Expandable articulating transforaminal lumbar interbody spacer

An expandable interbody spacer for placement between adjacent vertebrae comprising:

• a proximal housing;
• a distal frame;
• a drive screw configured to axially translate the proximal housing toward the distal frame;
• right and left lateral expansion wedges slidingly coupled to the proximal housing and distal frame;
• wherein the proximal housing, distal frame, and left and right lateral expansion wedges all contain angled ramps configured to induce lateral expansion during translation of the proximal housing toward the distal frame;
• right and left upper and lower endplates;
• proximal and distal vertical wedges coupled to the right and left upper and lower endplates;
• the distal vertical wedge having a steeper angle than the proximal vertical wedge,
• wherein:
• initial axial translation induces lateral expansion of the lateral expansion wedges until a lateral expansion stop is reached;
• continued axial translation induces lordotic expansion of the right and left upper and lower endplates by the distal vertical wedge until the proximal vertical wedge engages the right and left upper and lower endplate;
• and
• further axial translation induces linear expansion of the right and left upper and lower endplates by both the proximal and distal vertical wedges.

An expandable interbody spacer expanded in sequential steps for placement between adjacent vertebrae comprising:

• a housing having lateral expansion ramps;
• and
• a frame;
• lateral expansion wedges having lateral wedge ramps slidingly coupled to the housing lateral expansion ramps;
• a drive screw rotatably coupled to the proximal housing and distal frame, wherein, rotation of the drive screw translates the proximal housing toward the distal frame and induces lateral expansion the right and left lateral expansion wedges away from each other;
• right and left upper endplates having proximal and distal endplates ramps;
• right and left lower endplates having proximal and distal endplates ramps;
• and
• vertical expansion wedges having proximal vertical ramps configured to slidingly engage the proximal endplate ramps, and distal vertical ramps configured to slidingly engage the distal endplate ramps, wherein:
• a difference in angle between the proximal and distal vertical ramps results in angular/lordotic expansion of the upper and lower endplates, and
• a matching angle between the proximal and distal vertical ramps results in linear/vertical expansion of the upper and lower endplates;
• wherein the axial translation of the proximal housing toward the distal frame induces:
• a) lateral expansion of the right and left expansion wedges away from each;
• b) once lateral expansion is complete, lordotic/angular expansion of the upper and lower endplates away from each other;
• and
• c) once lordotic expansion is complete. linear/vertical expansion of the upper endplates away from the lower endplates.