The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
May. 16, 2001
Mingyan Liu, Bourg-la-Reine, FR;
Loic Josse, Montargis, FR;
Sofamor S.N.C., Roissy CDG Cedex, FR;
Abstract
An expandable interbody fusion device in one embodiment includes a cylindrical body ( ) defining a hollow interior ( ) for receiving bone graft or bone substitute material. The body ( ) is divided into a number of branches ( and ) connected to one another at a fixed end ( ) and separated at an expandable end ( ). The expandable cage may be inserted in its substantially cylindrical form and may be expanded by movement of an expansion member ( ) to establish lordosis of the spine. The present invention provides an expansion member ( ) that interacts with the interior surfaces of the device to maintain the cage in the expanded condition and provide a large internal chamber ( ) for receiving bone in-growth material. Methods for insertion of the fusion device are also disclosed.