Patent ID: 8043381

Claim:
An orthopedic system adapted for insertion between adjacent vertebrae in a spine, the system comprising: an annular member having a flexible wall surrounding an internal volume, the annular member having first and second ends and being adapted to expand when filled with a first filler material thereby forming an interior cavity; a coupler positioned between and spacing apart the first and second ends of the annular member, the coupler connecting the first and second ends of the annular member, the coupler comprising a rigid material, the coupler having a first access point, a second access point, a first coupler side hole, and an optional second coupler side hole adapted to removably receive one or more fill tubes that cooperate with the first and optional second coupler side holes to direct the first filler material into the internal volume and that cooperate to direct a second filler material into the interior cavity, wherein the coupler includes an annular flange; a member fill tube defining a first passage and adapted for removable cooperation with the coupler via the first access point, the member fill tube having a closed proximal end and one or more side holes adjacent the proximal end, the member fill tube configured such that when the member fill tube is inserted into the coupler, the closed proximal end abuts the annular flange and is prevented from extending through the second access point, and the one or more side holes of the member fill tube are in fluid communication with the internal volume via the first coupler side hole, and the optional second coupler side hole; and a cavity fill tube defining a second passage and adapted for removable cooperation with the coupler via the first access point and the second access point such that when the cavity fill tube is inserted into the coupler, an opening at a proximal end of the cavity fill tube is in fluid communication with the interior cavity via the second passage and the second access point, wherein the proximal end of the cavity fill tube is sized such that the annular flange on the coupler prevents the cavity fill tube from extending through the second access point.