Expandable Vertebral Implant

摘要

A joint spacer therapeutically maintains separation of bones of a joint. A carriage is slideably retained within the frame and has at least one ramped surface. An actuator screw is threadably engaged with the frame, and rotatably connected to the carriage, to cause the carriage to slideably move within the frame when the actuator screw is rotated. First and second endplates engage the bones of the joint, and each has at least one ramped surface that is mateable with the ramped surface of the carriage, whereby when the carriage is slideably moved by rotation of the actuator screw, the endplates ramped surface slides against the carriage ramped surface to cause the endplates to move along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame, to increase the height of the spacer. Piercing elements are connected to the carriage to pierce bone of the joint when the carriage is moved.

主权项

1. An orthopedic device comprising:
a spacer comprising:
a body member;a translation member received in the body member, the translation member including at least one upper ramp portion and one lower ramp portion;an upper endplate having at least one lower ramp for engaging the upper ramp portion of the translation member;a lower endplate having at least one upper ramp for engaging the lower ramp portion of the translation member; andan actuation member operably connected to the translation member via a spring clip, whereby rotation of the actuation member in a first direction causes the translation member to move in a first direction, thereby causing the distance of separation between the upper endplate and the lower endplate to increase.