Expandable intervertebral spacers
AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.
InventorsKevin Foley, Harald Ebner, Mingyan Liu, Charles Branch, Lawrence M. Boyd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Laterally expanding vertebral spacer devices are provided for repairing damaged vertebral discs. The vertebral spacer devices maintain the height of a distracted vertebral disc space while providing stability to the spine. In one form of the invention, a vertebral spacer device is provided with a first arm movably coupled to a second arm. The first and second arms are laterally expandable from a first width for insertion into the disc space to a second width after insertion into the disc space. The first and second arms also define a cavity therebetween for placement of bone growth material.
Claims18
A vertebral spacer device configured for introduction into a space between two adjacent vertebrae, the device comprising:
- a spacer having a longitudinal axis and opposite bone engaging surfaces adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebrae, said spacer further including a first arm and a second arm movably coupled to said first arm to permit lateral movement transverse to said longitudinal axis,
- wherein said first arm and second arm are coupled in a first lateral position for insertion through a portal in a disc annulus into the intradiscal space, said first arm being laterally movable with respect to said second arm to a second expanded lateral position in which said first arm is spaced a distance from said second arm, and
- wherein each of said first and second arms include opposing first and second ends, said first arm is movably coupled to said second arm by a pair of laterally extending portions at each of said first and second ends.
A vertebral spacer device configured for introduction into an intradiscal space between two adjacent vertebrae, the device comprising:
- a body portion including a first end and an opposite second end;
- and
- a laterally expandable portion attached to said body to form a spacer, said laterally expandable portion movably coupled to said body portion at said first end, said laterally expandable portion being moveable to a first position whereby said spacer defines a first lateral width,
- wherein said laterally expandable portion is movable to a second position whereby said spacer defines a second lateral width, said second width greater than said first lateral width, and
- wherein said second end includes a notch and said laterally expandable portion includes an integrally formed catch proximate said second end, said catch engaging said notch when said laterally expandable portion is in said second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.