Adjustable distraction cage with linked locking mechanisms
View Patent ↗A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one extendable support element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to expand the implant and effectively distract the disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. The implant has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it typically passes to be deployed within the intervertebral space. The implant is provided with a locking system having a plurality of linked locking elements that work in unison to lock the implant in an extended configuration. Bone engaging anchors also may be provided to ensure secure positioning.
1. An expandable implant comprising:
a body having a first surface and a second surface;
a first member formed within the body, the first member being actuatable to expand along a first axis to extend the first surface away from the second surface;
a second member actuatable to expand in a lateral direction transverse to the first axis, the second member being actuatable independently of the first member.
2. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are adapted to be expanded by fluid.
3. The expandable implant of claim 2 , wherein the fluid is hydraulic fluid.
4. The expandable implant of claim 1 , further comprising a first central cavity extending through the body.
5. The expandable implant of claim 4 , further comprising a second central cavity extending through the body and separated from the first central cavity by a central member.
6. The expandable implant of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first member and the second member are adapted to be expanded by fluid, the central member providing a fluid flow path between a fluid source and at least one of the first member and the second member.
7. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is adapted to engage a first vertebral body and the second surface is adapted to engage a second vertebral body.
8. The expandable implant of claim 1 , wherein the second member includes a piston extendable laterally from the body.
9. An expandable spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising:
a first member having a first surface for engaging a first vertebral body;
a second member having a second surface for engaging a second vertebral body;
a third surface laterally oriented between the first and second surfaces;
a first support element actuatable to extend the first member away from the second member along a first axis; and
a second support element actuatable to push the third surface outwardly transverse to the first axis, the second support element being actuatable independently of the first support element.
10. The spinal implant of claim 9 , wherein the first surface for engaging the first vertebral body includes a top end plate and the second surface for engaging the second vertebral body includes a base plate.
11. The spinal implant of claim 9 , further comprising a third support element translatable along a third axis parallel to the first axis.
12. The spinal implant of claim 11 , wherein at least two of the first support element, the second support element, and the third support element are translatable by a common actuator.
13. The spinal implant of claim 9 , further comprising a locking system that mechanically engages or interlocks with the first member and the second member to lock the expandable spinal implant in an expanded configuration.
14. The spinal implant of claim 9 , wherein the second support element includes a piston oriented transverse to the first axis.
15. A method of implanting an expandable implant having a body with a first surface and a second surface, a first member, and a second member, the method comprising:
inserting the expandable implant in a contracted state;
actuating the first member to expand the implant from the contracted state to an expanded state wherein the first surface is expanded away from the second surface along a first axis; and
actuating the second member, independently of the actuation of the first member, to expand the implant in a lateral direction transverse to the first axis.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first member and the second member are each configured to be extended by fluid, and wherein extending the first member and extending the second member comprises supplying fluid to each of the first member and the second member.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the expandable implant further comprises a locking system that mechanically engages or interlocks with the first member to lock the expandable implant in the expanded state, and actuating the first member further comprises locking the expandable implant in the expanded state.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the expandable implant further comprises a first extendable anchor and the method further comprises extending the first extendable anchor independently of the first member.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the expandable implant further comprises a cavity configured to receive a bone growth material and the method further comprises providing a bone growth material into the cavity.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second member includes a piston oriented in the lateral direction.