STEERABLE INTERBODY FUSION CAGE
First Claim
1. A method of fusing vertebrae, comprising the steps of:
- providing a steerable intervertebral cage comprising;
a distal portion having front, back, top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces;
a proximal portion having front, back, top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces, anda hinge joining the front of the proximal portion to the back of the distal portion, such that the cage has a first, straightened shape with the hinge open and a second, crescent shape with the hinge closed;
introducing the cage in the first, straightened shape into an anterior central position within an intervertebral disc space using a posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) or transverse lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) approach; and
steering or allowing the cage to assume the second, crescent shape once within the intervertebral disc space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Intervertebral spacers, such as interbody vertebral cages, that facilitate minimally-invasive corrective restoration surgeries, and related methods. In some implementations, an introducer may be used introduce an intervertebral spacer in a first, straightened shape into an intervertebral disc space. The introducer may engage a plurality of adjacent recesses of the intervertebral spacer to maintain the intervertebral spacer in the first, straightened shape during introduction. An introducer, in some cases the same introducer, may be used to articulate the intervertebral spacer by actuating at least one hinge of the intervertebral spacer such that the intervertebral spacer assumes a second, curved shape once within the intervertebral disc space.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of fusing vertebrae, comprising the steps of:
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providing a steerable intervertebral cage comprising; a distal portion having front, back, top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces; a proximal portion having front, back, top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces, and a hinge joining the front of the proximal portion to the back of the distal portion, such that the cage has a first, straightened shape with the hinge open and a second, crescent shape with the hinge closed; introducing the cage in the first, straightened shape into an anterior central position within an intervertebral disc space using a posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) or transverse lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) approach; and steering or allowing the cage to assume the second, crescent shape once within the intervertebral disc space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of fusing vertebrae, comprising the steps of:
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providing a steerable intervertebral cage comprising; a distal portion having front, back, top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces; a proximal portion having front, back, top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces, and at least one hinge configured to allow the cage to assume a first, straightened shape and configured to activate to allow the cage to assume a second, curved shape; introducing the cage in the first, straightened shape into an anterior central position within an intervertebral disc space; and articulating the cage such that the cage assumes the second, curved shape once within the intervertebral disc space. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of fusing vertebrae, comprising the steps of:
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using an introducer to introduce an intervertebral spacer in a first, straightened shape into an intervertebral disc space, wherein the introducer engages a plurality of adjacent recesses of the intervertebral spacer to maintain the intervertebral spacer in the first, straightened shape during introduction of the intervertebral spacer into the intervertebral disc space; using an introducer to articulate the intervertebral spacer by actuating at least one hinge of the intervertebral spacer such that the intervertebral spacer assumes a second, curved shape once within the intervertebral disc space; and positioning the intervertebral spacer in an anterior central position within the intervertebral disc space. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification