Bellows-like expandable interbody fusion cage
First Claim
1. A method of implanting an intervertebral fusion device into an intervertebral disc space between an upper vertebral endplate and a lower vertebral endplate, the device including:
- a) an upper wall that defines upper teeth configured to grip an upper vertebral endplate, andb) a lower wall that defines lower teeth configured to grip a lower vertebral endplate wherein the device defines an internal space that is both disposed between and aligned with the upper wall and the lower wall,c) an elongate element disposed in the internal space,the method comprising the steps of;
a) inserting the device into the disc space in a collapsed condition having a collapsed height from the upper wall to the lower wall,b) applying a localized force entirely outside the internal space to an end of the device that causes the end of the device to both move relative to an axis and change its orientation relative to the axis, wherein prior to the applying step, the axis extends
1) centrally through the elongate element and
2) through opposed ends of the device, and the end defines one of the opposed ends; and
c) expanding the inserted device from the collapsed condition to an expanded condition having an expanded height from the upper teeth to the lower teeth by moving the elongate element, wherein the expanded height is greater than the collapsed height.
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Abstract
An interbody fusion device having an accordion-like structure, wherein the device in inserted into the disc space in its collapsed configuration and then expanded into its expanded configuration by compressing the accordion-like portion of the device. In some embodiments, a pre-formed tube with an accordion-like structure over a portion of its length is inserted in a relaxed (collapsed) configuration, giving the tube a minimum possible diameter. This tube has a cable running through it that is fixed to a distal end portion of the tube and extends past the proximal end portion of the tube to the outside of the patient. Once the tube is positioned on the rim of the endplate, the proximal end of the cable is pulled, thereby tensioning the cable and causing the accordion portion of the tube to become shorter in length but larger in diameter.
1808 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of implanting an intervertebral fusion device into an intervertebral disc space between an upper vertebral endplate and a lower vertebral endplate, the device including:
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a) an upper wall that defines upper teeth configured to grip an upper vertebral endplate, and b) a lower wall that defines lower teeth configured to grip a lower vertebral endplate wherein the device defines an internal space that is both disposed between and aligned with the upper wall and the lower wall, c) an elongate element disposed in the internal space, the method comprising the steps of; a) inserting the device into the disc space in a collapsed condition having a collapsed height from the upper wall to the lower wall, b) applying a localized force entirely outside the internal space to an end of the device that causes the end of the device to both move relative to an axis and change its orientation relative to the axis, wherein prior to the applying step, the axis extends
1) centrally through the elongate element and
2) through opposed ends of the device, and the end defines one of the opposed ends; andc) expanding the inserted device from the collapsed condition to an expanded condition having an expanded height from the upper teeth to the lower teeth by moving the elongate element, wherein the expanded height is greater than the collapsed height. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of implanting an intervertebral fusion device into an intervertebral disc space between an upper vertebral endplate and a lower vertebral endplate, the device including:
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a) an upper wall that defines upper teeth configured to grip an upper vertebral endplate, and b) a lower wall that defines lower teeth configured to grip a lower vertebral endplate, wherein the device defines an internal space that is both disposed between and aligned with the upper wall and the lower wall, c) an elongate element disposed in the internal space, the method comprising the steps of; a) inserting the device into the disc space in a collapsed condition having a collapsed height from the upper wall to the lower wall, b) applying a localized force to an end of the device in a direction that intersects an axis so as to cause the end of the device to move substantially along the direction that intersects the axis, wherein the axis extends
1) centrally through the elongate element and
2) through opposed ends of the device prior to the applying step, and the end defines one of the opposed ends; andc) applying an expansion force to the elongate element that causes the elongate element to move relative to the upper and lower walls in the internal space, thereby expanding the inserted device from the collapsed condition to an expanded condition having an expanded height from the upper end to the lower end, wherein the expanded height is greater than the collapsed height, wherein the step of applying the localized force is separate from the step of applying the expansion force. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification