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Expandable Articulating Intervertebral Implant with Spacer: 8,118,870

Abstract: 

An expandable articulating intervertebral implant is described for insertion between vertebrae of a human spine. The expandable intervertebral implant includes an upper body that engages a first vertebra of the human spine, a lower body that engages a second vertebra of the human spine, and an insert. The upper body may include an upper portion and a lower portion. The insert may be positioned between an inferior surface of the lower portion of the upper body and a superior surface of the lower body. The insert may be translated or rotated to increase a separation distance between the lower body and the upper body. A spacer may be inserted between the upper body and the lower body to maintain at least a portion of the increased separation distance between the upper body and the lower body after expansion of the intervertebral implant in the human spine.

Patent Number: 
8,118,870
Date Of Issue: 
02/20/2012
Inventors: 

Charles R. Gordon; Corey T. Harbold; Heather S. Hanson