Expandable articulating intervertebral implant with limited articulation

1. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:

an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;

a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine; and

an expansion member comprising elongated body portion with a substantially flat inferior surface substantially parallel to the inferior surface of the lower body and a first angled portion positioned at or towards an insertion end of the elongated body, wherein the expansion member is configured to be positioned between the upper body and the lower body and extend along substantially the entire length of the inferior surface of the upper and the superior surface of the lower body, wherein applying a force to a trailing most end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body advances the first angled portion in a substantially linear direction from a proximal end towards a distal end of the implant such that the first angled portion engages with a rigid second angled portion of the implant to increase a separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body at a proximal most end and a distal most end of the implant, wherein the rigid second angled portion is at an angle that is oblique to the substantially linear direction prior to the elongated body advancing in the substantially linear direction; and

wherein the first angled portion advances between at least a portion of the inferior surface of the upper body and at least a portion of the superior surface of the lower body, after insertion of the upper and lower body in the spine.

2. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the expansion member further comprises a substantially flat inferior surface.

3. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the expansion member further comprises a substantially flat superior surface.

4. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body increases a height of the intervertebral implant.

5. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , further comprising an advancing element, wherein the advancing element is configured to be advanced in an anteroposterior direction or a posteroanterior direction to apply a force to the trailing end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body.

6. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , further comprising an advancing element, wherein the advancing element is configured to apply a force to the trailing end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body.

7. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , further comprising an advancing element, wherein the advancing element is configured to inhibit dislocation of the expansion member after increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body.

8. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , further comprising an advancing element, wherein the advancing element is configured to apply a force to the trailing end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body, wherein the advancing element is threaded.

9. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein as the separation distance increases between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body remain at substantially the same angle relative to one another.

10. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body increases a distance between the first vertebra and the second vertebra at least at a posterior side and at an anterior side of the first and the second vertebra.

11. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein the force applied to the trailing end of the elongated body is a pushing force.

12. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body increases a distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body a substantially equivalent distance at the proximal end and the distal end of the implant.

13. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein at least a majority of the superior surface of the upper body and at least a majority of the inferior surface of the lower body are moved when separation occurs.

14. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein the shape of the rigid second angled portion does not vary as the separation distance increases.

15. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is a solid ramp.

16. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is a ramped surface.

17. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein the first angled portion is a ramped surface.

18. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein the first angled portion is a ramped surface, wherein the rigid second angled portion is a ramped surface, wherein the ramped surface of the first angled portion engages the ramped surface of the rigid second angled portion and the ramped portion of the first or the second angled portion is coupled to the superior surface of the lower body or the inferior surface of the upper body.

19. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is coupled to the upper body, and wherein when the first angled portion engages with the rigid second angled portion the rigid second angled portion and the upper body move to increase the separation distance.

20. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is coupled to the lower body, and wherein when the first angled portion engages with the rigid second angled portion the rigid second angled portion and the lower body move to increase the separation distance.

21. The intervertebral implant of claim 1 , wherein the upper body, lower body, and expansion member are configured to inhibit dislolcation of the upper body from the lower body.

22. The intervertebral implant of claim 21 , wherein at least one of the lower body or expansion member includes generally upwardly projecting extensions and at least one of the upper body or expansion member includes recesses configured to accept the extensions, wherein the extensions when positioned in the recesses are configured to inhibit discloation of the upper body from the lower body.

23. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:

an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;

a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine;

an expansion member comprising elongated body portion with a substantially flat inferior surface substantially parallel to the inferior surface of the lower body and a first angled portion positioned at or towards an insertion end of the elongated body, wherein the expansion member is configured to be positioned between the upper body and the lower body and extend along substantially the entire length of the inferior surface of the upper and the superior surface of the lower body, wherein applying a force to a trailing most end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body advances the first angled portion in a substantially linear direction from a proximal end towards a distal end of the implant such that the first angled portion engages with a rigid second angled portion of the implant to expand the intervertebral implant at a proximal most end and a distal most end of the implant, wherein the rigid second angled portion is at an angle that is oblique to the substantially linear direction prior to the elongated body advancing in the substantially linear direction, and wherein the first angled portion advances between at least a portion of the inferior surface of the upper body and at least a portion of the superior surface of the lower body, after insertion of the upper and lower body in the spine; and

an advancing element, wherein the advancing element is configured to apply a force to the trailing end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body.

24. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the advancing element is configured to be advanced in an anteroposterior direction or a posteroanterior direction to apply a force to the trailing end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body.

25. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the advancing element is configured to inhibit dislocation of the expansion member after expanding the intervertebral implant.

26. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the advancing element is threaded.

27. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of the expansion member further comprises a substantially flat inferior surface.

28. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of the expansion member further comprises a substantially flat superior surface.

29. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein expanding the intervertebral implant increases a height of the intervertebral implant.

30. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein as the separation distance increases between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body remain at substantially the same angle relative to one another.

31. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body increases a distance between the first vertebra and the second vertebra at least at a posterior side and at an anterior side of the first and the second vertebra.

32. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the force applied to the trailing end of the elongated body is a pushing force.

33. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body increases a distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body a substantially equivalent distance at the proximal end and the distal end of the implant.

34. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein at least a majority of the superior surface of the upper body and at least a majority of the inferior surface of the lower body are moved when separation occurs.

35. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the shape of the rigid second angled portion does not vary as the separation distance increases.

36. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is a solid ramp.

37. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is a ramped surface.

38. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the first angled portion is a ramped surface.

39. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the first angled portion is a ramped surface, wherein the rigid second angled portion is a ramped surface, wherein the ramped surface of the first angled portion engages the ramped surface of the rigid second angled portion and the ramped portion of the first or the second angled portion is coupled to the superior surface of the lower body or the inferior surface of the upper body.

40. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is coupled to the upper body, and wherein when the first angled portion engages with the rigid second angled portion the rigid second angled portion and the upper body move to increase the separation distance.

41. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is coupled to the lower body, and wherein when the first angled portion engages with the rigid second angled portion the rigid second angled portion and the lower body move to increase the separation distance.

42. The intervertebral implant of claim 23 , wherein the upper body, lower body, and expansion member are configured to inhibit dislolcation of the upper body from the lower body.

43. The intervertebral implant of claim 42 , wherein at least one of the lower body or expansion member includes generally upwardly projecting extensions and at least one of the upper body or expansion member includes recesses configured to accept the extensions, wherein the extensions when positioned in the recesses are configured to inhibit discloation of the upper body from the lower body.

44. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:

an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;

a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine;

an expansion member comprising elongated body portion with a substantially flat inferior surface substantially parallel to the inferior surface of the lower body and a first angled portion positioned at or towards an insertion end of the elongated body, wherein the expansion member is configured to be positioned between the upper body and the lower body and extend along substantially the entire length of the inferior surface of the upper and the superior surface of the lower body, wherein applying a force to a trailing most end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body advances the first angled portion in a substantially linear direction from a proximal end towards a distal end of the implant such that the first angled portion engages with a rigid second angled portion of the implant to increase a separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body at a proximal most end and a distal most end of the implant, wherein the rigid second angled portion is at an angle that is oblique to the substantially linear direction prior to the elongated body advancing in the substantially linear direction, and wherein the first angled portion advances between at least a portion of the inferior surface of the upper body and at least a portion of the superior surface of the lower body, after insertion of the upper and lower body in the spine; and

an advancing element, wherein the advancing element is configured to apply a force to the trailing end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body, wherein the advancing element is configured to inhibit dislocation of the expansion member after increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body.

45. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body increases a height of the intervertebral implant.

46. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the advancing element is configured to be advanced in an anteroposterior direction or a posteroanterior direction to apply a force to the trailing end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body.

47. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the advancing element is threaded.

48. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein at least a portion of the expansion member further comprises a substantially flat inferior surface.

49. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein at least a portion of the expansion member further comprises a substantially flat superior surface.

50. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein as the separation distance increases between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body remain at substantially the same angle relative to one another.

51. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body increases a distance between the first vertebra and the second vertebra at least at a posterior side and at an anterior side of the first and the second vertebra.

52. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the force applied to the trailing end of the elongated body is a pushing force.

53. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body increases a distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body a substantially equivalent distance at the proximal end and the distal end of the implant.

54. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein at least a majority of the superior surface of the upper body and at least a majority of the inferior surface of the lower body are moved when separation occurs.

55. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the shape of the rigid second angled portion does not vary as the separation distance increases.

56. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is a solid ramp.

57. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is a ramped surface.

58. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the first angled portion is a ramped surface.

59. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the first angled portion is a ramped surface, wherein the rigid second angled portion is a ramped surface, wherein the ramped surface of the first angled portion engages the ramped surface of the rigid second angled portion and the ramped portion of the first or the second angled portion is coupled to the superior surface of the lower body or the inferior surface of the upper body.

60. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is coupled to the upper body, and wherein when the first angled portion engages with the rigid second angled portion the rigid second angled portion and the upper body move to increase the separation distance.

61. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the rigid second angled portion is coupled to the lower body, and wherein when the first angled portion engages with the rigid second angled portion the rigid second angled portion and the lower body move to increase the separation distance.

62. The intervertebral implant of claim 44 , wherein the upper body, lower body, and expansion member are configured to inhibit dislolcation of the upper body from the lower body.

63. The intervertebral implant of claim 62 , wherein at least one of the lower body or expansion member includes generally upwardly projecting extensions and at least one of the upper body or expansion member includes recesses configured to accept the extensions, wherein the extensions when positioned in the recesses are configured to inhibit discloation of the upper body from the lower body.

64. An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising:

an upper body comprising an inferior surface and a superior surface, wherein the superior surface of the upper body is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine;

a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface of the lower body is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine; and

an expansion member comprising elongated body portion with a substantially flat inferior surface substantially parallel to the inferior surface of the lower body and a first angled portion positioned at or towards an insertion end of the elongated body, wherein the expansion member is configured to be positioned between the upper body and the lower body and extend along substantially the entire length of the inferior surface of the upper and the superior surface of the lower body, wherein applying a pushing force to a trailing most end of the elongated body opposite the insertion end of the elongated body advances the first angled portion in a substantially linear direction from a proximal end towards a distal end of the implant such that the first angled portion engages with a rigid second angled portion of the implant to increase a separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body at a proximal most end and a distal most end of the implant, wherein the rigid second angled portion is at an angle that is oblique to the substantially linear direction prior to the elongated body advancing in the substantially linear direction,

wherein the first angled portion advances between at least a portion of the inferior surface of the upper body and at least a portion of the superior surface of the lower body, after insertion of the upper and lower body in the spine, and

wherein increasing the separation distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body increases a distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body at at least the proximal end and the distal end of the implant.

65. The intervertebral implant of claim 64 , wherein increasing the separation distance further increases a distance between the superior surface of the upper body and the inferior surface of the lower body a substantially equivalent distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the implant.

66. The intervertebral implant of claim 64 , wherein the upper body, lower body, and expansion member are configured to inhibit dislolcation of the upper body from the lower body.

67. The intervertebral implant of claim 66 , wherein at least one of the lower body or expansion member includes generally upwardly projecting extensions and at least one of the upper body or expansion member includes recesses configured to accept the extensions, wherein the extensions when positioned in the recesses are configured to inhibit discloation of the upper body from the lower body.