Expandable implant for inter-vertebral stabilization, and a method of stabilizing vertebrae

An expandable intervertebral implant adapted to be inserted at least partially into vertebrae or in between two vertebrae, and adapted to be secured thereto by expansion, comprising:

• a first shell having a first end and a plurality of engaging members extensible from the implant for engagement with cancellous bone tissue of a vertebra, said engaging members axially extending from said first end, a cross section of said first shell including at least one curvalinear shoulder for supporting a periosteal surface of a vertebra;
• a second shell operatively connected to said first shell and having a second end with at least one bearing surface engageable with said engaging members, cross section of said second shell including at least one curvalinear shoulder for supporting a periosteal surface of a vertebra, said first and second shells cooperating to form a cavity delimited by inner surfaces thereof;
• an actuator adapted to move said second shell with respect to said first shell, said actuator extending through a bore in one of said first and second shells and having a head and a third end, said head bearing against said one shell, said third end threadedly connected to another of said first and second shells;
• and
• at least one extrusion opening in at least one of said first and second shells, wherein movement of said second shell with respect to said first shell causes expansion of the implant and at least partial extrusion of material contained in the cavity through said extrusion opening.

An expandable intervertebral implant adapted to be inserted at least partially into a bore drilled between two adjacent vertebrae to expose cancellous bone tissue within each of the two vertebrae, and adapted to be secured to the vertebrae by expansion, comprising:

• a first shell having a first end and a plurality of engaging members extensible from the implant for engagement with cancellous bone tissue of a vertebra, said engaging members axially extending from said first end, a cross section of said first shell including at least one curvalinear shoulder for supporting a periosteal surface of a vertebra;
• a second shell operatively connected to said first shell and having a second end with at least one bearing surface engageable with said engaging members, cross section of said second shell including at least one curvalinear shoulder for supporting a periosteal surface of a vertebra;
• a first axis extending between said first and second ends;
• a second axis extending perpendicularly to said first axis;
• and
• a third axis extending perpendicularly to said first and second axes, wherein said second axis has a length greater than a diameter of the bore and said third axis has a length less than the diameter of the bore.

A method for stabilizing first and second vertebrae with respect to one another, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming a bore between two vertebrae to expose cancellous bone tissue in at least one vertebra;
• providing at least one expandable intervertebral implant containing osteogenic material, the implant having first, second and third axes and first and second opposed shells, a cross section of the implant having at least one curvalinear shoulder for supporting a periosteal membrane of one of the two adjacent vertebrae, the first axis extending between the ends, the second axis extending perpendicular to the first axis and having a length greater than a diameter of the bore, the third axis extending perpendicular to the first and second axes and having a length equal to or less than the diameter of the bore, at least one of the first and second shells having engaging members extensible from the implant for engagement with the cancellous bone tissue, the engaging members extending from an end of the at least one shell;
• inserting the implant in the bore so that the curvalinear shoulder bears against and supports the periosteal membrane;
• expanding the implant.

An expandable intervertebral implant adapted to be inserted at least partially into a bore drilled between two adjacent vertebrae to expose cancellous bone tissue within each of the two vertebrae, and adapted to be secured to the vertebrae by expansion, comprising:

• a first shell having a first end, a plurality of engaging members radially extensible from the implant, said engaging members axially extending from said first end, said first end including a plurality of bearing surfaces, a cross section of said first shell including at least one curvalinear shoulder for supporting a periosteal surface of a vertebra;
• a second shell operatively connected to said first shell and having a second end and a plurality of engaging members, said second end having a plurality of bearing surfaces engageable with said engaging members of said first shell, said engaging members of said second shell engageable with said bearing surfaces of said first end, a cross section of said second shell including at least one curvalinear shoulder for supporting a periosteal surface of a vertebra;
• a first axis extending between said first and second ends;
• a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis;
• and
• a third axis extending perpendicular to said first and second axes, wherein said second axis has a length greater than a diameter of the bore and said third axis has a length less than the diameter of the bore, wherein said bearing surfaces of said first and second ends urge said engaging members of said second and first shells radially outward for contact with cancellous bone tissue.