Patent ID: 9622878
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: A61F

Claim:
1. An expandable medical implant comprising: an implantable cage body having a proximal end and a distal end each provided with a tapered portion, the cage body further having a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the cage body; at least one proximal flexure at least partially located adjacent to the proximal end of the cage body and configured to allow a circumference of the distal end of the cage body to resiliently expand; at least one distal flexure at least partially located adjacent to the distal end of the cage body and configured to allow a circumference of the proximal end of the cage body to resiliently expand; a proximal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the proximal end of the cage body, the proximal plug member being configured to move longitudinally relative to the cage body from a first position to a second position such that the at least one distal flexure moves and the circumference of the proximal end of the cage body resiliently expands, and from the second position to the first position such that the circumference of the proximal end resiliently contracts; a distal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the distal end of the cage body, the distal plug member being configured to move longitudinally relative to the cage body from a third position to a fourth position such that the at least one proximal flexure moves and the circumference of the distal end of the cage body resiliently expands, and from the fourth position to the third position such that the circumference of the distal end resiliently contracts; a first adjustment member coupled to at least the proximal plug member such that when the first adjustment member is rotated, the proximal plug member is caused to move longitudinally; and a second adjustment member coupled to the distal plug member such that when the second adjustment member is rotated, the distal plug member is caused to move longitudinally, thereby allowing the proximal and the distal ends of the cage body to be expanded and contracted independent from one another, wherein the first and the second adjustment members are coaxially nested one within the other and independently rotatable.