Expandable intervertebral implant and associated method of manufacturing the same

A method of implanting an intervertebral implant into an intervertebral space defined by a superior vertebral body and an inferior vertebral body, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting the intervertebral implant into an intervertebral space in a insertion configuration, such that a superior bone contacting member of the intervertebral implant faces the superior vertebral body, and an inferior bone contacting member of the intervertebral implant faces the inferior vertebral body, wherein 1) the superior bone contacting member comprises first and second superior bone contacting components, and 2) the inferior bone contacting member comprises first and second inferior bone contacting components;
• after the inserting step, expanding the intervertebral implant from the insertion configuration to an expanded configuration so as to:
• 1) increase a respective distance between the superior and inferior bone contacting members along a cranio-caudal direction;
• 2) increase a respective distance between the first and second superior bone contacting components along a direction perpendicular to the cranio-caudal direction;
• and
• 3) increase a respective distance between the first and second inferior bone contacting components along the direction perpendicular to the cranio-caudal direction,
• wherein both before the inserting step and after the expanding step, 1) the inferior and superior bone contacting members are connected together by vertical components of the intervertebral implant, 2) the first and second superior bone contacting components are connected together by superior horizontal components of the intervertebral implant, and 3) the first and second inferior bone contacting components are connected together by inferior horizontal components of the intervertebral implant.

An expandable intervertebral implant that is configured to be inserted in an insertion configuration into an intervertebral space that is defined by a superior vertebral body and an inferior vertebral body, and subsequently expanded to an expanded configuration, the expandable intervertebral implant comprising:

• a superior bone contacting member configured to face the superior vertebral body, wherein the superior bone contacting member comprises first and second superior bone contacting components;
• an inferior bone contacting member opposite the superior bone contacting member along a vertical direction, the inferior bone contacting member configured to face the inferior vertebral body, wherein the inferior bone contacting member comprises first and second inferior bone contacting components,
• wherein the expandable intervertebral implant is configured to expand from the insertion configuration to the expanded configuration, such that 1) a respective vertical distance is increased between the superior and inferior bone contacting members along the vertical direction, 2) a superior horizontal distance is increased between the first and second superior bone contacting components along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and 3) an inferior horizontal distance is increased between the first and second inferior bone contacting components along the horizontal direction, and
• wherein both prior to and after expansion of the expandable intervertebral implant, 1) the inferior and superior bone contacting members are connected together by vertical components of the expandable intervertebral implant, 2) the first and second superior bone contacting components are connected together by superior components of the expandable intervertebral implant, and 3) the first and second inferior bone contacting components are connected together by inferior components of the expandable intervertebral implant.