Patent ID: 7666226

Claim:
An intravertebral implant system insertable into a human vertebral body having an interior region defined by a superior endplate, an inferior endplate and a cortical rim, the implant system comprising: at least one elongated guide member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said distal end portion changeable in configuration between a pre-deployed configuration and a deployed configuration, in the pre-deployed configuration said distal end portion being sized for insertion into the vertebral body, and in the deployed configuration said distal end portion defining a pre-determined shape that is sufficiently small to reside within the interior region of the vertebral body; and an elongated intravertebral implant having opposed proximal and distal ends and a plurality of slots spaced apart along the intravertebral implant, the intravertebral implant including an opening at each end, a guide lumen extending between said end openings, the guide lumen slidably receiving the guide member therethrough so that the intravertebral implant may be longitudinally slidable on the guide member for advancing the intravertebral implant distally along the guide member for insertion into the vertebral body; and when advanced along the distal end portion of the guide member said intravertebral implant substantially conforming to the pre-determined shape defined by the distal end portion of the guide member to form a vertically extending support structure that has a transverse dimension sufficiently small to reside within the interior region of the vertebral body, and a vertical extent sufficient to separate, support or both separate and support the superior and inferior endplates.