Adjustable distraction cage with linked locking mechanisms

A spinal implant for placement between adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:

• a top end plate for engaging a first adjacent vertebral body;
• a bottom end plate for engaging a second adjacent vertebral body;
• at least two extendable piston members having a contracted configuration within the implant to facilitate deployment of the implant between the first and second vertebral bodies and an extended configuration to extend the top end plate into engagement with the first adjacent vertebral body;
• an upper lock support member associated with each extendable piston member having a multi-stepped support surface;
• a lower lock support member corresponding to each upper lock support member having a multi-stepped support surface configured to engage the multi-stepped support surface of the upper lock support member;
• a locking actuator which causes relative motion between the upper and lower lock support members when the at least one extendable member is extended so as to lock the implant in an expanded configuration by engaging the multi-stepped support surfaces of the upper lock support members and the lower lock support members;
• and
• a linking member extending between the lower lock support members to link said lower lock members for locking in unison;
• wherein a spring locking actuator is provided to move the lower lock support member toward the upper lock support when the at least one extendable member is extended.

A lockable, extendable spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising:

• first and second bone engaging members each having a surface configured to respectively engage opposed first and second vertebral bodies;
• extension means acting between the first and second bone engaging members to control extension of said bone engaging members between contracted and extended configurations;
• first and second fixed lock members fixed to one of said first and second bone engaging members and extending towards the opposite bone engaging member, the fixed lock members being spaced apart and each having a fixed locking surface;
• first and second moveable lock members captured between the first and second bone engaging members for cooperation with the fixed lock members, each moveable lock member having a moveable locking surface configured to engage an opposed fixed locking surface on one said fixed lock member to prevent contraction of said extension means;
• a locking actuator configured to engage the moveable locking surfaces with the fixed locking surfaces;
• and
• a link member operatively connected between the first and second moveable lock members to coordinate movement therebetween;
• wherein said extension means comprises first and second extendable support elements, said first and second lock members comprise arcuate members disposed, respectively, in proximity to said first and second extendable support elements;
• and
• the locking actuator rotates the moveable lock members to engage the locking surfaces;
• and
• wherein the locking actuator comprises a biasing element acting on one of the moveable lock members to bias said member into engagement with its associated fixed lock member and the link member transmits said bias to the other moveable member.

A lockable, extendable spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising:

• first and second bone engaging members each having a surface configured to respectively engage opposed first and second vertebral bodies;
• extension means acting between the first and second bone engaging members to control extension of said bone engaging members between contracted and extended configurations;
• first and second fixed lock members fixed to one of said first and second bone engaging members and extending towards the opposite bone engaging member, the fixed lock members being spaced apart and each having a fixed locking surface;
• first and second moveable lock members captured between the first and second bone engaging members for cooperation with the fixed lock members, each moveable lock member having a moveable locking surface configured to engage an opposed fixed locking surface on one said fixed lock member to prevent contraction of said extension means;
• a locking actuator configured to engage the moveable locking surfaces with the fixed locking surfaces;
• a link member operatively connected between the first and second moveable lock members to coordinate movement therebetween;
• wherein said extension means comprises first and second extendable support elements, said first and second lock members comprise arcuate members disposed, respectively, in proximity to said first and second extendable support elements, and the locking actuator rotates the moveable lock members to engage the locking surfaces;
• and
• a tether secured to one said moveable lock member, the tether being configured to permit rotation of the lock member against the locking actuator element to release engagement of the locking surfaces.

A lockable, extendable spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising:

• first and second bone engaging members each having a surface configured to respectively engage opposed first and second vertebral bodies;
• extension means acting between the first and second bone engaging members to control extension of said bone engaging members between contracted and extended configurations;
• first and second fixed lock members fixed to one of said first and second bone engaging members and extending towards the opposite bone engaging member, the fixed lock members being spaced apart and each having a fixed locking surface;
• first and second moveable lock members captured between the first and second bone engaging members for cooperation with the fixed lock members, each moveable lock member having a moveable locking surface configured to engage an opposed fixed locking surface on one said fixed lock member to prevent contraction of said extension means;
• a locking actuator configured to engage the moveable locking surfaces with the fixed locking surfaces;
• and
• a link member operatively connected between the first and second moveable lock members to coordinate movement therebetween;
• wherein said link member comprises a substantially rigid member pivotably secured to each said moveable lock member.

A lockable, extendable spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising:

• first and second bone engaging members each having a surface configured to respectively engage opposed first and second vertebral bodies;
• first and second pistons disposed on one said bone engaging member and cooperating with mating cylinders disposed on the opposite bone engaging member, said pistons moveable between a contracted configuration within said cylinders and an extended configuration extending from said cylinders;
• first and second arcuate, fixed lock members, each having a fixed locking surface, mounted to one of said bone engaging members, each disposed inside one said piston, the fixed lock members extending towards the opposite bone engaging member;
• first and second moveable lock members, each formed inside one said cylinder for cooperation with the fixed lock members, each moveable lock member having a moveable locking surface configured to engage an opposed fixed locking surface on one said fixed lock member to prevent contraction of said extension means;
• at least one biasing element acting on at least one said moveable lock member to bias said member into engagement with its associated fixed lock member;
• and
• a link member operatively connected between the first and second moveable lock members to coordinate movement therebetween and force the other moveable lock member into engagement with its associated fixed lock.