Expandable implant assembly

Abstract

An expandable implant including a base member including a top surface, a first end, and a second end, and defining a central cavity positioned between the first end and the second end. The expandable implant further including an adjustable member including a top surface and at least one control channel, wherein the adjustable member is adjustably coupled to the base member and movable between a first, collapsed position, and a second, expanded position, a control shaft received by the base member, wherein manipulation of the control shaft causes relative movement of the adjustable member relative to the base member, and at least one control member coupled to the control shaft and received by the control channel, wherein manipulation of the control shaft causes the control member to translate along the control channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expandable implant, comprising:
 a base member comprising a bottom surface and defining a central cavity;   an adjustable member comprising a top surface, a first end, and a second end, wherein the adjustable member is adjustably coupled to the base member and movable relative to the base member between a first, collapsed position, and a second, expanded position;   a control shaft operatively coupled to the base member; and   a control member coupled to the control shaft;   wherein manipulation of the control shaft causes:
 the control member to translate along the control shaft; and 
 the adjustable member to move relative to the base member, wherein the second end of the adjustable member is configured to move at a non-constant rate relative to the base member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The expandable implant of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable member comprises a control channel, and wherein the control member is received in the control channel. 
     
     
         3 . The expandable implant of  claim 2 , wherein the control channel comprises a first control channel and a second control channel, and wherein the control member comprises a first control member received in the first control channel and a second control member received in the second control channel. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable implant of  claim 3 , wherein the first control member and the second control member are at least partially rectangular and include a flat portion configured to engage a corresponding flat portion on the adjustable member to prevent rotation of the first control member within the first control channel and the second control member within the second control channel. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable implant of  claim 3 , wherein manipulation of the control shaft comprises a rotation, and wherein the rotation causes the first and second control members to translate in opposite directions along the control shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable implant of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable member is movable along a first direction and wherein the control member and the control shaft are fixed relative to the base member along the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The expandable implant of  claim 1 , wherein the control member is configured to provide a first force to the adjustable member to move the adjustable member toward the expanded position and provide a second force to the adjustable member to move the adjustable member toward the collapsed position. 
     
     
         8 . An expandable implant, comprising:
 a base member;   an adjustable member coupled to the base member and movable relative to the base member along at least a first direction between a collapsed position and an expanded position;   a control shaft at least partially disposed between the base member and the adjustable member, wherein manipulation of the control shaft causes the adjustable member to move relative to the base member between the collapsed position and the expanded position; and   a control member coupled to the control shaft and configured to provide a first force to the adjustable member to move the adjustable member toward the expanded position and provide a second force to the adjustable member to move the adjustable member toward the collapsed position;   wherein the control shaft and the control member are fixed relative to the base member along the first direction.   
     
     
         9 . The expandable implant of  claim 8 , wherein the base member comprises a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, and wherein the first side and the second side are curved between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable implant of  claim 8 , wherein the adjustable member comprises a control channel, wherein the control member is received within the control channel. 
     
     
         11 . The expandable implant of  claim 10 , wherein the control channel comprises a first control channel and a second control channel, and wherein the control member comprises a first control member received in the first control channel and a second control member received in the second control channel. 
     
     
         12 . The expandable implant of  claim 11 , wherein the first control member and the second control member are threadingly received on the control shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The expandable implant of  claim 8 , wherein the base member defines an overall length of the expandable implant in the collapsed position and in the expanded position. 
     
     
         14 . The expandable implant of  claim 8 , wherein one end of the adjustable member is configured to move at a non-constant rate relative to the base member upon manipulation of the control member. 
     
     
         15 . An expandable implant, comprising:
 a base member comprising a bottom surface, a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first side and the second side are curved between the first end and the second end;   an adjustable member coupled to the base member and comprising a top surface, a third side, a fourth side, a third end, and a fourth end, wherein the third side and the fourth side are curved between the third end and the fourth end, and wherein the adjustable member is movable relative to the base member along a first direction between a collapsed position and an expanded position; and   a control shaft rotatable relative to the base member, wherein rotation of the control shaft causes the adjustable member to move between the collapsed position and the expanded position;   wherein a first implant side extending along the first and third side has a first height between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a second implant side extending along the second and fourth side has a second height between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the second height is different from the first height.   
     
     
         16 . The expandable implant of  claim 15 , further comprising a control member, wherein the adjustable member further comprises a control channel, and wherein the control member is received on the control shaft and by the control channel. 
     
     
         17 . The expandable implant of  claim 16 , wherein the control channel comprises a first control channel and a second control channel, and wherein the control member includes a first control member received in the first control channel and a second control member received in the second control channel. 
     
     
         18 . The expandable implant of  claim 17 , wherein the first control member and the second control member are at least partially rectangular and include a flat portion configured to engage a corresponding flat portion on the adjustable member to prevent rotation of the first control member within the first control channel and the second control member within the second control channel. 
     
     
         19 . The expandable implant of  claim 16 , wherein the control member is configured to provide a first force to the adjustable member to move the adjustable member toward the expanded position and provide a second force to the adjustable member to move the adjustable member toward the collapsed position. 
     
     
         20 . The expandable implant of  claim 16 , wherein the control member and the control shaft are fixed relative to the base member along the first direction.