Expandable self-anchoring interbody cage for orthopedic applications
First Claim
1. An expandable spinal fusion interbody cage comprising:
- a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is substantially contained within said second portion;
a leading end for insertion into the space between two adjacent vertebrae and a trailing end opposing said leading end;
a top and bottom surface between said leading and trailing ends, generally parallel, each having openings thereon to promote biologics to permit bone growth;
opposite sides between said top and bottom surfaces;
a horizontal slotted wedge member having four support risers that are at rest and flush with said bottom surface of said cage when said cage is in an unexpanded state;
two vertical tapped sliding wedges, each having a circular opening thereon that are threaded to accept a screw, which when actuated by said screw causes separation of said first portion and said second portion of said cage; and
a screw that traverses the body of said cage with one end that penetrates into said leading end, the screw having a head that is visible from said trailing end;
wherein when said first portion of said cage is actuated by rotating said screw and said vertical tapped sliding wedges converge towards each other, the overall height of said cage increases while the overall length of said cage remains constant; and
wherein said to surface of said cage, when said cage is in a fully expanded state, forms a graduated angular relationship to auto-adjust UP to 12 degrees in an anterior-posterior direction to maintain and correct lordosis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an expandable spinal fusion intervertebral implant and a method for surgically implanting said implant that provides for maintaining and creating lordosis in the human spine that can be filled with biologics while in situ to encourage spinal fusion. A threaded rod that traverses an insertion/injection handle can be rotated to operate a screw within the interbody cage that displaces opposing vertical tapped sliding wedges, causing them to converge towards each other. Such contact causes the operation of a horizontal wedge that acts as a lift to expand the interbody cage to one of various dimensions in a preferred range. In its expanded height, the overall length of the interbody cage is maintained. At its desired expansion, the spinal fusion implant of the present invention is sized to fit within the disc space between two vertebral bodies and fill all voids left while the vertical and horizontal wedges operate within, due to the biologics being contained within the interbody cage.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An expandable spinal fusion interbody cage comprising:
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a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is substantially contained within said second portion; a leading end for insertion into the space between two adjacent vertebrae and a trailing end opposing said leading end; a top and bottom surface between said leading and trailing ends, generally parallel, each having openings thereon to promote biologics to permit bone growth; opposite sides between said top and bottom surfaces; a horizontal slotted wedge member having four support risers that are at rest and flush with said bottom surface of said cage when said cage is in an unexpanded state; two vertical tapped sliding wedges, each having a circular opening thereon that are threaded to accept a screw, which when actuated by said screw causes separation of said first portion and said second portion of said cage; and a screw that traverses the body of said cage with one end that penetrates into said leading end, the screw having a head that is visible from said trailing end; wherein when said first portion of said cage is actuated by rotating said screw and said vertical tapped sliding wedges converge towards each other, the overall height of said cage increases while the overall length of said cage remains constant; and wherein said to surface of said cage, when said cage is in a fully expanded state, forms a graduated angular relationship to auto-adjust UP to 12 degrees in an anterior-posterior direction to maintain and correct lordosis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification