Side pocket spinal fusion cage
OwnerSeth Neubardtinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spinal implant is provided including an upper surface, a lower surface, a front surface and a back surface, two side surfaces extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, the two side surfaces extending between the front surface and the back surface and an opening positioned closer to the back surface than the front surface. The opening is provided to contain graft material that spans between a cortical rim of the upper vertebral body and the cortical rim of the lower vertebral body. The method includes packing the opening with graft material, wherein the graft material spans between the decorticated cortical rim of the upper vertebral body and the decorticated cortical rim of the lower vertebral body.
Claims20
A spinal implant comprising:
- an upper surface, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is configured to contact an endplate of an upper vertebral body;
- a lower surface, wherein at least a portion of the lower surface is configured to contact an endplate of a lower vertebral body;
- a front end and a back end, wherein the front end is configured for insertion into a space between the upper vertebral body and the lower vertebral body;
- a first side extending between the upper surface and the lower surface;
- a second side extending between the upper surface and the lower surface;
- a first flange projecting from the first side;
- a second flange projecting from the second side;
- and
- a pocket located at the back end, wherein the pocket is partially enclosed by the first flange and the second flange, wherein the pocket is configured to contain graft material that spans between a cortical rim of the upper vertebral body and a cortical rim of the lower vertebral body.
A method of spinal fusion comprising:
- providing a spinal implant comprising:
- an upper surface, a lower surface, a front end, a back end, a first side, a second side, a first flange projecting from the first side, a second flange projecting from the second side, and a pocket located at the back end;
- inserting the spinal implant into a space between an upper vertebral body and a lower vertebral body, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface contacts an endplate of the upper vertebral body and at least a portion of the lower surface contacts an endplate of the lower vertebral body;
- and
- packing the pocket with graft material, wherein the graft material spans between a cortical rim of the upper vertebral body and a cortical rim of the lower vertebral body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.