Lateral approach expandable spinal implant and method

摘要

An expandable interbody fusion device configured for placement into the intradiscal space between vertebral bodies in a lumbar spine from a lateral approach. The device is expanded by the insertion of a plurality of wafers into the device in situ. The length of the device is configured to extend on the vertebral body endplate from pedicle to pedicle and to reside interiorly of the ring apophysis with at least a portion of the device resting on the area of increased bone density at the posterior portion of the endplate between the pedicles.

主权项

1. A method of inserting an expandable interbody fusion device from the lateral approach into the intradiscal space of the lumbar spine, the intradiscal space being divided by a transverse centerline extending across the lateral width of said intradiscal space that defines an anterior portion and a posterior portion, comprising the steps of:
providing an access corridor to the spine from the lateral approach; providing an elongate expandable device having a length and a width, said length being less than the lateral width of the vertebral endplate interiorly between the peripheral ring apophysis and not less than the pedicle-to pedicle spacing of the vertebral body; inserting said device into the intradiscal space between opposing vertebral bodies entirely within the interior of said ring apophysis of said endplate with at least a portion of the width of said device being disposed in the anterior portion of said intradiscal space and a greater portion of the width of said device being disposed in the posterior portion of said intradiscal space and residing on the area of endplate increased bone density at the posterior portion of the endplates between the pedicles; and then expanding the expandable device in situ to increase the height of the intradiscal space and stabilize the spine.