EXPANDABLE INTERVERTEBRAL IMPLANT

摘要

An expandable intervertebral implant is provided for insertion into an intervertebral space defined by adjacent vertebrae. The expandable intervertebral implant includes a pair of outer sleeve portions and an inner core disposed between the outer sleeve portions. Movement of the inner core relative to the outer sleeve portions causes the outers sleeve portions to deflect away from each other, thereby engaging the expandable intervertebral implant with the vertebrae and adjusting the height of the intervertebral space.

主权项

1. An expandable intervertebral implant insertable into an intervertebral disc space, the expandable intervertebral implant comprising:
a first outer portion defining opposed ends spaced from each other along a longitudinal direction, the first outer portion further defining a first bone contacting surface; a second outer portion defining opposed ends spaced from each other along the longitudinal direction, the second outer portion further defining a second bone contacting surface spaced from the first bone contacting surface along a transverse direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein at least one of the first and second outer portions further defines first and second engagement surfaces that are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction, and the second bone contacting surface defines an orientation relative to the first bone contacting surface; an inner core disposed between the first and second outer portions, the inner core defining third and fourth engagement surfaces that are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction; and a translatable member configured to drive the inner core to translate along the longitudinal direction relative to the at least one of the first and second outer portions, wherein (i) translation of the inner core along the longitudinal direction relative to the at least one of the first and second outer portions along the longitudinal direction causes the first and second engagement surfaces to ride along the third and fourth engagement surfaces, thereby causing the at least one of the first and second outer portions to deflect away from the other of the first and second outer portions along the transverse direction, and (ii) the relative orientation of the second bone contacting surface with respect to the first bone contacting surfaces remains constant before, during, and after deflection of the at least one of the first and second outer portions away from the other of the first and second outer portions along the transverse direction.