Patent ID: 8236058
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An implant comprising: a first member comprising first and second beams; a first post connecting a first end of the first beam of the first member to a first end of the second beam of the first member; a second post connecting a second end of the first beam of the first member to a second end of the second beam of the first member; wherein the first and second posts are the only connections between the first beam of the first member and the second beam of the first member; a second member comprising first and second beams; a third post connecting a first end of the first beam of the second member to a first end of the second beam of the second member; a fourth post connecting a second end of the first beam of the second member to a second end of the second beam of the second member; wherein the third and fourth posts are the only connections between the first beam the second member and the second beam of the second member; wherein the first beam of the first member is pivotally connected to the first beam of the second member and the second beam of the first member is pivotally connected to the second beam of the second member; wherein the first and second members have a first contact surface adapted to contact the endplate of a first vertebral body and a second contact surface adapted to contact the endplate of a second vertebral body adjacent the first vertebral body; wherein the implant is selectively deployable, when positioned within an intradiscal space between the first and second vertebral bodies, from a first non-expanded condition where the first contact surface has a first effective footprint area A wherein the distance between the first and second contact surfaces when the implant is in the first non-expanded condition is substantially equal to the distance between the first and second contact surfaces when the implant is in the second expanded condition.