Expandable Spacer and Method For Use Thereof
First Claim
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1. An expandable implant for insertion in a space between adjacent bony structures, comprising:
- a threaded shaft;
a base configured for supporting said shaft;
means for preventing rotation of said shaft with respect to said base; and
a gear operably coupled with said threaded shaft and said base, said gear having an interior surface including threads matably engaged with said threaded shaft, whereby rotation of said gear initiates displacement of said shaft within said base, whereby said shaft is extendable in a direction away from said base;
whereby said base and shaft engage bony structures to support or distract said bony structures relative to each other.
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Abstract
An expandable implant is disclosed having an adjustable height for insertion between two adjacent bony structures or joint surfaces, for example between two adjacent spinal vertebrae. The implant includes at least one gear associated with at least one threaded shaft. Rotation of the gear engages the threaded shaft to expand the implant. The implant can be inserted in a collapsed configuration and expanded in situ. The invention also provides methods for using the implant to facilitate arthrodesis or fusion of adjacent joint surfaces or spinal vertebrae.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An expandable implant for insertion in a space between adjacent bony structures, comprising:
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a threaded shaft; a base configured for supporting said shaft; means for preventing rotation of said shaft with respect to said base; and a gear operably coupled with said threaded shaft and said base, said gear having an interior surface including threads matably engaged with said threaded shaft, whereby rotation of said gear initiates displacement of said shaft within said base, whereby said shaft is extendable in a direction away from said base; whereby said base and shaft engage bony structures to support or distract said bony structures relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An expandable implant for insertion in a space between adjacent bony structures comprising:
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a first threaded shaft; a second threaded shaft; a bottom plate having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface including a base configured for receiving the first and second threaded shafts; and a pair of coupled actuation gears, a first gear of the pair operably coupled to the first threaded shaft and a second gear of the pair operably coupled to the second threaded shaft, whereby rotation of the first gear in a first direction initiates rotation of the second gear in a second direction, opposite the first direction, initiating rotation of the first threaded shaft and then the second threaded shaft such that the shafts extend to engage adjacent bony structures; wherein the adjacent bony structures are maintained apart by the expandable implant. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification