Patent ID: 8142476
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An implant system for distracting first and second vertebrae of a spinal column segment, comprising: a first anchor engageable to the first vertebra; a second anchor engageable to the second vertebra; and a body including first and second ends attached to respective ones of said first and second anchors, wherein said body extends along a longitudinal axis from said first end to said second end, said body including a first portion extending between said first and second ends, wherein said first and second anchors are located on said longitudinal axis and extend from said first and second ends in a first direction from said longitudinal axis of said body and said first direction and said longitudinal axis define a plane extending into the first and second vertebrae with said first portion being offset laterally from said longitudinal axis and said plane to form a gap between said first and second ends, wherein said body is further comprised of a shape memory alloy between said first and second ends, said shape memory alloy having an initial configuration and an implantation configuration and said body is attached to said first and second anchors in said implantation configuration and said shape memory alloy is structured to reform toward said initial configuration to normally bias said first and second anchors away from one another while permitting motion of the spinal column segment when said first and second anchors are engaged to the first and second vertebrae.