Patent ID: 8002831

Claim:
A modular lateral expansion device to be inserted into a vertebral body, said modular lateral expansion device comprising a pair of complementary lateral members, wherein each lateral member comprises: a first end portion; a second end portion positioned opposite to said first end portion and having a hole; a first lateral portion attached to each of said first end portion and said second end portion and having a plurality of cuts; a second lateral portion positioned opposite to said first lateral portion and attached to each of said first end portion and said second end portion and having a first slot positioned at an edge of said second lateral portion and a second slot positioned in a substantially central area of said second lateral portion; a top wall attached to each of said first end portion, said second end portion, and said pair of lateral portions and having a top ridge and a top contour surface, wherein said top ridge is inwardly angled to form a first outwardly facing trapezoidal cutout shape into said second lateral portion; a bottom wall positioned opposite to said top wall and attached to each of said first end portion, said second end portion, and said pair of lateral portions and having a bottom ridge and a bottom contour surface, wherein said bottom ridge is inwardly angled to form a second outwardly facing trapezoidal cutout shape into said second lateral portion, and wherein said top ridge and said bottom ridge flank said second slot; and a cavity configured through said top wall and said bottom wall and having a plurality of ribs, wherein said ribs are positioned opposite to said first slot and said second slot; wherein said lateral member further comprises a plurality of holes and a plurality of pins positioned on said second lateral portion such that each hole is positioned on opposite diagonal corners of said second lateral portion, and each pin is positioned on opposite diagonal corners of said second lateral portion.