Systems and implants for bone restoration

1. A system for restoring a vertebral body, said system comprising:

an introducer tube;

an implant comprising:

an end element defining an opening;

plates each defining a bearing surface configured to be moved away from one another to expand said implant within the vertebral body; and

supports each coupled to one of said plates, wherein said supports comprise a reduced thickness portion defining a material web configured to plastically deform during expansion of said implant;

an implant carrier with which said end element of said implant is removably coupled during insertion of said implant through said introducer tube and into the vertebral body; and

a rod configured to be directed through said implant carrier, wherein said rod is configured to be translated relative to said implant carrier to cause expansion of said implant,

wherein said plates are configured to be moved away from one another to a non-parallel state in which said plates angle away from one another.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said non-parallel state is further defined by ends of said plates opposite said end element being spaced farther apart than opposing ends of said plates nearer said end element.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said rod is further configured to be directed through said opening of said end element.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a drill configured to be directed through said introducer tube and operated to establish an enlarged opening within the vertebral body for insertion of said implant.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a handle with which said rod is threadably coupled, and wherein said implant carrier comprises a gripping block configured to translate said rod relative to said implant carrier without rotation of said rod relative to said gripping block.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a filling cement configured to be injected within a void defined by said implant, and around said implant.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein filling cement is further configured to be directed through said opening of said end element.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said supports are first supports, said implant further comprising a second supports each coupled to said end element and one of said plates, wherein said second supports comprise a material web configured to plastically deform during expansion of said implant.

9. A system for restoring a vertebral body, said system comprising:

an introducer tube;

an implant comprising:

an end element defining a first opening;

plates each defining a bearing surface configured to be moved away from one another to expand said implant within the vertebral body; and

supports each coupled to one of said plates and configured to plastically deform during expansion of said implant;

an opposed portion coupled to said supports and defining a second opening coaxially aligned with said first opening, wherein said opposed portion is configured to receive a longitudinal force to be moved relative to said end element for expanding said implant;

an implant carrier with which said end element of said implant is removably coupled during insertion of said implant through said introducer tube and into the vertebral body;

a handle; and

a rod threadably coupled to said handle and configured to be directed through said implant carrier and said first opening of said end element, wherein said rod is configured to be provide said longitudinal force to said opposed portion,

wherein said implant carrier comprises a gripping block configured to translate said rod relative to said implant carrier without rotation of said rod relative to said gripping block.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said plates are configured to be moved away from one another to a non-parallel state in which said plates angle away from one another.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said non-parallel state is further defined by ends of said plates opposite said end element being spaced farther apart than opposing ends of said plates nearer said end element.

12. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a drill configured to be directed through said introducer tube and operated to establish an enlarged opening within the vertebral body for insertion of said implant.

13. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a filling cement configured to be injected within a void defined by said implant, and around said implant.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein filling cement is further configured to be directed through said first opening of said end element.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein said supports are parallel to said plates prior to expansion of said implant.

16. A system for restoring a vertebral body, said system comprising:

an introducer tube;

an implant comprising:

an end element defining an opening;

plates each defining a bearing surface and configured to be moved away from one another to a non-parallel state in which said plates angle away from one another and in which ends of said plates opposite said end element are spaced farther apart than opposing ends of said plates nearer said end element, wherein said implant is configured to be expanded within the vertebral body in said non-parallel state;

a support coupled to each of said plates and configured to plastically deform during expansion of said implant;

an implant carrier with which said end element of said implant is removably coupled during insertion of said implant through said introducer tube and into the vertebral body; and

a rod configured to be directed through said implant carrier, wherein said rod is configured to be translated relative to said implant carrier to cause expansion of said implant.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said support comprises a reduced thickness portion defining a material web configured to plastically deform.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein said opening is a first opening, said implant further comprising an opposed portion coupled to said supports and defining a second opening coaxially aligned with said first opening, wherein said opposed portion is configured to receive a longitudinal force to be moved relative to said end element for expanding said implant.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein said supports are parallel to said plates prior to expansion of said implant.

20. An implant for restoring a vertebral body, said implant comprising:

an end element defining an opening;

plates each defining a bearing surface configured to be moved away from one another to a non-parallel state in which said plates angle away from one another and in which ends of said plates opposite said end element are spaced farther apart than opposing ends of said plates nearer said end element, wherein said implant is configured to be expanded said implant within the vertebral body in said non-parallel state; and

a support coupled to each of said plates, wherein said support comprises a reduced thickness portion defining a material web configured to plastically deform during expansion of said implant.

21. The implant of claim 20 , further comprising an opposed portion coupled to said supports and configured to receive a longitudinal force to be moved relative to said end element for expanding said implant.

22. The implant of claim 21 , wherein said opening is a first opening, wherein said opposed portion defines a second opening coaxially aligned with said first opening.

23. The implant of claim 20 , wherein said supports are first supports, said implant further comprising second supports each coupled to said end element and one of said plates, wherein said second supports comprise a material web configured to plastically deform during expansion of said implant.