Method of supporting and distracting opposing vertebral bodies
First Claim
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1. A method of supporting and distracting opposing vertebral bodies of a spine in a space therebetween, said vertebral bodies comprising spaced opposing endplates adjacent said space, comprising the steps of:
- placing an access channel adjacent said space between said opposing endplates;
introducing through said access channel a non-inflatable expandable structure into said space between said opposing endplates;
expanding said expandable structure in substantially only the direction of the axis of the spine to distract and support said endplates supporting and distracting opposing vertebral bodies of a spine in a space therebetween, said vertebral bodies comprising spaced opposing endplates adjacent said space thereby increasing the height of said space between said vertebral bodies; and
then,introducing bone filler through said access channel into said space at a location exteriorly of, adjacent to and in contact with said expanded structure such that said bone filler cooperates with said expanded structure and said endplates to stabilize said expanded structure.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting opposing vertebral bodies. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the vertebral bodies to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the vertebral bodies so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of supporting and distracting opposing vertebral bodies of a spine in a space therebetween, said vertebral bodies comprising spaced opposing endplates adjacent said space, comprising the steps of:
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placing an access channel adjacent said space between said opposing endplates; introducing through said access channel a non-inflatable expandable structure into said space between said opposing endplates; expanding said expandable structure in substantially only the direction of the axis of the spine to distract and support said endplates supporting and distracting opposing vertebral bodies of a spine in a space therebetween, said vertebral bodies comprising spaced opposing endplates adjacent said space thereby increasing the height of said space between said vertebral bodies; and
then,introducing bone filler through said access channel into said space at a location exteriorly of, adjacent to and in contact with said expanded structure such that said bone filler cooperates with said expanded structure and said endplates to stabilize said expanded structure. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of supporting and distracting opposing vertebral bodies of a spine in a space therebetween, said vertebral bodies comprising spaced opposing endplates adjacent said space, comprising the steps of:
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placing an expandable access channel adjacent said space between said opposing endplates; introducing through said access channel a non-inflatable expandable structure having an upper contact face and a lower contact face into said space between said opposing endplates, the structure having openings to receive a bone filler and to facilitate movement of such bone filler therethrough; expanding said expandable structure with said upper face and said lower face moving substantially only in the direction of the axis of the spine to distract and support said endplates restoring height to thereby increase the height of said space between said vertebral bodies; and
then,introducing bone filler through said access channel into and through said openings of said expanded structure to stabilize said expanded structure. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of supporting and distracting opposing vertebral bodies of a spine in a space therebetween, said vertebral bodies comprising spaced opposing endplates adjacent said space, comprising the steps of:
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placing an access channel adjacent said space between said opposing endplates; introducing through said access channel a non-inflatable expandable structure into said space between said opposing endplates; expanding said expandable structure in the direction of the axis of the spine to distract and support said endplates thereby increasing the height of said space between said vertebral bodies; and
then,introducing an injection channel having at least one opening into said access channel and advancing said injection channel through access channel and into said space until said at least one opening approximates the expanded structure; injecting a bone filler through the injection channel directly into said space adjacent the expanded structure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification