Expandable Vertebral Body Implants and Methods of Use

Abstract

A vertebral implant for insertion into a patient includes first and second end members and a spacer member. The end members and the spacer member form an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis. At least one of the end members may include a recess that receives the spacer member. At least one attachment member is coupled to each of the end members. The attachment member is positioned away from the recesses.

1 . A vertebral implant for insertion between vertebral bodies in a patient, the vertebral implant comprising:
 a spacer member;   first and second end members positioned on opposing sides of the spacer member, each end member including a bone contact surface to contact one of the vertebral bodies, an opposing surface, and a perimeter surface extending between the bone contact surface and the opposing surface, the end members further comprising overlapping first and second recesses that each extend inward from the perimeter surface and the opposing surface and are bounded by sidewalls formed by the end members;   at least one attachment member coupled to each of the first and second end members and being spaced away from the first and second recesses and the spacer member;   the implant including a longitudinal axis that extends through the spacer member and the first and second recesses of each of the end members, the second recesses including a greater width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis than the first recesses with the second recesses extending outward beyond the first recesses in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,   the at least one attachment member positioned away from the longitudinal axis a greater distance than the sidewalls of the first and second recesses.   
     
     
         2 . The vertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment member includes a first attachment member attached to the first and second end members on a first side of the spacer member and a second attachment member attached to the first and second end members on an opposing second side of the spacer member. 
     
     
         3 . The vertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment member is attached to the opposing surfaces of each of the first and second end members. 
     
     
         4 . The vertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment member is attached to the perimeter surfaces of each of the first and second end members. 
     
     
         5 . The vertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment member includes a telescoping structure with a first arm movably positioned within an interior of a second arm. 
     
     
         6 . The vertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment member is rigid. 
     
     
         7 . The vertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment member includes an axis that is parallel with the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . A vertebral implant for insertion between vertebral bodies in a patient, the vertebral implant comprising:
 a spacer member with a first end and a second end;   a first end member positioned on the first end of the spacer member;   a second end member positioned on the second end of the spacer member with a longitudinal axis extending through the spacer member, the first end member, and the second end member;   the second end member including an inner surface that faces towards the first end member with a recess extending into the inner surface and having a bottom surface opposite from the inner surface that contacts against the second end of the spacer member, the recess having sidewalls that extend between the bottom surface and the inner surface, the recess having a width measured between the sidewalls and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is greater at the inner surface than at the bottom surface;   a first attachment member with a first end attached to the first end member and a second end attached to the second end member to couple together the first and second end members, the first attachment member positioned a greater distance from the longitudinal axis than the sidewalls of the recess.   
     
     
         9 . The vertebral implant of  claim 8 , wherein the second end of the first attachment member is attached to the inner surface of the second end member. 
     
     
         10 . The vertebral implant of  claim 8 , wherein the second end of the first attachment member is attached to a perimeter of the second end member that is formed between the inner surface and an opposing outer surface configured to contact against one of the vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         11 . The vertebral implant of  claim 8 , wherein the first end member includes a recess with a bottom surface that contacts against the first end of the spacer member. 
     
     
         12 . The vertebral implant of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the first attachment member is positioned a greater distance from the longitudinal axis than the recess of the first end member. 
     
     
         13 . The vertebral implant of  claim 8 , wherein the second end member includes an outer surface that opposes the inner surface and a perimeter surface that extends between the outer and inner surfaces, the recess extending inward from the perimeter surface. 
     
     
         14 . The vertebral implant of  claim 8 , further comprising a second attachment member attached to each of the first and second end members to couple together the first and second end members, the first second member positioned a greater distance from the longitudinal axis than the sidewalls of the recess. 
     
     
         15 . The vertebral implant of  claim 8 , wherein the recess includes a ledge positioned between the bottom surface and the inner surface with the ledge and the bottom surface being substantially parallel. 
     
     
         16 . A vertebral implant for insertion between vertebral bodies in a patient, the vertebral implant comprising:
 a spacer member with a first end and a second end;   a first end member positioned on the first end of the spacer member;   a second end member positioned on the second end of the spacer member with a longitudinal axis extending through the spacer member, the first end member, and the second end member;   first and second attachment members that couple together the first and second end members, each of the first and second attachment members having a first end attached to the first end member and a second end attached to the second end member;   each of the first and second end members including an inner surface that faces inward, an outer surface that faces outward to contact against one of the vertebral bodies, and a perimeter that extends between the inner and outer surfaces;   each of the first and second end members further including a recess extending into the inner surface and the perimeter and having a bottom surface opposite from the inner surface that contacts against the spacer member, the recess having sidewalls that extend between the bottom surface and the inner surface, the recess having a width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is greater at the inner surface than at the bottom surface;   each of the first and second attachment members being positioned away from the longitudinal axis, the spacer member, and the recesses.   
     
     
         17 . The vertebral implant of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second attachment members include a telescoping arrangement with an inner section that slides within an outer section. 
     
     
         18 . The vertebral implant of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second attachment members are substantially straight and parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The vertebral implant of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second attachment members are positioned on opposing sides of the spacer member. 
     
     
         20 . The vertebral implant of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second attachment members include a fixed length to limit a distance between the first and second end members.