Patent ID: 8425608

Claim:
An expandable medical implant for supporting bone structures, the implant comprising: an outer member having a first side and an opposing second side extending along a mid-line, the first side having a first curvature along the mid-line and the second side having a second curvature along the mid-line, the first side being longer than the second side, the outer member having a first height; an inner member having a third side and an opposing fourth side, the third side having a third curvature and the fourth side having a fourth curvature, the third side being longer than the fourth side, the inner member having a second height, the inner member being receivable in the outer member and movable relative to the outer member along an arc bounded by the first curvature and the second curvature of the outer member thereby increasing or decreasing an overall height of the implant defined by the outer member's first height and a portion of the inner member's second height; wherein the outer member includes a tapered surface and the inner member includes a roughened locking surface including a series of roughening scallops; and a locker member disposed between the inner member and the outer member such that the roughened locking surface is spaced apart from an inner surface of the outer member, the locker member including a receiving aperture containing a locking element being disposed between the tapered surface and the roughened locking surface that is movable between a locked position engaging the tapered surface and one of the roughening scallops to inhibit a decrease in the overall height of the implant and an unlocked position permitting at least an increase in the overall height of the implant.