| abstract |
A flexible chain implant (10, 1000, 1100) for insertion into an interior volume of a vertebral body (602). The implant may be implanted in an insertion position for sliding through a cannula (1200, 606) and is flexible for packing into the interior volume in an implanted configuration. The implant randomly separates in the implanted configuration. The implant includes a top member (20) and a bottom member (30), wherein the top and bottom members are coupled to one another at a coupled portion (50). The top and bottom members preferably each include an inner surface such that the inner surfaces include a plurality of alternating projections (40, 42) and recesses (45, 47) so that the projections are received within the recesses in an insertion position. Alternatively, the implant may include a plurality of substantially non- flexible bodies (1010, 1110) and a plurality of substantially flexible links (1020, 1120) interconnecting the bodies. The non-flexible bodies include a plurality of facets (1030) and/or abutment surfaces (1118). |