Plastically deformable inter-osseous device
Described here are deformable, monolithic, stabilization implants suitable for use within bone and between bones to fuse vertebral bodies, to repair herniated discs, or to repair spinal compression fractures. The implants are introduced into a chosen site at a first, smaller height and then plastically deformed to achieve a second, but unique, pre-selected, larger height. Variations of the device provide one or more specific larger heights. The devices are suitable as intervertebral spinal fusion implants for the immobilization of adjacent vertebral bodies. Methods of and instruments for deployment of the implants are also described. Also described are variations of the device suitable as sizing instruments.
1. An orthopedic stabilizing device for placement in an interosseous space defined by adjacent bony surfaces, comprising a plastically deformable monolithic body that has a distal end and a proximal end, and comprises a first locator arm at said distal end and a second locator arm at said proximal end, and that:
a.) is expandable along a height axis between a first smaller height to a second larger expanded height by plastic deformation of the monolithic body, said first arm and said second arm being rotatable upon expansion, and
b.) has first and second matchable, partial columns that are located between said first locator arm and said second locator arm and that are not in contact with each other at the first height and are operative and configured to engage and latch to each other only at the second height to form a supporting structure along the height axis.
2. A kit comprising: a stabilizing device as set forth in accordance with claim 1 ; an installation tool configured to cooperate with said stabilizing device for placing the stabilizing device in an interosseous space defined by adjacent bony surfaces, said installation tool comprising members configured to cooperate with the stabilizing device to cause plastic expansion of said stabilizing device along its height axis; and a sizing device for measuring a distance in said interosseous space, said sizing device comprising an elastically deformable monolithic body expandable along a height axis between a first smaller height and a second larger height by elastic deformation of the monolithic body, said sizing device being configured to cooperate with the members of said installation tool to cause such elastic expansion of said sizing device along its height axis.
3. The kit of claim 2 , wherein the members of the installation tool comprise a stationary member and a slider member.