Method for inserting and deploying an expandable interbody spinal fusion implant
First Claim
1. A method for expanding an expandable spinal implant having an upper portion, a tower portion, and an expander between the upper and lower portions adapted to increase the height of the implant, the method comprising:
- providing an implant holder having a passage therethrough adapted to receive an expander driver;
attaching the implant holder to the implant;
inserting the expander driver having a shaft through the passage of the implant holder to engage the expander of the implant;
rotating the expander driver to rotate the expander from a first position where a first set of contact surfaces of the expander engage the upper and lower portions to a second position to engage a second set of contact surfaces of the expander with the upper and lower portions and expand the expandable implant from a first collapsed height to a second expanded height; and
restraining movement of the expander and the first and second sets of contact surfaces of the expander, during rotation of the expander, along a longitudinal axis of the implant to maintain the expander in the same location along the longitudinal axis throughout rotation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for inserting and expanding fusion implants having an expandable height are disclosed. An implant holder having a passage therethrough that is adapted to receive an expander driver is provided. The implant holder is attached to the implant, and the expander driver is inserted through the passage to engage an expander of the implant. Using the expander driver, the expander is rotated from a first position to a second position to expand the expandable implant from a first collapsed height to a second expanded height.
359 Citations
79 Claims
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1. A method for expanding an expandable spinal implant having an upper portion, a tower portion, and an expander between the upper and lower portions adapted to increase the height of the implant, the method comprising:
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providing an implant holder having a passage therethrough adapted to receive an expander driver; attaching the implant holder to the implant; inserting the expander driver having a shaft through the passage of the implant holder to engage the expander of the implant; rotating the expander driver to rotate the expander from a first position where a first set of contact surfaces of the expander engage the upper and lower portions to a second position to engage a second set of contact surfaces of the expander with the upper and lower portions and expand the expandable implant from a first collapsed height to a second expanded height; and restraining movement of the expander and the first and second sets of contact surfaces of the expander, during rotation of the expander, along a longitudinal axis of the implant to maintain the expander in the same location along the longitudinal axis throughout rotation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A method for expanding an expandable implant having an upper portion, a lower portion, and an expander between the upper and lower portions adapted to increase the height of the implant, the method comprising:
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providing an implant holder having a passage therethrough adapted to receive an expander driver; attaching the implant holder to the implant; inserting the expander driver having a shaft through the passage of the implant holder to engage the expander of the implant; rotating the expander driver to rotate the expander in a plane generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the implant from a first position with a first set of contact surfaces of the expander engaging the upper and lower portions to a second position to engage a second set of contact surfaces of the expander with the upper and lower portions, and simultaneously expanding the expandable implant from a first collapsed height to a second expanded height; and maintaining the expander, during rotation thereof, in a fixed position along the longitudinal axis of the implant so that the expander does not move along the longitudinal axis.
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Specification