Patent ID: 7819921

Claim:
A method for correcting spinal deformities using a linearly expanding spine cage (LEC), being linear in one plane and either parallel and oblong or trapezoidal in another, the LEC comprising two halves joined in an unexpanded state along a common longitudinal axis to form a cylinder having a diameter equal to an insertion bore cut in adjacent vertebral bodies, the LEC including a wedge for expanding the LEC halves linearly and vertically at a desired angle with respect to a spinal column comprising: determining a desired change in height and angle of alignment in any of three dimensions of a first and second adjacent vertebral body; selecting one or more expansion wedges, each wedge comprising angled sides joined by a base wherein the sides of the selected wedge are characterized by an appropriate angle for achieving the desired correction; cutting one or more insertion bores through adjacent vertebral bodies such that each bore extends transversely with respect to the spine; inserting the LEC with corresponding selected expansion wedge into the one or more bores such that each half of the LEC conformably engages a corresponding half of the bore in the adjacent vertebral bodies; and advancing the expansion wedge into the LEC to impart desired vertical height and angle of correction while maintaining fixed conformable engagement between each LEC half and corresponding vertebral body.