Patent ID: 9585766
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: A61F

Claim:
1. An expandable cage system for inserting an expandable cage into an intervertebral space comprising: a cage body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion comprising a substantially planar upper portion outer surface and an upper portion inner surface and the lower portion comprising a substantially planar lower portion outer surface and a lower portion inner surface, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion define an internal passage therebetween; and a monolithic elongate expander at least partially positioned therebetween the upper portion and the lower portion and in the internal passage, wherein the expander is configured to move proximally relative to the upper and lower portions from a first position to a second position, the expander comprising a distal nose portion to facilitate insertion into the intervertebral space, wherein in the first position, the expandable cage is unexpanded and the distal nose portion extends at least partially distally past a distal portion of the cage body, and wherein in the second position, the expandable cage is expanded, increasing the space between the upper portion outer surface and the lower portion outer surface, wherein the upper portion and lower portion are hingedly connected to one another at a hinge point to permit vertical movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion at the hinge point while also permitting the upper portion and the lower portion to rotate about the hinge point, thereby changing the angle of the upper portion relative to the lower portion; and an insertion tool configured to engage a proximal end of the expandable cage, insert it into a desired position in the intervertebral space, and move the expander from the first position to the second position.