Stabilized intervertebral scaffolding systems

摘要

An intervertebral scaffolding system is provided having a central beam having a proximal portion having an end, a grafting portion having a top and a bottom, a distal portion having a end, a central beam axis, a graft distribution channel having an entry port at the end of the proximal portion, a top exit port at the top of the grafting portion, and a bottom exit port at the bottom of the grafting portion. These systems can also include a laterovertically-expanding frame operable for a reversible collapse from an expanded state into a collapsed state. The expanded state, for example, can be configured to have an open graft distribution window that at least substantially closes upon the reversible collapse.

主权项

1. An intervertebral scaffolding system, comprising;
a central beam having
a central beam axis;a proximal portion and a distal portion;a top surface with a first top-lateral surface and a second top-lateral surface;a bottom surface with a first bottom-lateral surface and a second bottom-lateral surface;a first side surface with a first top-side surface and a first bottom-side surface; and,a second side surface with a second top-side surface and a second bottom-side surface; a laterovertically-expanding frame configured for operably contacting the central beam to create an intervertebral scaffolding system in vivo, the frame having
a collapsed state and an expanded state, the expanded state operably contacting with the central beam in the intervertebral space;a proximal portion having an end, a distal portion having an end, and a central frame axis of the expanded state;a first top beam including a proximal portion having an end and a distal portion having an end, the first top beam configured for contacting the first top-lateral surface of the central beam and the first top-side surface of the central beam in the expanded state, a central axis of the first top beam at least substantially on (i) a top plane containing the central axis of the first top beam and a central axis of a second top beam and (ii) a first side plane containing the central axis of the first top beam and a central axis of a first bottom beam;the second top beam including a proximal portion having an end and a distal portion having an end, the second top beam configured for contacting the second top-lateral surface of the central beam and the second top-side surface of the central beam in the expanded state, the central axis of the second top beam at least substantially on (i) the top plane and (ii) a second side plane containing the central axis of the second top beam and a central axis of a second bottom beam;the first bottom beam including a proximal portion having an end and a distal portion having an end, the first bottom beam configured for contacting the first bottom-lateral surface of the central beam and the first bottom-side surface of the central beam in the expanded state, the central axis of the first bottom beam at least substantially on (i) a bottom plane containing the central axis of the first bottom beam and the central axis of the second top beam and (ii) the first side plane;the second bottom beam including a proximal portion having an end and a distal region having an end, the second bottom beam configured for contacting the second bottom-lateral surface of the central beam and the second bottom-side surface of the central beam in the expanded state, the central axis of the second bottom beam being at least substantially on (i) the bottom plane and (ii) a second side plane containing the central axis of the second bottom beam and the central axis of the second top beam;a plurality of top connector elements configured to expandably connect the first top beam to the second top beam, the expanding consisting of a flexing at least substantially on the top plane;a plurality of bottom connector elements configured to expandably connect the first bottom beam to the second bottom beam, the expanding consisting of a flexing at least substantially on the bottom plane;a plurality of first side connector elements configured to expandably connect the first top beam to the first bottom beam, the expanding consisting of a flexing at least substantially on the first side plane;a plurality of second side connector elements configured to expandably connect the second top beam to the second bottom beam, the expanding consisting of a flexing at least substantially on the second side plane; and, a stabilizer that slidably engages with the distal region of the first top beam, the first bottom beam, the second top beam, the second bottom beam, or a combination thereof, and is configured for retaining the first top beam, the first bottom beam, the second top beam, the second bottom beam, or the combination thereof, from a lateral movement that exceeds the expanded state; wherein, the framing is configured for engaging with the central beam in vivo to support the framing in the expanded state; and, the connector elements are struts configured to have a cross-sectional aspect ratio of longitudinal thickness to transverse thickness ranging from 1:2 to 1:8, adapted to maintain structural stiffness in the laterovertically-expanding frame in a direction perpendicular to the central frame axis of the expanded state of the frame.