Collapsible and expandable interbody fusion device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An interbody fusion cage comprising:
- a) an upper body and a lower body;
b) at least one articulated support connecting said upper body to said lower body;
c) an interior region defined by said upper body, said lower body, and said at least one articulated support; and
d) said at least one articulated support having an expanded position and a collapsed position, said at least one articulated support folding inward toward the interior region as said at least one articulated support goes from said expanded position to said collapsed position.
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Abstract
A collapsible and expandable interbody fusion cage primarily for use between adjacent vertebrae is designed to be collapsed so as to require the smallest opening necessary for insertion. An upper body is connected to a lower body by articulated supports. In the collapsed position, the articulated supports are folded inward between the upper body and the lower body. Once inserted, the fusion cage can be expanded to its fully open position to maintain spacing between adjacent vertebrae. The fusion cage is maintained in its fully open position by an overcenter latch. Bone material can be inserted in the space formed by the fully open fusion cage to aid in the fusion of the adjacent vertebrae.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An interbody fusion cage comprising:
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a) an upper body and a lower body;
b) at least one articulated support connecting said upper body to said lower body;
c) an interior region defined by said upper body, said lower body, and said at least one articulated support; and
d) said at least one articulated support having an expanded position and a collapsed position, said at least one articulated support folding inward toward the interior region as said at least one articulated support goes from said expanded position to said collapsed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An interbody fusion cage comprising:
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a) a first fusion cage plate;
b) a second fusion cage plate;
c) at least one inwardly collapsible articulated support having a first end, a second end, and at least one joint between said first end and said second end; and
d) said first end of said at least one articulated support interconnected with said first fusion cage plate and said second end of said at least one articulated support interconnected with said second fusion cage plate. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for spacing adjacent portions of bone, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a collapsible and expandable fusion cage having upper and lower bodies connected by at least one articulated support;
b) collapsing said fusion cage to a collapsed position, said at least one articulated support collapsing inward;
c) creating an opening to provide access between said adjacent portions of bone;
d) inserting said fusion cage in said collapsed position through said opening into a space between said adjacent portions of bone; and
e) expanding said fusion cage to an expanded position, said fusion cage supporting said adjacent portions of bone in a spaced relationship. - View Dependent Claims (16)
a) providing a collapsible and expandable fusion cage;
b) collapsing said second fusion cage to a collapsed position;
c) inserting said fusion cage in said collapsed position through said opening into a space between said adjacent portions of bone; and
d) expanding said fusion cage to an expanded position, said second fusion cage supporting said adjacent portions of bone in said spaced relationship.
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17. A collapsible interbody fusion cage comprising:
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a) an upper body and a lower body;
b) a plurality of articulated supports connecting said upper body to said lower body;
c) an interior region defined by said upper body, said lower body, and said plurality of articulated supports; and
d) said fusion cage having an expanded position and a collapsed position, said interior region being free from all elements of said fusion cage in said expanded position.
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Specification