Expandable medical implant

A method of spacing apart skeletal structures comprising;

• providing an expandable medical implant comprising:
• a base having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the ends and forming an interior passage extending between the first and second ends,
• a first collar completely positioned within the base at the first end and a second collar completely positioned within the base at the second end, each of the first and second collars including threaded interiors,
• a first post that is threaded to the first collar and travels within the first collar and a second post that is threaded to the second collar and travels within the second collar, the first and second posts including heads that are positionable outward from opposing sides of the base, the first and second posts each including legs;
• positioning the implant while at a first reduced height within a space between skeletal structures;
• simultaneously rotating the first and second collars with the first collar rotating in a first direction and the second collar rotating in a second direction;
• and
• simultaneously moving the first post outward away from the base and moving the second post outward away from the base thereby increasing a height of the implant to a second expanded height;
• wherein the first and second ends of the base each include an aperture in communication with the interior passage;
• wherein the base includes an opening that extends through a sidewall of the base;
• and
• wherein the only access into the interior space of the base is through one of the apertures and the opening.

A method of spacing apart skeletal structures comprising:

• providing an expandable medical implant comprising:
• a tubular base with a sidewall and a hollow interior space with opposing first and second open ends, the base including an opening that extends through the sidewall between the first and second ends, the base including a longitudinal axis that extends through the first and second ends and the hollow interior space, wherein the only access into the interior space of the base is through one of the first and second ends and the opening,
• first and second cylindrical collars each with a threaded interior surface and teeth positioned at one end, each of the collars positioned within the hollow interior space of the base with the first collar positioned inward from the first end and the second collar positioned inward from the second end, the first and second collars being spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the base, and
• first and second posts each with a head and threaded outwardly extending legs, the head of the first post positionable outward from the first end of the base with the legs extending into the first collar with the threaded legs engaging with the threaded interior surface of the first collar, and the head of the second post positionable outward from the second end of the base with the legs extending into the second collar with the threaded legs engaging with the threaded interior surface, the legs of the first and second posts being in an overlapping arrangement along the longitudinal axis of the base;
• positioning the implant while at a first reduced height within a space between skeletal structures;
• simultaneously rotating the first and second collars with the first collar rotating in a first direction and the second collar rotating in a second direction;
• and
• simultaneously moving the first post outward away from the base and moving the second post outward away from the base thereby increasing a height of the implant to a second expanded height.