Expandable and angularly adjustable intervertebral cages with articulating joint

Abstract

The embodiments provide various interbody fusion spacers, or cages, for insertion between adjacent vertebrae. The cages may contain an articulating joint to allow expansion and angular adjustment, and enable upper and lower plate components to move relative to one another. The cages may have a first, insertion configuration characterized by a reduced size at each of their insertion ends to facilitate insertion through a narrow access passage and into the intervertebral space. In their second, expanded configuration, the cages are able to maintain the proper disc height and stabilize the spine by restoring sagittal balance and alignment. The intervertebral cages are able to adjust the angle of lordosis, and can accommodate larger lodortic angles in their second, expanded configuration. Further, these cages may promote fusion to further enhance spine stability by immobilizing the adjacent vertebral bodies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expandable spinal implant, comprising:
 an upper plate component configured for placement against an endplate of a first vertebral body, and a lower plate component configured for placement against an endplate of a second, adjacent vertebral body, the upper and lower plate components being connected at an articulating joint; and   a blocking pin comprising a shaft and an enlarged head portion, the blocking pin being configured to effect angular adjustment of the expandable spinal implant as the pin is advanced toward an anterior end of the implant.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the spinal implant including the blocking pin is manufactured by an additive production technique. 
     
     
         3 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 2 , wherein the implant does not have any connection seams. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the blocking pin is manufactured to reside inside the upper and lower plate components of the expandable spinal implant. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the upper plate component comprises a pair of extended sidewalls, each plate having a groove on an interior surface, and the lower plate component comprises a housing having on both sides of its exterior surface a protrusion configured to be received within the groove of the upper plate component. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the articulating joint allows pivoting movement of the upper and lower plate components relative to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein either of the upper plate component or lower base components includes a flat surface for placement against the endplate of either of the first or second, adjacent vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         8 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the blocking pin locks the upper and lower plate components together at its anterior-most position. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower plate components are tapered at one of their free ends. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , further being configured as a PLIF cage. 
     
     
         11 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , further including a porous structure. 
     
     
         12 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 11 , wherein the porous structure comprises an engineered cellular structure. 
     
     
         13 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 11 , wherein the porous structure comprise a mesh-like structure. 
     
     
         14 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , further including an internal imaging marker. 
     
     
         15 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , having a first configuration wherein the plate components are angled toward one another at an anterior portion of the spinal implant. 
     
     
         16 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , having an intermediate configuration wherein the plate components are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , having a second configuration wherein the plates are locked together and are angled toward one another at a posterior portion of the spinal implant. 
     
     
         18 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 17 , wherein in the second configuration, the implant adjusts the angle of lordosis between the vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         19 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 17 , wherein in the second configuration, the sagittal balance and alignment of the spine is restored. 
     
     
         20 . The expandable spinal implant of  claim 1 , further including an instrument interface at a posterior end configured with a bayonet fitting.