Expandable threaded arcuate interbody spinal fusion implant with cylindrical configuration during insertion

• US 6,500,205 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Gary K. Michelson
• Inventors: Michelson, Gary K.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/551,964
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623/17.16
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30261 parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30392 Rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 using a locking plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30624 Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30632 with rotation-limiting stops, e.g. projections or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30779 arcuate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30789 : perpendicular with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3079 : Stepped or enlarged apertures, e.g. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30891 : Plurality of protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30975 : made of two halves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0082 : parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 : for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures

Abstract

An at least in part cylindrical threaded interbody spinal fusion implant having an expandable height.

Claims

1. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one blocker adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said blocker being located at a predetermined location along the length of said implant and remaining at the predetermined location in transitioning said implant from said first position to said second position.

2. The threaded implant of claim 1, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.

3. The threaded implant of claim 2, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone morphogenetic protein.

4. The threaded implant of claim 2, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.

5. The threaded implant of claim 2, wherein said fusion promoting substance is genes coding for the production of bone.

6. The threaded implant of claim 2, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.

7. The threaded implant of claim 1, further comprising a hollow defined between said upper and lower members in communication with said openings in each of said upper and lower members, said hollow being adapted to receive fusion-promoting substances.

8. The threaded implant of claim 7, wherein said hollow has a width that is unobstructed by any mechanism for moving said blocker.

9. The threaded implant of claim 7, further comprising a second hollow between said upper and lower members located between said blocker and said end of said implant proximate said blocker.

10. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant has a constant width in both the collapsed height and the increased height.

11. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said blocker is located at least in part between said upper and lower members.

12. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said blocker is located proximate at least one of said ends of upper and lower members.

13. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said blocker is adapted to cooperatively engage a tool used to move said blocker from an initial position to a final position to increase the height of said implant, said tool not being a part of said implant and being removed from said implant after moving said blocker into the final position.

14. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant has a width and said blocker has a width less than the width of said implant.

15. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said each of said upper and lower members are adapted to cooperate with and to fixedly locate said blocker.

16. The threaded implant of claim 15, wherein each of said upper and lower members have a track configured to permit said blocker to seat therein.

17. The threaded implant of claim 16, wherein at least one of said tracks and said blocker are adapted to cooperate with each other to center said blocker along a longitudinal axis of said implant.

18. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said blocker moves said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members from a parallel orientation to an angled orientation relative to one another.

19. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said blocker is an expander adapted to expand said implant from a first collapsed height to a second expanded height when moved from a first to a second position.

20. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said implant has a longitudinal axis and said expander rotates in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said implant to increase the height of said implant.

21. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said expander is located along the length of said implant.

22. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said expander is located proximate said proximal ends of said upper and lower members.

23. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said hollow is substantially unobstructed by said expander extending along a substantial portion of the length of said hollow so as to permit growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.

24. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said expander remains in the same location along the longitudinal axis of the implant when rotated.

25. The threaded implant of claim 14, wherein said expander is adapted to cooperatively engage a tool used to move said expander from an initial position to a final position to increase the height of said implant, said tool not being a part of said implant and being removed from said implant after moving said expander into the final position.

26. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said expander is adapted to cooperatively engage a tool that rotates about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said implant to rotate said expander to increase the height of said implant.

27. The threaded implant of claim 26, wherein said expander rotates in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said implant to increase the height of said implant.

28. The threaded implant of claim 27, wherein said expander remains in the same location along the longitudinal axis of the implant when rotated.

29. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said expander moves said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members from a parallel orientation to an angled orientation relative to one another.

30. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein each of said upper and lower members are adapted to cooperate with said expander.

31. The threaded implant of claim 30, wherein each of said upper and lower members have a track configured to permit said expander to rotate therein.

32. The threaded implant of claim 31, wherein said track of said upper member and said track of said lower member are in the same plane.

33. The threaded implant of claim 31, wherein said track of said upper member and said track of said lower member are parallel to one another.

34. The threaded implant of claim 31, where said track of said upper member and said track of said lower member are in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said implant.

35. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said upper and lower members structurally cooperate with said expander so as to keep said expander located within said implant.

36. The threaded implant of claim 31, wherein at least one of said tracks of said upper and lower members has a cooperating surface, said expander having a corresponding cooperating surface that contacts said cooperating surface of said at least one track to orient said expander in a predetermined location.

37. The threaded implant of claim 36, wherein said cooperating surfaces orient said expander within said implant such that the axis of rotation of said expander is parallel with the longitudinal axis of said implant.

38. The threaded implant of claim 37, wherein said cooperating surfaces center said expander within said implant such that the axis of rotation of said expander coincides with the longitudinal axis of said implant.

39. The threaded implant of claim 30, wherein said upper and lower members are adapted to cooperate with said expander so as to center said expander within a cross section of the upper and lower portions.

40. The threaded implant of claim 30, wherein at least one of said tracks of said upper and lower members includes at least one side having a cooperating surface, said expander having a corresponding cooperating surface that contacts said cooperating surface of said at least one side to orient said expander in a predetermined location.

41. The threaded implant of claim 40, wherein said cooperating surface of said at least one side is a detent and said corresponding cooperating surface of said expander is a projection.

42. The threaded implant of claim 41, wherein said detent and said projection center said expander within said implant such that the axis of rotation of said expander coincides with the longitudinal axis of said implant.

43. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said expander is located proximate said distal ends of said upper and lower members.

44. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said expander has a first height corresponding to the height of said expander when said implant is initially inserted into the spine, said expander having a second height corresponding to the height of said expander when said expander is moved into a final deployed position to increase the height of said implant, said second height being greater than said first height.

45. The threaded implant of claim 44, wherein the difference between said first height and said second height of said expander approximates the difference in height of said implant between said first position and said second position as measured proximate the location of said expander.

46. The threaded implant of claim 19, wherein said expander has a depth dimension less than that of said first and second height of said expander.

47. The threaded implant of claim 46, wherein said expander has a fixed shape during movement from an initial insertion position to a final deployed position within said implant.

48. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said upper and lower members are configured to cooperate with one another so as to stop said upper and lower members from being moved apart from one another more than a predetermined distance.

49. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant has a side surface when in a final position that is contoured to cooperate with another implant.

50. The threaded implant of claim 49, wherein said implant and said cooperating other implant have a combined width therebetween less than the combined height of said implant and said cooperating other implant.

51. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said upper and lower members have walls contacting one another.

52. The threaded implant of claim 51, wherein said walls are aligned parallel with the longitudinal axis of said implant.

53. The threaded implant of claim 51, wherein said walls are at least in part overlapping.

54. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said upper and lower members have a rotational articulation therebetween adjacent one of said proximal end and said distal end of said upper and lower members.

55. The threaded implant of claim 54, wherein said rotational articulation is at one of said proximal end and said distal end of said upper and lower members opposite said blocker.

56. The threaded implant of claim 54, wherein said rotational articulation allows for expansion.

57. The threaded implant of claim 56, wherein said rotational articulation allows for limited expansion.

58. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein one of said upper and lower members has an interior wall, which is unexposed, extending therefrom toward the other of said upper and lower members when said implant is in an initial insertion position, and when said implant is in a final position said implant has a shape such that each of said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members are separated by at least a portion of said interior wall, which now has an exposed side.

59. The threaded implant of claim 58, wherein said upper and lower members have side walls for engaging each other.

60. The threaded implant of claim 59, wherein said side walls of said upper and lower members are at least partially overlapping walls.

61. The threaded implant of claim 58, wherein said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members form an angular orientation relative to one another when said implant is in the final position.

62. The threaded implant of claim 58, wherein said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members when said implant is in the initial position form a cylindrical shape.

63. The threaded implant of claim 8, further comprising a cap for closing one of said proximal end and said distal end of said upper and lower members, said cap having an exterior surface and an interior surface.

64. The threaded implant of claim 63, wherein said interior surface of said cap has spaced slots about its circumference to facilitate a snap fit of said cap into said implant.

65. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant comprises an artificial material other than bone.

66. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is stronger than bone.

67. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is harder than bone.

68. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant comprises bone.

69. The threaded implant of claim 68, wherein said bone includes cortical bone.

70. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant comprises bone growth promoting material.

71. The threaded implant of claim 70, wherein said bone growth promoting material is selected from the group consisting of bone morphogenetic protein, hydroxyapatite, and genes coding for the production of bone.

72. The threaded implant of claim 70, wherein said bone growth promoting material includes hydroxyapatite.

73. The threaded implant of claim 70, wherein said bone growth promoting material is genes coding for the production of bone.

74. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant is treated with a bone growth promoting substance.

75. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant is a source of osteogenesis.

76. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.

77. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant comprises metal.

78. The threaded implant of claim 77, wherein said metal is ASTM material suitable for use said treated spinal fusion implant.

79. The threaded implant of claim 77, wherein said metal includes titanium.

80. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant comprises a plastic material.

81. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant comprises a ceramic material.

82. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant is formed of a porous material.

83. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant is formed of a material that intrinsically participates in the growth of bone form adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.

84. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said implant has an interior surface and a hollow body defined therein, said hollow being capable of containing bone growth promoting material.

85. The threaded implant of claim 84, wherein said bone growth promoting material is selected from the group consisting of bone morphogenetic protein, hydroxyapatite, and genes coding for the production of bone.

86. The threaded implant of claim 84, wherein said bone growth promoting material includes hydroxyapatite.

87. The threaded implant of claim 84, wherein said bone growth promoting material is genes coding for the production of the bone.

88. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said at least one opening is adapted to retain fusion-promoting materials.

89. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of said implant is treated to promote bone ingrowth between said implant and said adjacent vertebral bodies.

90. The threaded implant of claim 8, in combination with a chemical substance to inhibit scar formation.

91. The threaded implant of claim 8, wherein said blocker is an expander having an external thread, each of said upper and lower members having a threaded converging portion adapted to cooperate with said external thread of said expander to expand said implant from a first collapsed height to a second expanded height when said expander is rotated from a first to a second position.

92. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one blocker adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in final deployed position, said implant having side walls and said blocker not contacting said side walls when said implant is in the final deployed position.

93. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one expander adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said expander being adapted to expand said implant from a first collapsed height to a second expanded height when moved from a first to a second position, each of said upper and lower members being adapted to cooperate with said expander, each of said upper and lower members having a track configured to permit said expander to rotate therein, said tracks permitting said expander to move from side to side within said track.

94. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one blocker adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said expander being adapted to expand said implant from a first collapsed height to a second expanded height when moved from a first to a second position, said expander having an upper surface, a lower surface, and side surfaces as defined when said expander is positioned to increase the height of said implant, said side surfaces intersecting said upper and said lower surfaces at two diametrically opposed junctions.

95. The threaded implant of claim 94, wherein said two diametrically opposed junctions are a pair of diametrically opposed corners and a pair of diametrically opposed arcs.

96. The threaded implant of claim 94, wherein each of said upper and lower surfaces lie generally in a plane.

97. The threaded implant of claim 94, wherein said upper and lower surfaces are generally parallel to one another.

98. The threaded implant of claim 94, wherein said side surfaces and said upper and lower surfaces are oriented to substantially form a parallelogram.

99. The threaded implant of claim 95, wherein said two diametrically opposed arcs are each of the same radius.

100. The threaded implant of claim 99, wherein the distance across said two diametrically opposed arcs generally approximates the distance between said upper and lower surfaces of said expander.

101. The threaded implant of claim 95, wherein said two diametrically opposed corners form a 90-degree angle.

102. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located for allowing for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members having a rotational articulation therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said rotational articulation being formed by said upper and lower members interdigitating so as to cooperatively engage, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one blocker adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position.

103. The threaded implant of claim 102, wherein said rotational articulation is configured such that engagement occurs when said upper and lower members are substantially perpendicular to one another.

104. The threaded implant of claim 103, wherein said rotational articulation is configured to remain engaged within a range of movement of said upper and lower members resulting from positioning said implant in the second position.

105. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one expander adapted to expand said upper and lower members from the first position to the second position when moved from an expander insertion position to a final deployed expander position, said expander being adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said expander having a first height corresponding to the height of said expander when said implant is initially inserted into the spine, said expander having a second height corresponding to the height of said expander when said expander is rotated into a final deployed position to increase the height of said implant, said second height of said expander being greater than said first height of said expander, said first height and said second height being in a plane, the plane being perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said expander.

106. The threaded implant of claim 105, further comprising a hollow defined between said upper and lower members in communication with said openings in each of said upper and lower members, said hollow being adapted to receive fusion-promoting substances, said hollow having a width that is substantially unobstructed by any mechanism for moving said expander.

107. The threaded implant of claim 105, where said implant has a constant width in both the collapsed height and the increased height.

108. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant has a width and said expander has a width less than the width of said implant.

109. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant has a width and said expander has a width less than one half the width of said implant.

110. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant has a longitudinal axis and said expander rotates in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said implant to increase the height of said implant.

111. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said expander is located along the axis of said implant.

112. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said expander is located proximate said proximal ends of said upper and lower members.

113. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said expander is adapted to cooperatively engage a tool used to move said expander from an initial position to a final position to increase the height of said implant, said tool not being a part of said implant and being removed from said implant after moving said expander into the final position.

114. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said expander is adapted to cooperatively engage a tool that rotates about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said implant to rotate said expander to increase the height of said implant.

115. The threaded implant of claim 114, wherein said expander rotates in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said implant to increase the height of said implant.

116. The threaded implant of claim 115, wherein said expander remains in the same location along the longitudinal axis of the implant when rotated.

117. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said expander moves said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members form a parallel orientation to an angled orientation relative to one another.

118. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein each of said upper and lower members are adapted to cooperate with said expander.

119. The threaded implant of claim 118, wherein at least one of said tracks of said upper and lower members includes at least one side having a cooperating surface, said expander having a corresponding cooperating surface that contacts said cooperating surface of said at least one side to orient said expander in a predetermined location.

120. The threaded implant of claim 119, wherein said cooperating surface of said at least one side is a detent and said corresponding cooperating surface of said expander is a projection.

121. The threaded implant of claim 120, wherein said detent and said projection center said expander within said implant such that the axis of rotation of said expander coincides with the longitudinal axis of said implant.

122. The threaded implant of claim 118, wherein each of said upper and lower members have a track configured to permit said expander to rotate therein.

123. The threaded implant of claim 122, wherein at least one of said tracks of said upper and lower members has a cooperating surface, said expander having a corresponding cooperating surface that contacts said cooperating surface of said at least one track to orient said expander in a predetermined location.

124. The threaded implant of claim 123, wherein said cooperating surfaces center orient said expander within said implant such that the axis of rotation of said expander is parallel with the longitudinal axis of said implant.

125. The threaded implant of claim 124, wherein said cooperating surfaces center said expander within said implant such that the axis of rotation of said expander coincides with the longitudinal axis of said implant.

126. The threaded implant of claim 122, wherein said track of said upper member and said track of said lower member are in the same plane.

127. The threaded implant of claim 122, wherein said track of said upper member and said track of said lower member are parallel to one another.

128. The threaded implant of claim 122, wherein said track of said upper member and said track of said lower member are in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said implant.

129. The threaded implant of claim 118, wherein said upper and lower members are adapted to cooperate with said expander so as to center said expander within a cross section of the upper and lower portions.

130. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said upper and lower members structurally cooperate with said expander so as to keep said expander located within said implant.

131. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said upper and lower members are configured to cooperate with one another so as to stop said upper and lower members from being moved apart from one another more than a predetermined distance.

132. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein the difference between said first height and said second height of said expander approximates the difference in height of said implant between said first position and said second position as measured proximate the location of said expander.

133. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said expander has a depth dimension less than that of said first and second height of said expander.

134. The threaded implant of claim 133, wherein said expander has a fixed shape during movement from an initial insertion position to a final deployed position within said implant.

135. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said expander is located proximate said distal ends of said upper and lower members.

136. The threaded implant of claim 105, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.

137. The threaded implant of claim 136, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone morphogenetic protein.

138. The threaded implant of claim 136, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.

139. The threaded implant of claim 136, wherein said fusion promoting substance is genes coding for the production of bone.

140. The threaded implant of claim 136, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.

141. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said upper and lower members have walls contacting one another.

142. The threaded implant of claim 141, wherein said walls are aligned parallel with the longitudinal axis of said implant.

143. The threaded implant of claim 141, wherein said walls are at least in part overlapping.

144. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said upper and lower members have a rotational articulation therebetween adjacent one of said proximal end and said distal end of said upper and lower members.

145. The threaded implant of claim 144, wherein said rotational articulation is at one of said proximal end and said distal end of said upper and lower members opposite said expander.

146. The threaded implant of claim 144, wherein said rotational articulation allows for expansion.

147. The threaded implant of claim 146, wherein said rotational articulation allows for limited expansion.

148. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein one of said upper and lower members has an interior wall, which is unexposed, extending therefrom toward the other of said upper and lower members when said implant is in an initial insertion position, and when said implant is in a final position said implant has a shape such that each of said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members are separated by at least a portion of said interior wall, which now has an exposed side.

149. The threaded implant of claim 148, wherein said upper and lower members have side walls for engaging each other.

150. The threaded implant of claim 149, wherein said side walls of said upper and lower members are at least partially overlapping walls.

151. The threaded implant of claim 148, wherein said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members form an angular orientation relative to one another when said implant is in the final position.

152. The threaded implant of claim 148, wherein said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members when said implant is in the initial insertion position form a cylindrical shape.

153. The threaded implant of claim 105, further comprising a cap for closing one of said proximal end and said distal end of said upper and lower members, said cap having an exterior surface and an interior surface.

154. The threaded implant of claim 153, wherein said interior surface of said cap has spaced slots about its circumference to facilitate a snap fit of said cap into said implant.

155. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant comprises an artificial material other than bone.

156. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is stronger than bone.

157. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is harder than bone.

158. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant comprises bone.

159. The threaded implant of claim 158, wherein said bone includes cortical bone.

160. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant has a side surface when in a final position that is contoured to cooperate with another implant.

161. The threaded implant of claim 160, wherein said implant and said cooperating other implant have a combined width therebetween less than the combined height of said implant and said cooperating other implant.

162. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant comprises bone growth promoting material.

163. The threaded implant of claim 162, wherein said bone growth promoting material is selected from the growth consisting of bone morphogenetic protein, hydroxyapatite, and genes coding for the production of bone.

164. The threaded implant of claim 162, wherein said bone growth promoting material includes hydroxyapatite.

165. The threaded implant of claim 162, wherein said bone growth promoting material is genes coding for the production of bone.

166. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant is treated with a bone growth promoting substance.

167. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant is a source of osteogenesis.

168. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.

169. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant comprises metal.

170. The threaded implant of claim 169, wherein said metal is ASTM material suitable for use said threaded spinal fusion implant.

171. The threaded implant of claim 169, wherein said metal includes titanium.

172. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant comprises a plastic material.

173. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant comprises a ceramic material.

174. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant is formed of a porous material.

175. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant is formed of a material that intrinsically participates in the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.

176. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said implant has an interior surface and a hollow defined therein, said hollow being capable of containing bone growth promoting material.

177. The threaded implant of claim 176, wherein said bone growth promoting material includes hydroxyapatite.

178. The threaded implant of claim 176, wherein said bone growth promoting material is genes for the production of bone.

179. The threaded implant of claim 176, wherein said bone growth promoting material is selected from the group consisting of bone morphogenetic protein, hydroxyapatite, and genes coding for the production of bone.

180. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said at least one opening is adapted to retain fusion-promoting materials.

181. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein at least a portion of said implant is treated to promote bone ingrowth between said implant and said adjacent vertebral bodies.

182. The threaded implant of claim 105, in combination with a chemical substance to inhibit scar formation.

183. The threaded implant of claim 105, wherein said blocker is an expander having an external thread, each of said upper and lower members having a threaded converging portion adapted to cooperate with said external thread of said expander to expand said implant from a first collapsed height to a second expanded height when said expander is rotated from a first to a second position.

184. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one expander adapted to expand said upper and lower members from the first position to the second position when moved from an expander insertion position to a final deployed expander position, said expander being adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said expander having a first height corresponding to the height of said expander when said implant is initially inserted into the spine, said expander having a second height corresponding to the height of said expander when said expander is rotated into a final deployed position to increase the height of said implant, said second height of said expander being greater than said first height of said expander, said implant having side walls and said expander not contacting said side walls when said implant is in the final deployed position.

185. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one expander adapted to expand said upper and lower members from the first position to the second position when moved from an expander insertion position to a final deployed expander position, said expander being adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said expander having a first height corresponding to the height of said expander when said implant is initially inserted into the spine, said expander having a second height corresponding to the height of said expander when said expander is rotated into a final deployed position to increase the height of said implant, said second height of said expander being greater than said first height of said expander, said expander remaining in the same location along the longitudinal axis of the implant when rotated.

186. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one expander adapted to expand said upper and lower members from the first position to the second position when moved from an expander insertion position to a final deployed expander position, said expander being adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said expander having a first height corresponding to the height of said expander when said implant is initially inserted into the spine, said expander having a second height corresponding to the height of said expander when said expander is rotated into a final deployed position to increase the height of said implant said second height of said expander being greater than said first height of said expander, said expander being located at a predetermined location along the length of said implant and remaining so located in transitioning said implant from the first position to the second position.

187. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one expander adapted to expand said upper and lower members from the first position to the second position when moved from an expander insertion position to a final deployed expander position, said expander being adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said expander having a first height corresponding to the height of said expander when said implant is initially inserted into the spine, said expander having a second height corresponding to the height of said expander when said expander is rotated into a final deployed position to increase the height of said implant, said second height of said expander being greater than said first height of said expander, each of said upper and lower members being adapted to cooperate with said expander, each of said upper and lower members having a track configured to permit said expander to rotate therein, said tracks permitting said expander to move from side to side within said track.

188. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one expander adapted to expand said upper and lower members from the first position to the second position when moved from an expander insertion position to a final deployed expander position, said expander being adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said expander having a first height corresponding to the height of said expander when said implant is initially inserted into the spine, said expander having a second height corresponding to the height of said expander when said expander is rotated into a final deployed position to increase the height of said implant, said second height of said expander being greater than said first height of said expander, said expander having an upper surface, a lower surface, and side surfaces as defined when said expander is positioned to increase the height of said implant, said side surfaces intersecting said upper and said lower surfaces at two diametrically opposed junctions.

189. The threaded implant of claim 188, wherein said two diametrically opposed junctions are a pair of diametrically opposed corners and a pair of diametrically opposed arcs.

190. The threaded implant of claim 189, wherein said two diametrically opposed arcs are each of the same radius.

191. The threaded implant of claim 190, wherein the distance across said two diametrically opposed arcs generally approximates the distance between said upper and lower surfaces of said expander.

192. The threaded implant of claim 189, wherein said two diametrically opposed corners form a 90-degree angle.

193. The threaded implant of claim 188, wherein each of said upper and lower surfaces lie generally in a plane.

194. The threaded implant of claim 188, wherein said upper and lower surfaces are generally parallel to one another.

195. The threaded implant of claim 188, wherein said side surfaces and said upper and lower surfaces are oriented to substantially form a parallelogram.

196. A threaded interbody spinal fusion implant for at least in part rotational insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

an upper member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower member having a portion being at least in part arcuate adapted for placement toward and at least in part within the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said lower member having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower members being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant and being sufficiently sized and located to allow for interbody spinal fusion through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and a length between said proximal and distal ends, said upper and lower members having a rotational articulation therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members, said upper and lower members articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, said arcuate portions of said upper and lower members in the first position being parallel to one another over a substantial portion of the length of said implant and forming at least a portion of a cylinder along the length of said implant;

at least a portion of a helical thread formed on the exterior of each of said opposed arcuate portions of said upper and lower members for penetrably engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate securing said implant into the spine by at least in part rotating said implant about the longitudinal axis of said implant; and

at least one expander adapted to expand said upper and lower members from the first position to the second position when moved from an expander insertion position to a final deployed expander position, said expander being adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said expander having a first height corresponding to the height of said expander when said implant is initially inserted into the spine, said expander having a second height corresponding to the height of said expander when said expander is rotated into a final deployed position to increase the height of said implant, said second height of said expander being greater than said first height of said expander, said rotational articulation being formed by said upper and lower members interdigitating so as to cooperatively engage.

197. The threaded implant of claim 196, wherein said rotational articulation is configured such that engagement occurs when said upper and lower members are substantially perpendicular to one another.

198. The threaded implant of claim 197, wherein said rotational articulation is configured to remain engaged within a range of movement of said upper and lower members resulting from positioning said implant in the second position.