Method and inserter for interbody fusion

A method of providing interbody fusion between two opposing vertebral bodies of the spine with an expandable spinal interbody fusion device, said device including an inferior endplate having an outer surface configured to contact a vertebral body of the spine, a superior endplate having an outer surface configured to contact an opposing vertebral body of said spine, said inferior endplate and said superior endplate being movable relative to each other in a direction of expansion, comprising the steps of:

• inserting said device by an inserter into the intradiscal space between said two opposing vertebral bodies during surgery, said inserter including a distal end releasably attached to said device, a proximal end including an actuator and an elongate track between said distal end and said proximal end supporting a plurality of inserts for individual insertion into said device, each insert having substantially the same thickness in the direction of expansion;
• operating said actuator to cause the inferior endplate and the superior endplate to move apart relative to each other, and to separate from, in the direction of expansion independently of the insertion of an insert to expand said device and create a first incremental space in the expanded device below and in communication with said superior endplate of dimension greater than the thickness of an insert, and then
• further operating said actuator to insert a first insert from said elongate track into said first incremental space without assisting in the separation of the inferior and superior endplates during insertion of said first insert.

A method of providing interbody fusion between two opposing vertebral bodies of the spine with an expandable spinal interbody fusion device, said device including an inferior endplate having an outer surface configured to contact a vertebral body of the spine, and a superior endplate having an outer surface configured to contact an opposing vertebral body of said spine, said inferior endplate and said superior endplate being movable relative to each other in a direction of expansion, comprising the steps of:

• inserting said device by an inserter into the intradiscal space between said two opposing vertebral bodies during surgery, said inserter including a distal end releasably attached to said device and a proximal end including a trigger actuator, said trigger actuator including an operable handle;
• expanding said device by operation of said handle to move said inferior endplate apart from said superior endplate, so as to separate, in the direction of expansion allowing a space to be created between said inferior endplate and said superior endplate after expansion;
• and
• inserting an insert into said space by said inserter without assisting in the separation of the inferior and superior endplates during insertion of said insert, wherein the expansion of said device and the insertion of said insert into said expanded device is effected in a single operational stroke of said handle.

An inserter for expanding an expandable spinal interbody fusion device and inserting an insert therewithin, comprising:

• a barrel including an elongate track linearly supporting a plurality of inserts for sequential insertion into said device one below the other;
• an elongate lifting platform supported by said track and movable relative to said barrel for expanding said device;
• an elongate driver movably coupled to said lifting platform for inserting an insert from said plurality of inserts into said device one at a time;
• and
• an actuator supported by said barrel and operably coupled to said lifting platform and said driver to cause movement of said lifting platform and movement of said driver upon operation thereof, said movement of said lifting platform expanding said device and said movement of said driver inserting each said insert into said device.