer between the first and second vertebral bodies;
• coupling one or more bone screws to the first vertebral body and/or the second vertebral body to couple a vertebral attachment plate against a side of the first vertebral body and/or the second vertebral body;
• and
• coupling the vertebral attachment plate to the interbody spacer using a locking screw after expanding the interbody spacer.

A method for implanting an intervertebral spacer and a locking plate assembly between first and second vertebral bodies of a subject's spine, the method comprising:

• inserting a spacer between the first and second vertebral bodies, wherein the spacer comprises:
• a first support member comprising a first upper body and a first lower body, and a second support member,
• a first end and a second end and a first axis extending therebetween,
• a first end body located at the spacer first end and connected to the first and second support members and a second end body located at the spacer second end and connected to the first and second support members, and
• a plurality of individual links, each link directly connecting one of the end bodies with one of the first and second support members;
• wherein each of the first upper body and the first lower body includes a first recess in communication with a second recess, wherein a ramp connects the first recess and the second recess;
• providing an application of axial force along the first axis, wherein the axial force moves the first support member away from the second support member along a first direction and moves the first upper body away from the first lower body along a second direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first axis and to the first direction;
• drawing the first end body toward the second end body along the first axis to expand the spacer;
• rotating each of the individual links laterally outward relative to the end body to which it is connected, to expand the first support member away from the second support member along the first direction;
• urging at least one of the individual links from the first recess along the ramp into the second recess to expand the upper body away from the lower body along the second direction;
• and
• attaching a locking plate assembly to the expanded spacer, wherein the locking plate assembly comprises:
• one or more bone screws including a bone threaded portion and a bone head, and
• a plate comprising one or more through-holes configured to receive the bone threaded portion of the one or more bone screws.

A method for implanting an intervertebral spacer and a locking plate assembly between first and second vertebral bodies of a portion of a spine, the method comprising:

• integrating a spacer with a locking plate assembly, wherein
• the spacer comprises:
• a first support member comprising a first upper body and a first lower body, and a second support member,
• a first end and a second end and a first axis extending therebetween,
• a first end body located at the spacer first end and connected to the first and second support members and a second end body located at the spacer second end and connected to the first and second support members, and
• a plurality of individual links, each link directly connecting one of the end bodies with one of the first and second support members;
• wherein each of the first upper body and the first lower body includes a first recess in communication with a second recess, wherein a ramp connects the first recess and the second recess, and
• the locking plate assembly comprises:
• a plate with one or more through-holes,
• a locking screw with a screw head, and
• one or more bone screws inserted into the one or more through-holes;
• inserting the integrated spacer and locking plate assembly between first and second vertebral bodies of a portion of a spine;
• providing an application of axial force along the first axis, wherein the axial force moves the first support member away from the second support member along a first direction and moves the first upper body away from the first lower body along a second direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first axis and to the first direction;
• drawing the first end body toward the second end body along the first axis to expand the spacer;
• rotating each of the individual links laterally outward relative to the end body to which it is connected, to expand the first support member away from the second support member along the first direction;
• and
• urging at least one of the individual links from the first recess along the ramp into the second recess to expand the upper body away from the lower body along the second direction.

An intervertebral spacer for implantation between first and second vertebral bodies of a patient's spine, the intervertebral spacer comprising:

• a first expandable support member having a first bone screw opening;
• a second expandable support member;
• at least one expansion assembly configured to laterally move apart and vertically expand the first and second expandable support members such that the intervertebral spacer automatically locks in a laterally and vertically expanded configuration;
• and
• at least one bone screw insertable through the first bone screw opening when the intervertebral spacer is locked in the laterally and vertically expanded configuration, wherein the bone screw is configured to extend into one of the first and second vertebral bodies to anchor the intervertebral spacer to the patient's spine.

A method for implanting an intervertebral spacer between first and second vertebral bodies of a patient's spine, the method comprising:

• inserting an intervertebral spacer between the first and second vertebral bodies, the intervertebral spacer comprising a first expandable support member and a second expandable support member;
• and
• applying a force to the spacer to laterally expand the intervertebral spacer for multidirectional expansion of the first and second expandable support members;
• and
• inserting at least one anchor element through a portion of the multi-directionally expanded intervertebral spacer and into one of the first and second vertebral bodies, thereby anchoring the multi-directionally intervertebral spacer to the patient's spine.