Spine surgery device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device intended to replace or partially replace one or more vertebral bodies or intervertebral discs in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine, and includes methods for its use and deployment. The invention may be used to restore biomechanical parameters correlating with improved patient outcomes and also involves a method for a more effective discectomy or corpectomy prior to graft deployment.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 inserting a device into an intervertebral space, the device including a first element having a top surface and a bottom surface, a second element having a top surface and a bottom surface, a bridging structure in mechanical communication with both the first element and the second element, and an expander connected to the first element;   actuating the bridging structure to separate the first element and the second element from one another in the anterior-posterior direction in the spine; and   actuating the expander to increase a height of the fist element in the rostralcaudal direction to achieve lordosis without increasing a height of the second element in the rostralcaudal direction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the first element and the second element of the device include a surface treatment to reduce migration of the first element after insertion of the first element into the intervertebral space. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting a bridging tool with the device to actuate the bridging structure to expand the device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting an expander tool with the expander of the device to increase the height of the first element in the rostralcaudal direction to achieve lordosis. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting a distractor tool having a handle into the intervertebral space and inserting the device into the intervertebral space through the handle of the distractor tool. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising expanding an expansion mechanism attached to the handle of the distractor tool in both the anterior-posterior direction and the rostralcaudal direction within an intervertebral space. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the expansion mechanism of the distractor tool includes a first pair of blades to controllably expand or retract in the anteriorposterior direction, and a second set of blades to controllably expand or retract in the rostral-caudal direction. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first element;   a second element;   a first bridging structure in mechanical communication with both the first element and the second element, wherein upon actuation of the bridging structure, the first element and the second element move in relation to each other along a linear dimension, angular dimension, or rotational dimension; and   at least one expander associated with the first and second elements, wherein upon actuation of the expander, a height of a first element changes in any direction without changing a height of the second element.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a second bridging structure in mechanical communication with both the first element and the second element, wherein upon actuation of the first and second bridging structures, the first element and the second element separate from one another. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second elements include a surface treatment. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the surface treatment includes teeth, an adhesive or spikes to promote bony integration and prevents device migration.