Tissue Distraction Device
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for interbody fusion including distracting, in a given direction, and supporting opposing vertebral bodies. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the vertebral bodies to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the vertebral bodies so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.
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Citations
110 Claims
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1-97. -97. (canceled)
- 98. An interbody fusion device for the distraction and support of opposing vertebral bodies in a spine at a selected spacing between said vertebral bodies, comprising a plurality of elements in cooperative contact forming a structure between said opposing vertebral bodies generally extending in the direction of the axis of the spine, said structure being formed by the consecutive individual receipt in vivo of said elements between said opposing vertebral bodies to achieve the selected spacing between said vertebral bodies upon receipt thereof, said elements comprising complementary interfaces substantially restraining any movement between adjacent elements in said structure in the direction of the axis of the spine.
- 100. An interbody fusion device for the distraction and support of opposing vertebral bodies in a spine comprising a plurality of stackable wafers cooperatively forming a column between said two opposing vertebral bodies, the wafers each having a contact surface, a contact surface of one wafer being slidably receivable in vivo beneath a contact surface of another wafer, each wafer being configured to cause expansion of said column in substantially only one direction upon receipt of each wafer and that upon such expansion said column provides a force to distract and support said opposing vertebral bodies.
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104. An expandable device for use in spinal interbody fusion, said device being configured for insertion in the disc space between two opposing vertebral bodies comprising:
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a top element for contacting an upper vertebral body;
a bottom element for contacting an opposing lower vertebral body; and
an intermediate element having a configuration for sliding insertion between said top element and said bottom element in a first direction, for causing said top element and said bottom element to be relatively spaced apart in a direction generally transverse to said first direction and for interlocking said intermediate element to at least one of said top element and said bottom element when said device is expanded, whereby said top element is adapted to contact said upper vertebral body and said bottom element is adapted to contact said lower vertebral body to distract and support said opposing vertebral bodies. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110)
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Specification