Expandable spinal implant and associated instrumentation

Abstract

An expandable spinal implant including an implant body transitionable between an initial configuration and an expanded configuration. The implant body includes first and second axial walls spaced apart along a transverse axis, with at least one of the walls including first and second axial wall portions laterally offset from one another. An expansion member co-acts with the first wall portion to outwardly displace the first wall portion relative to the second wall portion to transition the implant body to the expanded configuration. In another embodiment, the first wall portion defines a recessed region relative to the second wall portion when the implant body is in the initial configuration, and wherein the recessed region is outwardly expanded as the implant to body is transitioned to the expanded configuration. In a further embodiment, the first wall portion is movable while the second wall portion remains substantially stationary.

1 .- 45 . (canceled) 
   
   
       46 . An expandable spinal implant, comprising:
 an implant body having a longitudinal axis and being transitionable between an initial configuration and an expanded configuration, said implant body including an implant length extending between first and second ends and including first and second axial walls extending along said implant length and spaced apart along a transverse axis extending along a height of said implant body, at least one of said axial walls including first and second axial wall portions laterally offset from one another and extending continuously and substantially entirely along said implant length; and   an expansion member co-acting with said first wall portion to outwardly displace said first wall portion relative to said second wall portion generally along said transverse axis to transition said implant body from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration.   
   
   
       47 . The implant of  claim 46 , wherein said second axial wall portion remains substantially stationary relative to said first axial wall portion as said implant body is transitioned from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration. 
   
   
       48 . The implant of  claim 46 , wherein said first axial wall portion is positioned laterally adjacent said second axial wall portion. 
   
   
       49 . The implant of  claim 46 , wherein said implant body includes first and second transverse end walls interconnecting opposite end portions of said first axial wall with opposite end portions of said second axial wall. 
   
   
       50 . The implant of  claim 46 , wherein said first axial wall portion defines a recessed region relative to said second axial wall portion when said implant body is in said initial configuration; and
 wherein said recessed region is outwardly expanded generally along said transverse axis as said implant body is transitioned from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration.   
   
   
       51 . The implant of  claim 46 , wherein said at least one of said axial walls includes a third axial wall portion laterally offset from said second axial wall portion with said first and third axial wall portions positioned on opposite sides of said second axial wall portion; and
 wherein said expansion member co-acts with each of said first and third wall portions to outwardly displace said first and third wall portions relative to said second wall portion generally along said transverse axis to transition said implant body from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration; and   wherein said second axial wall portion remains substantially stationary relative to said first and third axial wall portions as said implant body is transitioned from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration.   
   
   
       52 . The implant of  claim 46 , wherein said first axial wall portion includes a first outer surface that is inwardly recessed relative to a second outer surface of said second axial wall portion when said implant body is in said initial configuration. 
   
   
       53 . The implant of  claim 52 , wherein said first outer surface of said first axial wall portion is substantially aligned with said second outer surface of said second axial wall portion when said implant body is transitioned to said expanded configuration. 
   
   
       54 . The implant of  claim 52 , wherein said first axial wall portion includes a number of surface protrusions projecting outwardly from said first outer surface, at least a portion of said surface protrusions being inwardly recessed relative to said second outer surface of said second axial wall portion when said implant body is in said initial configuration. 
   
   
       55 . The implant of  claim 54 , wherein said surface protrusions are entirely inwardly recessed relative to said second outer surface of said second axial wall portion when said implant body is in said initial configuration. 
   
   
       56 . The implant of  claim 54 , wherein said surface protrusions are at least partially positioned outward of said second outer surface of said second axial wall portion when said implant body is transitioned to said expanded configuration. 
   
   
       57 . The implant of  claim 46 , wherein said first axial wall portion of said at least one of said axial walls is flexibly deformed during transitioning of said implant body to said expanded configuration to outwardly displace said first axial wall portion relative to said second axial wall portion generally along said transverse axis to transition said implant body from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration. 
   
   
       58 . An expandable spinal implant, comprising:
 an implant body having a longitudinal axis and being transitionable between an initial configuration and an expanded configuration, said implant body including an implant length extending between first and second ends and including first and second axial walls extending along said implant length and spaced apart along a transverse axis extending along a height of said implant body, at least one of said axial walls including first and second axial wall portions laterally offset from one another and extending continuously and substantially entirely along said implant length, said first axial wall portion defining a recessed region relative to said second axial wall portion when said implant body is in said initial configuration; and   an expansion member co-acting with said first wall portion to transition said implant body from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration wherein said recessed region is outwardly expanded generally along said transverse axis.   
   
   
       59 . The implant of  claim 58 , wherein said second axial wall portion remains substantially stationary relative to said first axial wall portion as said implant body is transitioned from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration. 
   
   
       60 . The implant of  claim 58 , wherein the first axial wall portion is positioned laterally adjacent said second axial wall portion. 
   
   
       61 . The implant of  claim 58 , wherein said implant body includes first and second transverse end walls interconnecting opposite end portions of said first axial wall with opposite end portions of said second axial wall, said recessed region extending along substantially an entire length of said at least one of said axial walls between said pair of opposite end portions. 
   
   
       62 . The implant of  claim 58 , wherein said recessed region defined by said first axial wall portion comprises a convex curvature extending outwardly along said transverse axis and along substantially an entire length of said at least one of said axial walls. 
   
   
       63 . The implant of  claim 58 , wherein said first axial wall portion includes a first outer surface that is inwardly positioned relative to a second outer surface of said second axial wall portion when said implant body is in said initial configuration to define said recessed region. 
   
   
       64 . The implant of  claim 63 , wherein said first axial wall portion includes a number of surface protrusions projecting outwardly from said first outer surface, at least a portion of said surface protrusions being inwardly recessed relative to said second outer surface of said second axial wall portion when said implant body is in said initial configuration. 
   
   
       65 . An expandable spinal implant, comprising:
 an implant body having a longitudinal axis and being transitionable between an initial configuration and an expanded configuration, said implant body including an implant length extending between first and second ends and including first and second axial walls extending along said implant length and spaced apart along a transverse axis extending along a height of said implant body, at least one of said axial walls including a movable wall portion and a substantially stationary wall portion laterally offset from one another and extending continuously and substantially entirely along said implant length; and   an expansion member co-acting with said movable wall portion to outwardly displace said movable wall portion relative to said stationary wall portion generally along said transverse axis to transition said implant body from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration.   
   
   
       66 . The implant of  claim 65 , wherein said movable wall portion defines a recessed region relative to said stationary wall portion when said implant body is in said initial configuration; and
 wherein said recessed region is outwardly expanded generally along said transverse axis as said implant body is transitioned from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration.   
   
   
       67 . The implant of  claim 65 , wherein the movable wall portion is positioned laterally adjacent said stationary wall portion. 
   
   
       68 . The implant of  claim 65 , wherein said at least one of said axial walls includes a pair of said movable wall portions positioned on opposite sides of said stationary wall portion; and
 wherein said expansion member co-acts with each of said movable wall portions to outwardly displace said movable wall portions relative to said stationary wall portion generally along said transverse axis to transition said implant body from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration.   
   
   
       69 . The implant of  claim 65 , wherein said movable wall portion includes a first outer surface that is inwardly recessed relative to a second outer surface of said stationary wall portion when said implant body is in said initial configuration. 
   
   
       70 . The implant of  claim 65 , wherein said movable wall portion is flexibly deformed during transitioning of said implant body to said expanded configuration to outwardly displace said movable wall portion relative to said stationary wall portion generally along said transverse axis to transition said implant body from said initial configuration to said expanded configuration.