Patent ID: 7892286
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A push-in orthopedic implant for linear insertion at least in part between two adjacent bone masses, said implant comprising: an upper member having an upper surface adapted for placement toward and into contact with one of the adjacent bone masses, said upper surface being non-arcuate along a substantial portion of the length of said implant, said upper surface having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent bone masses, said upper member having a proximal end and a distal end, and said upper member including a first track portion positioned adjacent one of said proximal and distal ends of said upper member; a lower member having a lower surface adapted for placement toward and into contact with the other of the adjacent bone masses, said lower surface being non-arcuate along a substantial portion of the length of said implant, said lower surface having at least one opening adapted to communicate with the other of the adjacent bone masses, said openings of said upper and lower surfaces being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent bone mass to adjacent bone mass through said implant, said lower member having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said proximal end and said distal end of said upper member, respectively, and said lower member including a second track portion positioned adjacent one of said proximal and distal ends of said lower member, the position of said second track portion corresponding to the position of said first track portion, said upper and lower members contacting and articulating therebetween adjacent one of said proximal ends and said distal ends of said upper and lower members and allowing for expansion of the height of said implant, said upper and lower members having a first position relative to one another allowing for a collapsed implant height and a second position relative to one another allowing for an increased height, and said upper and lower members adapted to interlock with one another to stop said upper and lower members from being moved apart from one another more than a predetermined distance; at least one blocker provided in said first and second track portions and positioned adjacent said one of said proximal and distal ends of said upper and lower members, said blocker adapted to cooperatively engage and hold at least a portion of said upper and lower members apart so as to maintain the increased height of said implant and resist the collapse of said implant to the collapsed implant height when said implant is in a final deployed position, said blocker being configured to rotate partially within said first and second track portions about an axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said implant and to remain in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis while transitioning said upper and lower members from said first position to said second position, said first and second track portions adapted to restrain movement of said blocker along the length of said implant; and a hollow defined between said upper and lower members from adjacent said proximal end to adjacent said distal end in communication with said openings in each of said upper and lower surfaces, said hollow being adapted to receive fusion-promoting substances, and said hollow being unobstructed by said blocker.