Anterior variable expandable fusion cage
First Claim
1. An anterior interbody device that is anteriorly variably expandable;
- said device comprising;
a) a U-shaped body having an upper wall and a bottom wall hingeably joined by rear wall;
said body having a threaded bore, said upper and lower walls having a non-spaced configuration wherein anterior ends of said upper and lower walls are in close proximity to each other;
b) said upper and lower walls each having an anterior wedge mating receiver that face each other;
c) an elongate expansion member;
said expansion member being threaded and being threadedly received in said body bore;
d) said expansion member having an anterior wedge surface that is sized, shaped and positioned to engage said upper and lower anterior wedge mating receivers as said expansion member is threadedly advanced into said body bore, such that anterior ends of upper and lower walls are placed in a spaced configuration wherein said upper and lower walls become spaced greater than said non-spaced configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interbody device for use between a pair of adjacent vertebrae includes a body and at least one expansion member. The body has upper and lower walls that are joined by a rear wall that functions as a spring hinge. The walls have anterior ends that are supported in a non-expanded configuration by spaced feet that project out from the walls. The expansion member is elongate and has a threaded portion that is threadably received in the rear wall. Each expansion member also includes a head having a wedge portion that engages the anterior ends of the walls and forces the walls apart as the expansion member is screwed into the body. Preferably, the expansion member is only one of a plurality of expansion members found in a kit which vary with respect to the diameter of the expansion member head. Further, a support and connecting plate is preferably utilized subsequent to installation of the devices between vertebrae to connect the connected pair of the devices.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An anterior interbody device that is anteriorly variably expandable;
- said device comprising;
a) a U-shaped body having an upper wall and a bottom wall hingeably joined by rear wall;
said body having a threaded bore, said upper and lower walls having a non-spaced configuration wherein anterior ends of said upper and lower walls are in close proximity to each other;
b) said upper and lower walls each having an anterior wedge mating receiver that face each other;
c) an elongate expansion member;
said expansion member being threaded and being threadedly received in said body bore;
d) said expansion member having an anterior wedge surface that is sized, shaped and positioned to engage said upper and lower anterior wedge mating receivers as said expansion member is threadedly advanced into said body bore, such that anterior ends of upper and lower walls are placed in a spaced configuration wherein said upper and lower walls become spaced greater than said non-spaced configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- said device comprising;
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18. In an expandable anterior interbody fusion cage;
- the improvement comprising;
a) said cage having a U-shaped body having upper and lower walls each with anterior wedge mating receivers; and
b) an elongate expansion member that is threadedly received in said body and which has a head with an anterior wedge shaped surface for operably engaging said body wedge mating receivers and expanding an anterior end of said cage as said expansion member advances into said body.
- the improvement comprising;
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19. In an expandable fusion cage;
- the improvement comprising;
a) an expansion kit including at least a pair of interchangeable expansion members;
each of said expansion members being cooperatively mateable with said cage to provide a different degree of anterior expansion of said cage.
- the improvement comprising;
Specification