| 摘要 |
Intervertebral spacers, such as interbody vertebral cages, that facilitate minimally-invasive corrective restoration surgeries, and related methods. In some implementations, an introducer may be used introduce an intervertebral spacer in a first, straightened shape into an intervertebral disc space. The introducer may engage a plurality of adjacent recesses of the intervertebral spacer to maintain the intervertebral spacer in the first, straightened shape during introduction. An introducer, in some cases the same introducer, may be used to articulate the intervertebral spacer by actuating at least one hinge of the intervertebral spacer such that the intervertebral spacer assumes a second, curved shape once within the intervertebral disc space. |
| 主权项 |
1. A method of fusing vertebrae, comprising the steps of:
providing a steerable intervertebral cage comprising:
a distal portion having front, back, top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces;a proximal portion having front, back, top, bottom, inner and outer surfaces, anda hinge joining the front of the proximal portion to the back of the distal portion, such that the cage has a first, straightened shape with the hinge open and a second, crescent shape with the hinge closed; introducing the cage in the first, straightened shape into an anterior central position within an intervertebral disc space using a posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) or transverse lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) approach; and steering or allowing the cage to assume the second, crescent shape once within the intervertebral disc space. |
