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.
Claims27
A method for maintaining a longitudinal intradiscal space between two adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising:
- providing a vertebral spacer having a first portion moveably coupled to a second portion at a connection end of the vertebral spacer, the first portion being separate from the second portion at a first end of the vertebral spacer opposite said connection end, the first portion and the second portion defining a socket at the first end, the first portion and second portion moveable between an insertion configuration and an expanded spacer configuration;
- coupling a tool to the socket at the first end;
- inserting the vertebral spacer into the disc space with the vertebral spacer in the insertion configuration;
- and
- moving the vertebral spacer into the expanded configuration.
A method for maintaining a longitudinal intradiscal space between two adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising:
- providing a vertebral spacer having a first arm moveably coupled to a second arm at a first end of the vertebral spacer, the first arm having an end portion integrally formed at a second end of the vertebral spacer opposite said first end, the second arm having a locking arm integrally formed at the second end of the vertebral spacer, the first portion and second portion being moveable between an insertion configuration and an expanded configuration, the locking arm being biased to lock with the end portion when the vertebral spacer is in the expanded configuration;
- inserting the vertebral spacer in the insertion configuration into the intradiscal space;
- and
- moving the vertebral spacer into the expanded configuration until the vertebral spacer is locked into the expanded configuration with the locking arm.
A method for maintaining a longitudinal intradiscal space between two adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising:
- providing a vertebral spacer formed from a resiliently flexible material, the spacer having a pair of resilient lateral members coupled together at both ends, the pair of lateral members being resiliently biased to laterally expand from an insertion configuration to a laterally expanded configuration;
- compressing the lateral members to the insertion configuration;
- inserting the spacer into a tubular delivery system;
- delivering the spacer into the intradiscal space;
- and
- through the tubular delivery releasing the spacer so that the spacer laterally expands within the longitudinal space to the expanded configuration in which each lateral member contacts both of the adjacent vertebrae.
A method for maintaining a longitudinal intradiscal space between two adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising:
- providing a vertebral spacer having a first arm and a second arm, the first arm having a pair of first extensions with first serrations provided thereon, the second arm having a pair of second extensions having second serrations provided thereon that engage the first serrations, the first arm and second arm being moveable between an insertion configuration and a laterally expanded configuration, the first and second serrations cooperate in an interdigiting fashion to resist displacement and yield sufficiently to allow expansion of the spacer;
- inserting the vertebral spacer in the insertion configuration into the intradiscal space in which each of the arms are oriented to contact both of the adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- moving the vertebral spacer into the laterally expanded configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.