Expandable Implant

Abstract

An expandable implant system is disclosed in which the system comprises an implant with: (1) top and bottom plates, (2) ramp surfaces formed on inner surfaces of the plates, and (3) an expansion member situated between the plates. An actuator also forms part of the system, the actuator being removable from between the top and bottom plates after implantation of the implant. The expansion member has a set of angled surfaces for mating with the ramp surfaces of the plates and, upon movement of the expansion member along a longitudinal axis of the implant, the top and bottom plates expand from a first dimension to a second greater dimension. The top and bottom plates are also securable at varying angles to one another depending on the amount of movement of the expansion member along the ramp surfaces.

1 . An expandable implant system comprising:
 an implant with top and bottom plates each having a bone-contacting surface and an opposing inner surface, the inner surface of each of the top and bottom plates including a ramp surface;   an actuator situated between the inner surfaces of the top and bottom plates, the actuator being removable from between the top and bottom plates after implantation of the implant; and   an expansion member removably engageable with the actuator and located between the inner surfaces of the top and bottom plates, the expansion member having angled surfaces mating with the ramp surfaces of the top and bottom plates so that, upon actuation of the actuator, the expansion member moves along a longitudinal axis of the implant to expand the top and bottom plates from a first dimension to a second greater dimension, wherein the top and bottom plates are arranged at varying angles to one another depending on the amount of movement of the expansion member along the ramp surfaces, the angle between the top and bottom plates accommodating the natural lordosis between adjacent vertebral bodies,   and wherein the expansion member is tethered to at least one of the top and bottom plates by a deformable member extending from the at least one of the top and bottom plates.