Expandable intervertebral implant system and method
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An intervertebral implant system for a human spine, comprising:
- a first body comprising;
a first external surface configured to be disposed adjacent a first vertebra during use, anda first internal surface opposite the first external surface;
a second body comprising;
a second external surface configured to be disposed adjacent a second vertebra during use, anda second internal surface opposite the second external surface;
an elongated insertion instrument releasably couplable to the first or second body during use; and
a spacer linearly advanced between the first internal surface of the first body and the second internal surface of the second body during use, wherein the elongated insertion instrument guides at least a portion of the linear advancement of the spacer after the first and second bodies have been disposed substantially between the first and second vertebrae from a position remote to the first and second bodies during use, and wherein the linear advancement of the spacer results in expansion of the intervertebral implant such that the first external surface and the second external surface move away from one another to expand a height of the implant.
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Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
An intervertebral implant system for a human spine including a first body having a first external surface to be disposed adjacent a first vertebrae during use and a first internal surface opposite the first external surface, a second body having a second external surface to be disposed adjacent a second vertebrae during use and a second internal surface opposite the second external surface, an elongated insertion instrument releasable coupleable to the first or second body during use, and a spacer linearly advanced between the first internal surface of the first body and the first internal surface of the second body during use. The elongated insertion instrument guides at least a portion of the linear advancement of the spacer, and wherein the linear advancement of the spacer results in expansion of the intervertebral implant such that the first external surface and the second external surface move away from one another to expand a height of the implant.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An intervertebral implant system for a human spine, comprising:
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a first body comprising; a first external surface configured to be disposed adjacent a first vertebra during use, and a first internal surface opposite the first external surface; a second body comprising; a second external surface configured to be disposed adjacent a second vertebra during use, and a second internal surface opposite the second external surface; an elongated insertion instrument releasably couplable to the first or second body during use; and a spacer linearly advanced between the first internal surface of the first body and the second internal surface of the second body during use, wherein the elongated insertion instrument guides at least a portion of the linear advancement of the spacer after the first and second bodies have been disposed substantially between the first and second vertebrae from a position remote to the first and second bodies during use, and wherein the linear advancement of the spacer results in expansion of the intervertebral implant such that the first external surface and the second external surface move away from one another to expand a height of the implant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of implanting an intervertebral implant into a human spine, comprising:
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disposing an upper body into an intervertebral space between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra, wherein the upper body comprises; a superior surface disposed adjacent the upper vertebra, and an inferior surface opposite the superior surface; disposing a lower body into the intervertebral space between the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra, wherein the lower body comprises; an inferior surface disposed adjacent the lower vertebra, and a superior surface opposite the inferior surface; releasably coupling a distal end of an elongated insertion instrument to at least one of the upper body and the lower body; positioning a spacer substantially adjacent to the upper and lower bodies after the upper and lower bodies have been disposed into the intervertebral space between the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra; and linearly advancing a spacer between the inferior surface of the upper body and the superior surface of the lower body, wherein the elongated insertion instrument guides at least a portion of linear advancement of the spacer from a substantially proximal end of the elongated insertion instrument to a substantially distal end of the elongated insertion instrument, and wherein linear advancement of the spacer results in expansion of the intervertebral implant such that the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body move away from one another to expand a height of the implant. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An intervertebral implant system for a human spine, comprising:
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an upper body configured to be disposed in an intervertebral space between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra during use, wherein the upper body comprises; a superior surface configured to be disposed adjacent the upper vertebra, and an inferior surface opposite the superior surface; a lower body configured to be disposed into the intervertebral space between the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra during use, wherein the lower body comprises; an inferior surface configured to be disposed adjacent the lower vertebra, and a superior surface opposite the inferior surface; an elongated insertion instrument configured to be releasably coupled to at least one of the upper body and the lower body during use; and a spacer configured to be linearly advanced between the inferior surface of the upper body and the superior surface of the lower body during use; an other elongated insertion instrument, wherein the elongated insertion instruments are located on opposite sides of the spacer during use, wherein the elongated insertion instruments each comprise longitudinal axis running along their length, and wherein the longitudinal axes of the elongated insertion instruments are arranged substantially parallel to one another during use, wherein the spacer is advanced linearly between the elongated insertion instruments in a direction substantially parallel to longitudinal axes of the elongated insertion instruments from a substantially proximal end of the elongated insertion instruments to a substantially distal end of the elongated insertion instruments, wherein the elongated insertion instrument guides at least a portion of linear advancement of the spacer, and wherein linear advancement of the spacer results in expansion of the intervertebral implant such that the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body move away from one another to expand a height of the implant. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification