Expandable implant
First Claim
1. An implant for inserting into an intervertebral space between a superior surface of a first vertebra and an inferior surface of an adjacent, second vertebra, the implant comprising:
- a first contacting member having a bone contacting surface designed to engage the inferior surface of the second vertebra;
a second contacting member having a bone contacting surface designed to engage the superior surface of the first vertebra;
at least one first expansion compartment; and
at least one second expansion compartment;
wherein the implant is expandable from an insertion configuration to an expanded configuration,wherein the implant has a first dimension in a first direction and a second dimension in a second direction in the insertion configuration, and wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction,wherein the implant is configured such that;
during expansion of the at least one first expansion compartment, the at least one first expansion compartment cooperates with at least one of the first and second contacting members to cause the first dimension of the implant to increase without substantially causing a change in the second dimension of the implant; and
during expansion of the at least one second expansion compartment, the at least one second expansion compartment cooperates with at least one of the first and second contacting members to cause the second dimension of the implant to increase.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable implant for inserting within a skeletal space is provided, and a method for using the implant to expand the skeletal space. The implant is preferably designed to be inserted into an intervertebral space to replace at least part of an intervertebral disc between adjacent vertebral bodies. The expandable implant contains at least one first expansion compartment and at least one second expansion compartments, which compartments can be inflatable balloons that are inflated by a catheter. Inflating the first expansion compartment expands the implant in a first direction and inflating the second expansion compartment expands the implant in a second direction.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An implant for inserting into an intervertebral space between a superior surface of a first vertebra and an inferior surface of an adjacent, second vertebra, the implant comprising:
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a first contacting member having a bone contacting surface designed to engage the inferior surface of the second vertebra; a second contacting member having a bone contacting surface designed to engage the superior surface of the first vertebra; at least one first expansion compartment; and at least one second expansion compartment; wherein the implant is expandable from an insertion configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein the implant has a first dimension in a first direction and a second dimension in a second direction in the insertion configuration, and wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction, wherein the implant is configured such that; during expansion of the at least one first expansion compartment, the at least one first expansion compartment cooperates with at least one of the first and second contacting members to cause the first dimension of the implant to increase without substantially causing a change in the second dimension of the implant; and during expansion of the at least one second expansion compartment, the at least one second expansion compartment cooperates with at least one of the first and second contacting members to cause the second dimension of the implant to increase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An implant for inserting into an intervertebral space between a superior surface of a first vertebra and an inferior surface of an adjacent, second vertebra, and having an insertion, distal end and an opposite trailing, proximal end, the implant comprising:
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a first contacting member having a bone contacting surface designed to engage the inferior surface of the second vertebra, the first contacting member being separated into a first and a second contacting component having a first expandable connection that links the first contacting component with the second contacting component; a second contacting member having a bone contacting surface designed to engage the superior surface of the first vertebra, the second contacting member being separated into a third and a fourth contacting component having a second expandable connection that links the third contacting component with the fourth contacting component; a third expandable connection that links the first contacting member with the second contacting member; a first elongated expansion balloon having a length substantially greater than an un-inflated diameter, and extending lengthwise in the direction of the proximal to the distal end of the implant; and a second elongated expansion balloon having a length substantially greater than an un-inflated diameter, and extending lengthwise in the direction of the proximal to the distal end of the implant; wherein the implant is expandable from an insertion configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein the implant has an initial width in a first direction and an initial height in a second direction in the insertion configuration, and wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction, wherein the implant is configured such that; during expansion of the first balloon, the balloon forces the first and second contacting components apart and the third and fourth contacting components apart to cause the width of the implant to increase without substantially causing a change in the height of the implant; and during expansion of the second balloon, the balloon forces the first contacting member apart from the second contacting member to cause the height of the implant to increase. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for using an expandable intervertebral implant having a first contacting member having a first bone contacting surface, a second contacting member having a second bone contacting surface, and at least one expandable connection that links the first contacting member to the second contacting member, the intervertebral implant configured to be positioned into an intervertebral space between a superior surface of a first vertebra and an inferior surface of an adjacent, second vertebra such that the first bone contacting surface faces the inferior surface of the second vertebra and the second bone contacting surface faces the superior surface of the first vertebra, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting the expandable implant in the intervertebral space, the implant comprising first and second expansion compartments; expanding the first expansion compartment to move each of the first and second contacting members in a first direction, thereby expanding a first dimension of the implant; and subsequently expanding the second expansion compartment to move the first and second contacting members apart in a second direction, thereby
1) expanding a second dimension of the implant, and
2) expanding the at least one expandable connection;wherein the first direction is different than the second direction, and the first expanding step is performed without substantially causing a change in the second dimension of the implant. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification