Patent ID: 9585767
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: A61F

Claim:
1. An expandable cage for insertion into an intervertebral space, comprising: a cage body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a an upper bone contact surface and an upper portion lower surface, the lower portion having a lower bone contact surface and a lower portion upper surface, wherein the upper portion and lower portion are connected; a one-piece elongate expander positioned substantially therebetween the upper portion lower surface and the lower portion upper surface, the elongate expander defining a tapered distal end tapering from a proximal portion to the distal end and extending at least partially beyond a distal end of the cage body when the expandable cage is in an unexpanded position, wherein the tapered distal end is a leading end, wherein the elongate expander comprises a feature for receipt of a means for actuating longitudinal translation of the elongate expander, and wherein the elongate expander has a length that is at least 50% the length of the cage body and wherein translation of the elongate expander proximally expands the cage body by separating at least a portion of the upper portion from at least a portion of the lower portion.