Patent ID: 8728160
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. Instrumentation for treatment of the spine, comprising: an elongate member extending along a longitudinal axis and including a deformable distal end portion having an expandable length along said longitudinal axis and defining an initial configuration for placement adjacent a spinal structure and a deformed configuration defining a plurality of transverse projections, wherein each of said transverse projections is offset from an adjacent one of said transverse projections along said longitudinal axis, said transverse projections being positioned axially adjacent one another to define an expanded height of said deformable distal end portion along said expandable length for transverse engagement with at least a portion of the spinal structure, wherein said deformable distal end portion is at least partially formed of a flexible material and said deformable distal end portion is reformed from said initial configuration toward said deformed configuration in response to the imposition of stress, and is reformed toward said initial configuration upon removal of said stress, and wherein between three and eight of said transverse projections define an expanded height of said deformable distal end portion extending entirely over said expandable length.