Endoscopically implantable fusion implant for endoscopic spinal surgery
An expandable intervertebral fusion implant, including an inferior component, including a first plurality of axial members and a first plurality of cross-members, a superior component, including a second plurality of axial members and a second plurality of cross-members, and at least one locking arm operatively arranged to lock the superior component at a distance from the inferior component.
1. An expandable intervertebral fusion implant, comprising:
an inferior component, including:
a first plurality of axial members; and,
a first plurality of cross-members;
a superior component, including;
a second plurality of axial members; and,
a second plurality of cross-members; and,
at least one locking arm operatively arranged to, as the superior component is being displaced from the inferior component, slide longitudinally along the inferior component and lock the superior component at a vertical distance from the inferior component.
2. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking arm:
is pivotably connected to the superior component; and,
is arranged to engage at least one protrusion arranged on the inferior component.
3. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 2 , wherein the at least one locking arm comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the plurality of teeth are arranged to engage the at least one protrusion.
4. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking arm:
is pivotably connected to the superior component; and,
is arranged to engage at least one slot arranged on the inferior component.
5. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 1 , further comprising at least one support arm, including:
a first end pivotably connected to the inferior component; and,
a second end slideably and pivotably connected to the superior component.
6. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 5 , wherein the second end comprises a runner, the runner slideably and pivotably engaging a channel in the superior component.
7. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
in a fully collapsed state, the superior component is separated from the inferior component by a first distance; and,
in a fully expanded state, the superior component is separated from the inferior component by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
8. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second pluralities of cross-members are telescoping.
9. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 8 , wherein at least one cross-member of the first and second pluralities of cross-members comprises a plurality of locking pins operatively arranged to lock the at least one cross-member at a length.
10. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 8 , wherein at least one cross-member of the first and second pluralities of cross-members comprises:
an outer rod comprising internal threads; and,
an inner rod comprising external threads, the inner rod engaging the outer rod, wherein a length of the at least one cross-member is adjustable by rotating one of the inner rod or the outer rod relative to the other.
11. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein the superior component is separated from the inferior component using an expansion device.
12. An expandable intervertebral fusion implant, comprising:
an inferior component, including:
a first axial member;
a second axial member;
a first cross-member connecting the first and second axial members; and,
a second cross-member connecting the first and second axial members;
a superior component, including:
a third axial member;
a fourth axial member;
a third cross-member connecting the third and fourth axial members; and,
a fourth cross-member connecting the third and fourth axial members;
a first locking arm connected to the third cross-member and arranged to engage the inferior component; and,
a second locking arm connected to the fourth cross-member and arranged to engage the inferior component.
13. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth cross-members are telescoping.
14. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 13 , further comprising at least one support arm, each of said at least one support arm including:
a first end pivotably connected to the inferior component; and,
a second end pivotably and slidingly connected to the superior component.
15. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 14 , wherein the first end is connected to a fifth cross-member, the fifth cross-member being telescoping and connecting the first and second axial members.
16. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 14 , wherein the second end is connected to the third or fourth axial members.
17. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 13 , wherein inferior component comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion.
18. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 17 , wherein:
the first locking arm comprises a first plurality of teeth operatively arranged to engage the first protrusion; and,
the second locking arm comprises a second plurality of teeth operatively arranged to engage the second protrusion.
19. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 13 , wherein the inferior component comprises a first plurality of slots and a second plurality of slots.
20. The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in claim 19 , wherein:
the first locking arm is operatively arranged to engage one of the first plurality of slots; and,
the second locking arm is operatively arranged to engage one of the second plurality of slots.
21. An expandable intervertebral fusion implant, comprising:
an inferior component, including:
a first plurality of axial members; and,
a first plurality of cross-members, each cross-member of the first plurality of cross-members being telescoping;
a superior component, including;
a second plurality of axial members; and,
a second plurality of cross-members, each cross-member of the second plurality of cross-members being telescoping; and,
at least one locking arm operatively arranged to lock the superior component at a distance from the inferior component.