Bladed spinal fusion implants

A fusion implant with a cephalad anchor blade and a caudal anchor blade held within the fusion implant in a delivery position before removal from sterilized packaging, the fusion implant comprising:

• an implant body;
• the cephalad anchor blade for extending into a cephalad vertebra after the fusion implant is delivered between the cephalad vertebra and a caudal vertebra;
• the caudal anchor blade for extending into the caudal vertebra after the fusion implant is delivered between the cephalad vertebra and the caudal vertebra;
• the cephalad anchor blade having a cephalad proximal end comprising:
• a cephalad lock plane for use in locking the cephalad anchor blade in a deployed position;
• a cephalad stop plane facing distally which prevents the cephalad proximal end from traveling beyond a proximal face of the implant body into an interior of the implant body;
• the caudal anchor blade having a caudal proximal end comprising:
• a caudal lock plane for use in locking the caudal anchor blade in a deployed position;
• and
• a caudal stop plane facing distally which prevents the caudal proximal end of the caudal anchor blade from traveling beyond the proximal face of the implant body into the interior of the implant body;
• a set of at least one locking cam rotatably engaged with the implant body;
• each of the set of at least one locking cam having a delivery position wherein each the set of at least one locking cam does not limit:
• movement of the cephalad anchor blade;
• or
• movement of the caudal anchor blade;
• and
• each of the set of at least one locking cam also having a locking position wherein:
• the cephalad anchor blade that is in the deployed position cannot move the cephalad proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face of the implant body;
• and
• the caudal anchor blade that is in the deployed position cannot move the caudal proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face of the implant body.

A fusion implant comprising:

• an implant body;
• a cephalad anchor blade for extending into a cephalad vertebra after the fusion implant is delivered between the cephalad vertebra and a caudal vertebra;
• the cephalad anchor blade having a cephalad retention groove partway between a cephalad distal tip and a cephalad proximal end;
• the cephalad retention groove positioned to engage with a cephalad retention clip via a first interaction to hold the cephalad anchor blade in a delivery position wherein the cephalad distal tip is within a cephalad blade sleeve tunnel and not extending beyond a cephalad anchor blade egress opening;
• the first interaction of the cephalad retention groove and the cephalad retention clip adapted to allow the cephalad anchor blade to respond to pressure on the cephalad proximal end to overcome the first interaction and cause a portion of the cephalad anchor blade to extend into the cephalad vertebra;
• a caudal anchor blade for extending into the caudal vertebra after the fusion implant is delivered between the cephalad vertebra and the caudal vertebra;
• the caudal anchor blade having a caudal retention groove partway between a caudal distal tip and a caudal proximal end;
• the caudal retention groove positioned to engage with a caudal retention clip via a second interaction to hold the caudal anchor blade in a delivery position wherein the caudal distal tip of the caudal anchor blade is within a caudal blade sleeve tunnel and not extending beyond a caudal anchor blade egress opening;
• and
• the second interaction of the caudal retention groove and the caudal retention clip adapted to allow the caudal anchor blade to respond to pressure on the caudal proximal end of the cephalad anchor blade to overcome the second interaction and cause a portion of the caudal anchor blade to extend into the caudal vertebra.

A fusion implant for placement between adjacent vertebrae;

• the fusing implant comprising:
• an implant body;
• a cephalad anchor blade;
• a caudal anchor blade;
• a cephalad retention clip;
• a caudal retention clip;
• and
• a locking cam rotatably engaged with the implant body;
• the implant body having:
• a proximal face:
• a distal face opposite the proximal face;
• a cephalad face;
• a caudal face opposite the cephalad face;
• a right face between the proximal face and the distal face and between the cephalad face and the caudal face;
• a left face opposite the right face and between the proximal face and the distal face and between the cephalad face and the caudal face;
• the cephalad anchor blade comprising:
• a cephalad distal tip for penetration into cortical bone;
• a cephalad proximal end having:
• a cephalad lock plane for use in locking the cephalad anchor blade in a deployed position;
• a cephalad stop plane facing distally which prevents the cephalad proximal end from traveling beyond the proximal face of the implant body into an interior of the implant body;
• the cephalad distal tip and the cephalad proximal end located along a cephalad curved path such that the cephalad distal tip may be inserted into a cephalad blade sleeve tunnel at the proximal face and travel through the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel in the implant body to emerge from a cephalad sleeve tunnel egress opening on the cephalad face of the fusion implant and continue moving on the cephalad curved path until the cephalad stop plane contacts the proximal face of the fusion implant;
• a cephalad retention groove partway between the cephalad distal tip and the cephalad proximal end;
• the cephalad retention groove positioned to engage with the cephalad retention clip via a first interaction to hold the cephalad anchor blade in a delivery position wherein the cephalad distal tip is within the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel and not extending beyond a cephalad anchor blade egress opening;
• the first interaction of the cephalad retention groove and the cephalad retention clip adapted to allow the cephalad anchor blade to respond to pressure on the cephalad proximal end to overcome the first interaction and cause a portion of the cephalad anchor blade to move through the cephalad anchor blade egress opening;
• the caudal anchor blade comprising:
• a caudal distal tip for penetration into cortical bone;
• a caudal proximal end having:
• a caudal lock plane for use in locking the caudal anchor blade in a deployed position;
• and
• a caudal stop plane facing distally which prevents the caudal proximal end of the caudal anchor blade from traveling beyond the proximal face of the implant body into the interior of the implant body;
• the caudal distal tip and the caudal proximal end located along a caudal curved path such that the caudal distal tip may be inserted into a caudal blade sleeve tunnel at the proximal face and travel through the caudal blade sleeve tunnel in the implant body to emerge from a caudal sleeve tunnel egress opening on the caudal face of the fusion implant and continue moving on the caudal curved path until the caudal stop plane contacts the proximal face of the fusion implant;
• a caudal retention groove partway between the caudal distal tip and the caudal proximal end;
• the caudal retention groove positioned to engage with the caudal retention clip via a second interaction to hold the caudal anchor blade in a delivery position wherein the caudal distal tip of the caudal anchor blade is within the caudal blade sleeve tunnel and not extending beyond a caudal anchor blade egress opening;
• the second interaction of the caudal retention groove and the caudal retention clip adapted to allow the caudal anchor blade to respond to pressure on the caudal proximal end of the cephalad anchor blade to overcome the second interaction and cause a portion of the caudal anchor blade to move through the caudal anchor blade egress opening;
• the locking cam having a delivery position wherein the locking cam does not limit:
• movement of the cephalad anchor blade;
• or
• movement of the caudal anchor blade;
• and
• the locking cam also having a locking position wherein
• the cephalad anchor blade that is in the deployed position cannot move the cephalad proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face of the implant body;
• and
• the caudal anchor blade that is in the deployed position cannot move the caudal proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face of the implant body.

A fusion implant for placement between adjacent vertebrae;

• the fusing implant comprising:
• an implant body;
• a cephalad anchor blade;
• a caudal anchor blade;
• and
• a locking cam rotatably engaged with the implant body;
• the implant body having:
• a proximal face:
• a distal face opposite the proximal face;
• a cephalad face;
• a caudal face opposite the cephalad face;
• a right face between the proximal face and the distal face and between the cephalad face and the caudal face;
• a left face opposite the right face and between the proximal face and the distal face and between the cephalad face and the caudal face;
• the cephalad anchor blade comprising:
• a cephalad distal tip for penetration into cortical bone;
• a cephalad proximal end having:
• a cephalad lock plane for use in locking the cephalad anchor blade in a deployed position;
• a cephalad stop plane facing distally which prevents the cephalad proximal end from traveling beyond the proximal face of the implant body into an interior of the implant body;
• the cephalad distal tip and the cephalad proximal end located along a cephalad curved path such that the cephalad distal tip may be inserted into a cephalad blade sleeve tunnel at the proximal face and travel through the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel in the implant body to emerge from a cephalad sleeve tunnel egress opening on the cephalad face of the fusion implant and continue moving on the cephalad curved path until the cephalad stop plane contacts the proximal face of the fusion implant;
• the caudal anchor blade comprising:
• a caudal distal tip for penetration into cortical bone;
• a caudal proximal end having:
• a caudal lock plane for use in locking the caudal anchor blade in a deployed position;
• and
• a caudal stop plane facing distally which prevents the caudal proximal end of the caudal anchor blade from traveling beyond the proximal face of the implant body into the interior of the implant body;
• the caudal distal tip and the caudal proximal end located along a caudal curved path such that the caudal distal tip may be inserted into a caudal blade sleeve tunnel at the proximal face and travel through the caudal blade sleeve tunnel in the implant body to emerge from a caudal sleeve tunnel egress opening on the caudal face of the fusion implant and continue moving on the caudal curved path until the caudal stop plane contacts the proximal face of the fusion implant;
• the locking cam having a delivery position wherein the locking cam does not limit:
• movement of the cephalad anchor blade;
• or
• movement of the caudal anchor blade;
• and
• the locking cam also having a locking position wherein
• the cephalad anchor blade that is in the deployed position cannot move the cephalad proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face of the implant body;
• and
• the caudal anchor blade that is in the deployed position cannot move the caudal proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face of the implant body.

A fusion implant (100, 904, 908, 920) pre-assembled with a pair of anchor blades (300, 350) for delivery between adjacent vertebrae while the pair of anchor blades (300, 350) are in a delivery position;

• the fusion implant (100, 904, 908, 920) comprising:
• an implant body (200);
• a cephalad anchor blade (300);
• a caudal anchor blade (350);
• and
• a set of at least one locking cam (500, 510, 514) rotatably engaged with the implant body (200);
• the implant body (200) having:
• a proximal face (110);
• a distal face (120) opposite the proximal face (110);
• a cephalad face (130);
• a caudal face (140) opposite the cephalad face (130);
• a right face (150) between the proximal face (110) and the distal face (120) and between the cephalad face (130) and the caudal face (140);
• a left face (160) opposite the right face (150) and between the proximal face (110) and the distal face (120) and between the cephalad face (130) and the caudal face (140);
• the cephalad anchor blade (300) comprising:
• a cephalad distal tip (304) for penetration into cortical bone;
• a cephalad proximal end having:
• a cephalad lock plane (324) for use in locking the cephalad anchor blade (300) in a deployed position;
• a cephalad stop plane (314) facing distally which prevents the cephalad proximal end from traveling beyond the proximal face (110) of the implant body (200) into an interior of the implant body (200);
• the cephalad distal tip (304) and the cephalad proximal end located along a cephalad curved path such that the cephalad distal tip (304) may be inserted into a cephalad blade sleeve tunnel (204) at the proximal face (110) and travel through the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel (204) in the implant body (200) to emerge from a cephalad sleeve tunnel egress opening (208) on the cephalad face (130) of the fusion implant (100, 904, 908, 920) and continue moving on the cephalad curved path until the cephalad stop plane (314) contacts the proximal face (110) of the fusion implant (100, 904, 908, 920);
• the cephalad anchor blade (300) held in the delivery position pending delivery between adjacent vertebrae;
• wherein application of sufficient pressure on the cephalad proximal end of the cephalad anchor blade (300) is adequate to overcome a first interaction between the cephalad anchor blade (300) and the implant body (200) and cause a portion of the cephalad anchor blade (300) to move through the cephalad sleeve tunnel egress opening (208);
• the caudal anchor blade (350) comprising:
• a caudal distal tip (354) for penetration into cortical bone;
• a caudal proximal end having:
• a caudal lock plane (374) for use in locking the caudal anchor blade (350) in a deployed position;
• and
• a caudal stop plane (364) facing distally which prevents the caudal proximal end of the caudal anchor blade (350) from traveling beyond the proximal face (110) of the implant body (200) into the interior of the implant body (200);
• the caudal distal tip (354) and the caudal proximal end located along a caudal curved path such that the caudal distal tip (354) may be inserted into a caudal blade sleeve tunnel (254) at the proximal face (110) and travel through the caudal blade sleeve tunnel (254) in the implant body (200) to emerge from a caudal sleeve tunnel egress opening (258) on the caudal face (140) of the fusion implant (100, 904, 908, 920) and continue moving on the caudal curved path until the caudal stop plane (364) contacts the proximal face (110) of the fusion implant (100, 904, 908, 920);
• the caudal anchor blade (350) held in the delivery position pending delivery between adjacent vertebrae;
• wherein application of sufficient pressure on the caudal proximal end of the caudal anchor blade (350) is adequate to overcome a second interaction between the caudal anchor blade (350) and the implant body (200) and cause a portion of the caudal anchor blade (350) to move through the caudal sleeve tunnel egress opening (258);
• the set of at least one locking cam (500, 510, 514) having a delivery position wherein the set of at least one locking cam (500, 510, 514) does not limit:
• movement of the cephalad anchor blade (300);
• or
• movement of the caudal anchor blade (350);
• and
• the set of at least one locking cam (500, 510, 514) also having a locking position wherein:
• the cephalad anchor blade (300) that is in the deployed position cannot move the cephalad proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face (110) of the implant body (200);
• and
• the caudal anchor blade (350) that is in the deployed position cannot move the caudal proximal end in a proximal direction away from the proximal face (110) of the implant body (200);
• the fusion implant (100, 904, 908, 920) further comprising:
• a cephalad retention clip (400);
• and
• a caudal retention clip (450);
• and
• the cephalad anchor blade (300) further comprising:
• a cephalad retention groove (330) partway between the cephalad distal tip (304) and the cephalad proximal end;
• the cephalad retention groove (330) positioned to engage with the cephalad retention clip (400) via a first interaction to hold the cephalad anchor blade (300) in the delivery position wherein the cephalad distal tip (304) is within the cephalad blade sleeve tunnel (204) and not extending beyond a cephalad sleeve tunnel egress opening (208);
• the first interaction of the cephalad retention groove (330) and the cephalad retention clip (400) adapted to allow the cephalad anchor blade (300) to respond to pressure on the cephalad proximal end to overcome the first interaction and cause a portion of the cephalad anchor blade (300) to move through the cephalad sleeve tunnel egress opening (208);
• the caudal anchor blade (350) further comprising:
• a caudal retention groove (380) partway between the caudal distal tip (354) and the caudal proximal end;
• the caudal retention groove (380) positioned to engage with the caudal retention clip (450) via a second interaction to hold the caudal anchor blade (350) in the delivery position wherein the caudal distal tip (354) of the caudal anchor blade (350) is within the caudal blade sleeve tunnel (254) and not extending beyond a caudal sleeve tunnel egress opening (258);
• and
• the second interaction of the caudal retention groove (380) and the caudal retention clip (450) adapted to allow the caudal anchor blade (350) to respond to pressure on the caudal proximal end of the caudal anchor blade (350) to overcome the second interaction and cause a portion of the caudal anchor blade (350) to move through the caudal sleeve tunnel egress opening (258).

A fusion implant assembly with at least a first anchor blade that is configured to extend into a first vertebral body comprising:

• an implant body with at least a first internal passageway that allows a first distal tip of the first anchor blade to move from a first face of the implant body out a second face of the implant body different from the first face, the second face configured to be oriented towards the first vertebral body;
• a first locking cam rotatably engaged with the implant body so that the first locking cam can rotate less than 360 degrees to move from a first deployment position to a first locked position;
• and
• the first anchor blade having:
• the first distal tip;
• a first stop plane to limit forward movement of the first distal tip;
• and;
• a first locking plane to be locked in place by the first locking cam when the first locking cam is rotated to the first locking position so that the first distal tip cannot move back towards the implant body.