EXPANDABLE SUPPORT DEVICE
A device for providing support for biological tissue is disclosed. The device can expand and be implanted in lieu of removed or otherwise missing bone, such as a vertebra, and/or soft tissue, such as a intervertebral disc. The device can be configured to radially expand in a single plane when the device is longitudinally contracted. Methods for using the device are also disclosed.
1 . An expandable device for orthopedic support comprising:
an expandable frame comprising a first strut and a second strut, wherein the expandable frame has a first and a second configuration;
wherein the first configuration is substantially linear; and
wherein the second configuration is substantially rectangular.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular configuration is substantially square.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first strut and the second strut join at a joint and form a strut angle at the joint, and wherein the joint angle is approximately a right angle in the second configuration.
4 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinal channel.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device has a device width, and wherein when the device is in the first configuration the device width is substantially less than the device width when the device is in the second configuration.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device has a device length, and wherein when the device is in the first configuration the device length is substantially more than the device width when the device is in the second configuration.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises joints.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the joint comprises a hinge.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the hinge comprise a weakened portion of the strut.
10 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the hinge comprises a thinned portion of the strut.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first strut is in a first position when the device is in the first configuration, and wherein the first strut is in a second position when the device is in the second configuration, and wherein the first position is rotated with respect to the second position in a first rotation.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the second strut is in a third position when the device is in the first configuration, and wherein the second strut is in a fourth position when the device is in the second configuration, and wherein the third position is rotated with respect to the fourth position in a second rotation, and wherein the second rotation is substantially opposite to the first rotation.
13 . A method of treatment for an orthopedic damage site with an expandable support device having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
inserting the expandable support device through a soft tissue, wherein the expandable support device cuts the soft tissue;
deploying the expandable support device in the damage site, wherein deploying comprises converting the expandable support device from a first configuration to a second configuration; and wherein deploying comprises compressing the expandable support device along the longitudinal axis.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the inserting comprises inserting along a linear path.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the inserting comprises inserting along a radial path.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein deploying comprises applying tension along an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the expandable support device in the second configuration is widened relative to the expandable support device in the first configuration.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the expandable support device in the first configuration is longitudinally expanded relative to the expandable support device in the second configuration.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the expandable support device in the second configuration is not substantially deepened relative to the expandable support device in the first configuration.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the expandable support device widens along a plane substantially co-planar to a near surface of the bone.