Laterally Deflectable Implant

Abstract

A laterally deflectable asymmetric implant for implanting into a body may comprise a deflectable piece having distal and proximal ends and assuming a straightened insertion state. The backbone may abut or interconnect with said deflectable piece at the distal end of the deflectable piece. In a fully deflected state the implant may define an asymmetric shape, e.g. a D-shaped loop, defining an at least partially enclosed volume. The deflectable piece may comprise a sequence of segments interconnected at effective hinges. Longitudinal pressure applied to the proximal end of the deflectable piece (or applied to the backbone in an opposite direction) may cause relative longitudinal movement between the backbone and the proximal end of the deflectable piece and may generate outward horizontal movement of the deflectable piece away from the backbone. In one embodiment, the implant is implanted using lateral access into an anterior zone of a vertebra and deployed posteriorly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for deploying an intervertebral implant in an intervertebral space between two vertebral endplates, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) employing an elongated implant holder to introduce at least part of the intervertebral implant into an anterior half of the intervertebral space via a lateral approach; and   (b) deploying at least part of the intervertebral implant in a posterior direction so as to provide support between the vertebral endplates in a posterior half of the intervertebral space.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of fastening together first and second portions of the intervertebral implant so as to form a final implant form, said final implant form providing support between the vertebral endplates in both the anterior and posterior halves of the intervertebral space. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant includes a rigid spacer substantially spanning a lateral dimension of the intervertebral space in the anterior half of the intervertebral space. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant includes at least one deflectable portion assuming a straightened configuration for introduction into the anterior half of the intervertebral space and deflectable to a deflected configuration so as to deploy in a posterior direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the deflectable portion includes a sequence of hingedly connected segments. 
     
     
         6 . A method for deploying an intervertebral implant in an intervertebral space between two vertebral endplates, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) employing an elongated implant holder to introduce at least part of the intervertebral implant into a posterior half of the intervertebral space via a lateral approach; and   (b) deploying at least part of the intervertebral implant in an anterior direction so as to provide support between the vertebral endplates in an anterior half of the intervertebral space.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of fastening together first and second portions of the intervertebral implant so as to form a final implant form, said final implant form providing support between the vertebral endplates in both the anterior and posterior halves of the intervertebral space. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the implant includes a rigid spacer substantially spanning a lateral dimension of the intervertebral space in the anterior half of the intervertebral space. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the implant includes at least one deflectable portion assuming a straightened configuration for introduction into the posterior half of the intervertebral space and deflectable to a deflected configuration so as to deploy in an anterior direction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the deflectable portion includes a sequence of hingedly connected segments. 
     
     
         11 . A method of implanting an implant into an intervertebral space, the intervertebral space including an axis extending anteriorally along the vertebral body from a central process associated with the vertebral body, the method comprising:
 (a) obtaining an implant comprising: a substantially linear major portion and a deflectable portion in communication with the major portion, the deflectable portion movable between a linear state in correspondence with the substantial linearity of the major portion, and a deflected state, out of the substantial linear correspondence with the major portion;   (b) inserting the implant into an anterior portion of the intervertebral space using lateral access substantially perpendicular to the axis while the implant including the deflectable portion is in a substantially linear state in the substantially linear state; and,   (c) moving the deflectable portion in a posterior direction as defined by the axis to the deflected state.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the intervertebral space includes four zones of substantially equivalent length in the anterior-posterior direction, such that Zone 1 is the anterior most Zone and Zone 4 is the posterior most Zone; and, the inserting the implant is performed at Zone 2. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the moving the deflectable portion includes moving the deflectable portion from Zone 2 into Zone 3. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein inserting the implant includes employing a removably attachable deployer member, the deployer member in communication with the implant during the insertion to Zone 2. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the deployer member is detached from the implant when the deflectable portion is in Zone 3. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the deployer member moves the deflectable portion into Zone 3 once the implant is in Zone 2.