Expandable intervertebral fusion implant

Abstract

An expandable intervertebral fusion implant, including an inferior component, including a first top surface, a first bottom surface, a first end including a first worm rotatably arranged therein, the first worm including a through-hole operatively arranged to allow material to be injected therethrough and into a central hole of expandable intervertebral fusion implant, and a second end including a second worm rotatably arranged therein, a superior component, including a second top surface, a second bottom surface, a third end, and a fourth end, and a first expansion mechanism including a first screw, the first screw including a first bottom end connected to the inferior component and a first top end connected to the superior component, wherein as the first worm is rotated in a first circumferential direction, the first screw rotates in a second circumferential direction and the superior component is displaced relative to the inferior component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expandable intervertebral fusion implant, comprising:
 an inferior component, including:
 a first top surface; 
 a first bottom surface; 
 a first end including a first worm rotatably arranged therein, the first worm comprising a through-hole operatively arranged to allow material to be injected therethrough and into a central hole of expandable intervertebral fusion implant; and 
 a second end including a second worm rotatably arranged therein; 
   a superior component, including:
 a second top surface; 
 a second bottom surface; 
 a third end; and 
 a fourth end; and 
   a first expansion mechanism including a first screw, the first screw comprising a first bottom end connected to the inferior component and a first top end connected to the superior component;   wherein as the first worm is rotated in a first circumferential direction, the first screw rotates in a second circumferential direction and the superior component is displaced relative to the inferior component.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first worm comprises a radially outward facing surface comprising threading; and   the first expansion mechanism further comprises a first bevel gear engaged with the threading.   
     
     
         3 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first expansion mechanism further comprises a first sleeve threadably engaged with the first worm. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 3 , wherein as the first screw rotates in the second circumferential direction, the first sleeve displaces away from the inferior component. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the first sleeve is pivotably connected to the superior component. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the superior component further comprises a frusto-conical hole extending from the second bottom surface; and   the first sleeve engages the frusto-conical hole.   
     
     
         7 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second worm is spaced apart from the first worm. 
     
     
         8 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the central hole axially separates the second worm from the first worm. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first bottom surface is arranged to engage a first vertebra of a spine; and   the second top surface is arranged to engage a second vertebra of a spine.   
     
     
         10 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second expansion mechanism including a second screw, the second screw comprising a second bottom end connected to the inferior component and a second top end connected to the superior component. 
     
     
         11 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 10 , wherein as the second worm is rotated in the first circumferential direction, the second screw rotates in the second circumferential direction and the superior component is displaced relative to the inferior component. 
     
     
         12 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first worm and the second worm are concentrically aligned. 
     
     
         13 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a section extending from one of the inferior component and the superior component and a groove arranged in the other of the inferior component and the superior component, the section being engaged with the groove. 
     
     
         14 . An expandable intervertebral fusion implant, comprising:
 an inferior component, including:
 a first top surface; 
 a first bottom surface; 
 a first end including a first worm rotatably arranged therein, the first worm comprising a through-hole forming a passageway for material to be injected into a central hole of the expandable intervertebral fusion implant; and 
 a second end including a second worm rotatably arranged therein, wherein the central hole axially separates the second worm from the first worm; 
   a superior component, including:
 a second top surface; 
 a second bottom surface; 
 a third end; and 
 a fourth end; and 
   a first expansion mechanism including a first screw, the first screw comprising a first bottom end connected to the inferior component and a first top end connected to the superior component;   wherein as the first worm is rotated in a first circumferential direction, the first screw rotates in a second circumferential direction and the superior component is displaced relative to the inferior component.   
     
     
         15 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 13 , wherein both the first worm and the second worm are operatively arranged to be rotated from the first end. 
     
     
         16 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first worm comprises a radially outward facing surface comprising threading; and   the first expansion mechanism further comprises a first bevel gear arranged at the first bottom end engaged with the threading.   
     
     
         17 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first expansion mechanism further comprises a first sleeve threadably engaged with the first worm; and   as the first screw rotates in the second circumferential direction, the first sleeve displaces away from the inferior component.   
     
     
         18 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the first top end is pivotably connected to the superior component. 
     
     
         19 . The expandable intervertebral fusion implant as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the first worm and the second worm are unconnected within the central hole. 
     
     
         20 . An expandable intervertebral fusion implant, comprising:
 an inferior component, including a first top surface and a first bottom surface;   a superior component, including a second top surface and a second bottom surface;   a first end;   a second end;   a central hole extending from the second top surface to the first bottom surface, the central hole arranged between the first end and the second end;   a first worm rotatably arranged in the first end and including a through-hole operatively arranged to allow material to be injected into the central hole of the expandable intervertebral fusion implant; and   a second worm rotatably arranged in the second end;   wherein at least one of the first worm and the second worm is engaged with an expansion mechanism to displace the superior component with respect to the inferior component.