| abstract |
An apparatus and method for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting two tissue surfaces. A plurality of wafers (198, 200, 202) are consecutively inserted between the two tissue surfaces to create a column (192) of wafers. The column of wafers (192) is oriented between the tissue surfaces so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers (198, 200, 202) are consecutively added to the column (192). The apparatus is particularly suited for vertebral (60) compression fractures. |