| abstract |
The invention provides an implantable spinal distraction/fusion rod (310) with varied thread pitch (PD, PP) and diameters along different portions of its length that it is capable of distracting two or more vertebral bodies relative to each other and/or facilitating the procedure of fusing the vertebral bodies together from within the spine. In one embodiment, the rod (310) extends between a distal, leading end (312) and a proximal, trailing end (314) and comprises a proximal threaded section (320), a distal threaded section (322), and an intermediate section (336) that can be threaded or unthreaded. |