Expandable Bone Implant

Abstract

An expandable implant includes an implant body defining an internal void, the implant body including a plurality of interconnected linkages. A first plurality of the linkages has an expansion characteristic that is different from a second plurality of the linkages. An expandable bladder is sized to be disposed in the internal void. The bladder defines a bore configured to receive an expansion material, such that the expansion material applies an expansion force against the bladder, which thereby applies the expansion force against the implant body so as to cause the first linkage to expand greater than the second linkage. The expandable implant can be placed in a fracture location so as to restore height to a fractured target bone.

1 . An expandable implant configured to restore height to a fractured target bone, the expandable implant comprising:
 a body having a plurality of linkages connected so as to define at least one annular row, the linkages defining first and second opposed side portions connected by corresponding first and second end portions, the first and second side portions defining a distance therebetween, such that the distance increases from a first distance to a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance when the linkages are subjected to an expansion force that causes the body to expand to an expanded configuration from an insertion configuration,   wherein at least a first linkage of the plurality of linkages is sized different than at least a second linkage of the plurality of linkages such that the expansion force causes the first linkage to expand greater than the second linkage.