Patent ID: 8048081
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A distraction system for distracting a superior vertebral body adjacent an inferior vertebral body comprising: a) an introducer comprising a proximal insertion portion and a distal anchoring portion comprising a plurality of barbs structurally configured to penetrate and anchor the distal anchoring portion to at least one of the superior and inferior vertebral bodies; and b) a plurality of independent, physically separable from each other, and deformable, spacing components; where each spacing component has a central opening and a plurality of extensions, the central opening extending completely through each spacing component; and where each spacing component is configured to independently stack onto the insertion portion of the introducer by the insertion portion being inserted through the central opening of each spacing component, the spacing components having an upper radially convex surface and lower radially concave surface, each radially convex surface having a contour matching and shaped to receive the radially convex surface of an adjacent, independent spacing component.