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Expandable push-in interbody spinal fusion implant

  • US 6,716,247 B2
  • Filed: 04/23/2002
  • Issued: 04/06/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A push-in interbody spinal fusion implant for linear insertion at least in part across at least the height of a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a spine, said implant comprising:

  • an upper member having an upper surface adapted for placement toward and into contact with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space, said upper surface being non-arcuate along a substantial portion of the length of said implant, said upper surface having at least one opening therethrough and adapted to contact one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end;

    a lower member having a lower surface adapted for placement toward and into contact with the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space, said lower surface being non-arcuate along a substantial portion of the length of said implant, said lower surface having at least one opening therethrough and adapted to contact the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower surfaces 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 of at least a portion of said implant; and

    a blocker pivotally attached to one of said upper and lower members proximate one of said proximal and distal ends and being adapted to pivot into cooperative engagement with another of said one of said upper and lower members, said blocker being adapted to 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 implant having a width and said blocker having a width less than the width of said implant.

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