摘要 |
A deformable implant and a method for expanding an intervertebral disc space are provided. The method may include selecting a deformable implant with a predetermined physical configuration and deforming aspects, including temperature. The deformable implant of some embodiments is heated above the transition temperature or deforming temperature, collapsed to a collapsed configuration and cooled below the transition temperature. The collapsed implant may be inserted into the disc space without distracting adjacent vertebrae. The inserted implant absorbs ambient body heat and expands in place to a final shape thereby distracting adjacent vertebrae to expand the disc space.
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