Articulating Expandable Intervertebral Implant

摘要

A spacer for separating bones of a joint includes a frame and a carriage. The carriage has ramped surfaces, and is slideably moveable in relation to the frame. A screw support is moveably connected to the frame to form a changeable angular orientation with respect to the frame. An actuating screw is supported by the screw support, and is connected to the carriage to cause the carriage to slideably move in relation to the frame when the actuating screw is rotated. Opposing endplates are configured to engage opposing bone of the joint, and each has ramped surfaces mateable with the ramped surfaces of the carriage. When the carriage is moved by rotation of the actuating screw, the ramped surfaces of the carriage and the endplates slide against each other, causing the endplates to move relatively apart, to increase the height of the spacer.

主权项

1. A spacer for separating bones of a joint, the spacer comprising:
a frame; a carriage slideably moveable in relation to the frame, and having at least one ramped surface; an actuating screw connected to the carriage and supported by the frame, the actuating screw configured to cause the carriage to slideably move in relation to the frame when the actuating screw is rotated; a first endplate configured to engage a first bone of the joint, and having at least one ramped surface mateable with the at least one carriage ramped surface, whereby when the carriage is slideably moved by rotation of the actuating screw, the at least one endplate ramped surface slides against the at least one carriage ramped surface to cause the first endplate to move along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, to increase a height of the spacer; and a second endplate configured to engage a second bone of the joint.