Expandable intervertebral implant for treatment of scoliosis
An expandable intervertebral implant, including a support component, an inferior component, including a first proximate end connected to the support component, a first distal end, a first top surface, and a first bottom surface, a superior component, including a second proximate end connected to the support component, a second distal end, a second top surface, and a second bottom surface, and a wedging component operatively arranged to be slid along the first top surface and the second bottom surface and expand the expandable intervertebral implant.
1. An expandable intervertebral implant, comprising:
a support component, including:
a first cross-member;
a second cross-member; and,
one or more vertical members connecting the first and second cross-members,
wherein the second cross-member is displaceable relative to the first cross-member;
an inferior component, including:
a first proximate end connected to the first cross-member;
a first distal end;
a first top surface; and,
a first bottom surface;
a superior component, including:
a second proximate end connected to the second cross-member;
a second distal end;
a second top surface; and,
a second bottom surface; and,
a wedging component operatively arranged to be:
passed completely through the first and second cross-members; and,
slid along the first top surface and the second bottom surface and expand the expandable intervertebral implant.
2. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein the superior component is hingedly connected to the second cross-member.
3. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 2 , wherein:
the first distal end comprises a first lip extending from the first top surface; and,
the second distal end comprises a second lip extending from the second bottom surface.
4. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 2 , wherein:
the inferior component comprises a first stop extending from the first top surface; and,
the superior component comprises a second stop extending from the second bottom surface.
5. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 2 , wherein the superior component is connected to the second cross-member via one or more hinges.
6. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 2 , wherein the inferior component further comprises a first aperture and the superior component further comprises a second aperture.
7. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 2 , wherein the wedging component is substantially cylindrical.
8. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 2 , wherein when the expandable intervertebral implant is in a fully expanded state, the superior component is substantially parallel to the inferior component.
9. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inferior component is hingedly connected to the first cross-member.
10. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first cross-member comprises a first flange having a first through-bore and the second cross-member comprises a second flange having a second through-bore.
11. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more vertical members is adjustable in length.
12. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more vertical members comprises a plurality of locking pins operatively arranged to lock the one or more vertical members at a length.
13. The expandable intervertebral implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second cross-member is spaced apart from the first cross-member.
14. An expandable intervertebral implant, comprising:
a support component, including:
a first cross-member;
a second cross-member; and,
one or more vertical members connecting the first and second cross-members,
wherein the second cross-member is displaceable relative to the first cross-member;
an inferior component, including:
a first proximate end connected to the first cross-member;
a first distal end;
a first top surface; and,
a first bottom surface;
a superior component, including:
a second proximate end connected to the second cross-member;
a second distal end;
a second top surface; and,
a second bottom surface; and,
a wedging component operatively arranged to be slid along the first top surface and the second bottom surface and expand the expandable intervertebral implant, wherein in a fully expanded state of the expandable intervertebral implant, the wedging component is arranged substantially at the first and second distal ends.
15. An expandable intervertebral implant, comprising:
a support component, including:
a first cross-member;
a second cross-member spaced apart from the first cross-member; and,
at least one vertical member connecting the first and second cross-members, the at least one vertical member being adjustable in length;
at least one inferior component, including:
a first proximate end connected to the first cross-member;
a first distal end;
a first top surface; and,
a first bottom surface;
at least one superior component, including:
a second proximate end connected to the second cross-member;
a second distal end;
a second top surface; and,
a second bottom surface; and,
a wedging component operatively arranged to be:
passed completely through the first and second cross-members; and,
slid along the first top surface and the second bottom surface to expand the expandable intervertebral implant.