Intervertebral implant and device for inserting an intervertebral implant

A system comprising an intervertebral implant and a device to insert the intervertebral implant into a body, the intervertebral implant comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the intervertebral implant having a hollow space having a spherical segment shape formed within the intervertebral implant and accessible through an elongate opening extending through the side wall at an end of the intervertebral implant, the intervertebral implant further comprising at least two guiding surfaces extending along the end of the intervertebral implant in an arc-shaped manner and facing one another, wherein the device comprises:

• a drive shaft including an engagement portion configured to engage the intervertebral implant in the hollow space;
• and
• a sleeve movably holding and guiding the drive shaft and having a longitudinal axis, wherein the sleeve comprises an engagement structures;
• wherein when the engagement portion of the drive shaft is received in the hollow space through the elongate opening and rotated by an angle about the longitudinal axis such that the engagement portion is supported in the hollow space, the engagement structure of the sleeve is configured to engage and slide laterally along the arc-shape of the at least two guiding surfaces, while being shaped to prevent rotation of the sleeve relative to the at least two guiding surfaces about the longitudinal axis.

A system comprising an intervertebral implant and a device to insert the intervertebral implant into a body, the intervertebral implant comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the intervertebral implant having a hollow space having a spherical segment shape formed within the intervertebral implant and accessible through an elongate opening extending through the side wall, a recessed portion of the side wall being defined by wall portions extending inwardly from an outer contour of the intervertebral implant to the hollow space, the elongate opening extending between the wall portions, the intervertebral implant further comprising at least two guiding surfaces extending along an end of the intervertebral implant in an arc-shaped manner and facing one another such that the elongate opening extends therebetween, wherein the device comprises:

• a drive shaft including an engagement portion configured to engage the intervertebral implant in the hollow space;
• and
• a sleeve movably holding and guiding the drive shaft and having a longitudinal axis, wherein the sleeve comprises an engagement structures;
• wherein when the engagement portion of the drive shaft is received in the hollow space through the elongate opening and rotated by an angle about the longitudinal axis such that the engagement portion is supported in the hollow space, the engagement structure of the sleeve is configured to engage and slide laterally along the arc-shape of the at least two guiding surfaces, while being shaped to prevent rotation of the sleeve relative to the at least two guiding surfaces about the longitudinal axis.

A method of inserting an intervertebral implant into a body using a device, the intervertebral implant comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the intervertebral implant having a hollow space having a spherical segment shape formed within the intervertebral implant and accessible through an elongate opening extending through the side wall at an end of the intervertebral implant, the intervertebral implant further comprising at least two guiding surfaces extending along the end of the intervertebral implant in an arc-shaped manner and facing one another, the device comprising a drive shaft including an engagement portion configured to engage the intervertebral implant in the hollow space, and a sleeve movably holding and guiding the drive shaft and having a longitudinal axis, the sleeve comprising an engagement structure, the method comprising:

• inserting the engagement portion of the drive shaft through the elongate opening into the hollow space;
• and
• rotating the engagement portion by an angle about the longitudinal axis such that the engagement portion is supported in the hollow space, while the engagement structure of the sleeve engages and is configured to slide laterally along the arc-shape of the at least two guiding surfaces, while being shaped to prevent rotation of the sleeve relative to the at least two guiding surfaces about the longitudinal axis.