Expandable implant
First Claim
1. An intervertebral implant configured for insertion along a lateral insertion direction into an intervertebral space defined between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, the intervertebral implant comprising:
- a first bone contacting member having a first bone contacting surface configured to face the inferior vertebra;
a second bone contacting member spaced from the first bone contacting member along a cranial-caudal direction, the second bone contacting member having a second bone contacting surface configured to face the superior vertebra, wherein the first and second bone contacting members have respective sides that are spaced apart along an anterior-posterior direction that is substantially perpendicular to the cranial-caudal direction, wherein the anterior-posterior direction and the cranial-caudal direction are substantially perpendicular to the lateral insertion direction when the implant is disposed in the intervertebral space;
at least two expansion compartments that are elongate along the lateral insertion direction and disposed between the first and second bone contacting surfaces, the at least two expansion compartments being spaced apart with respect to each other along the anterior-posterior direction, each expansion compartment defining a first side, a second side spaced from the first side along the anterior-posterior direction, and a distance that extends from the first side to the second side along the anterior-posterior direction, each expansion compartment configured to expand so as to increase the distance between the first and second sides, wherein each of the at least two expansion compartments are configured to cooperate with at least one of the first and second bone contacting members to cause the expansion of the implant in the anterior-posterior direction without substantially causing the implant to expand in the cranial-caudal direction.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An intervertebral implant configured for insertion along a lateral insertion direction into an intervertebral space defined between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, the intervertebral implant comprising:
-
a first bone contacting member having a first bone contacting surface configured to face the inferior vertebra; a second bone contacting member spaced from the first bone contacting member along a cranial-caudal direction, the second bone contacting member having a second bone contacting surface configured to face the superior vertebra, wherein the first and second bone contacting members have respective sides that are spaced apart along an anterior-posterior direction that is substantially perpendicular to the cranial-caudal direction, wherein the anterior-posterior direction and the cranial-caudal direction are substantially perpendicular to the lateral insertion direction when the implant is disposed in the intervertebral space; at least two expansion compartments that are elongate along the lateral insertion direction and disposed between the first and second bone contacting surfaces, the at least two expansion compartments being spaced apart with respect to each other along the anterior-posterior direction, each expansion compartment defining a first side, a second side spaced from the first side along the anterior-posterior direction, and a distance that extends from the first side to the second side along the anterior-posterior direction, each expansion compartment configured to expand so as to increase the distance between the first and second sides, wherein each of the at least two expansion compartments are configured to cooperate with at least one of the first and second bone contacting members to cause the expansion of the implant in the anterior-posterior direction without substantially causing the implant to expand in the cranial-caudal direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for implanting an intervertebral implant into an intervertebral space defined between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra spaced apart along a cranial-caudal direction, each vertebrae including an anterior side and a posterior side spaced from the anterior side along an anterior-posterior direction that is perpendicular to the cranial-caudal direction, the method comprising:
-
inserting the intervertebral implant into the intervertebral space along a lateral insertion direction that is perpendicular to the cranial caudal direction and the anterior-posterior direction, the intervertebral implant including a first bone contacting member, a second bone contacting member spaced from the first bone contacting member along the cranial-caudal direction; and after the insertion step, expanding at least two expansion compartments of the intervertebral implant along the anterior-posterior direction, the at least two expansion compartments being spaced apart with respect to each other along the anterior-posterior direction, wherein during the expanding step, the at least two expansion compartments cooperate with at least one of the first and second bone contacting members to expand the intervertebral implant along the anterior-posterior direction without expanding the intervertebral implant in the cranial-caudal direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification