Intervertebral spacer and tool and method for emplacement thereof
AssigneeLi Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsLehmann K. Li, Rhodemann Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An intervertebral spacer comprises a multiplicity of interconnected wall elements collapsible to a first configuration wherein the wall elements are disposed in a compact arrangement, and expandable to a second configuration wherein the wall elements are disposed in an expanded arrangement which is open at a generally planar top and a generally planar bottom thereof.
Claims20
An intervertebral spacer comprising a plurality of discrete wall elements connected in series to form a body;
- said discrete wall elements being collapsible to a first non-expanded configuration, said first non-expanded configuration including at least some of said discrete wall elements being disposed internally of others of said discrete wall elements;
- and expandable to a second configuration, said second configuration including said discrete wall elements forming said body to define an outer expanded periphery of said body.
A method for emplacement of an intervertebral spacer comprising the steps of:
- providing an intervertebral spacer comprising a plurality of discrete wall elements connected in series to form a body;
- said discrete wall elements being collapsible to a first non-expanded configuration, said first non-expanded configuration including at least some of said discrete wall elements being disposed internally of others of said discrete wall elements;
- and expandable to a second configuration, said second configuration including said discrete wall elements forming said body to define an outer expanded periphery of said body;
- inserting said spacer in said first non-expanded configuration between two vertebrae;
- and
- expanding said spacer to said second configuration.
A method for emplacement of an intervertebral spacer comprising the steps of:
- providing an intervertebral spacer comprising a plurality of discrete wall elements connected in series to form a body;
- said discrete wall elements being collapsible to a first non-expanded configuration, said first non-expanded configuration including at least some of said discrete wall elements being disposed internally of others of said wall elements;
- and expandable to a second configuration, said second configuration including said discrete wall elements forming said body to define an outer expanded periphery of said body, said discrete wall elements including a discrete proximal connector wall element and a discrete distal connector wall element;
- providing a tool having a first portion thereof for connection to said discrete distal connector wall element, and a second portion thereof for connection to said discrete proximal connector wall element, said first portion being movable axially in said second portion;
- connecting said tool second portion to said discrete proximal connector wall element and connecting said tool first portion to said discrete distal connector wall element, and positioning said spacer in said first non-expanded configuration;
- extending said tool second portion, with said tool first portion therein, through a patient's body toward a space between two adjacent vertebrae, with said spacer in said first non-expanded configuration;
- placing said spacer, while in said first non-expanded configuration, in said space;
- manipulating said tool so as to move said spacer from said first non-expanded configuration to said second configuration;
- disconnecting said tool first portion from said spacer and withdrawing said tool first portion from said spacer;
- and
- disconnecting said tool second portion from said spacer and withdrawing said tool from said spacer and from the patient's body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.