Interbody spinal fusion implant having a reduced width and an anatomically conformed trailing end
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorGary K. Michelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interbody spinal fusion implant adapted for placement at least in part across an intervertebral space formed across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies and for penetrating engagement into each of those vertebral bodies, the implant having a trailing end adapted to sit upon and not protrude from the anterolateral peripheral rim of bone of the vertebral body.
Claims49
A manufactured preformed interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion at least in part across a surgically corrected height of a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, the vertebral bodies having an anterior aspect, a posterior aspect, and to each side a lateral aspect, said implant comprising:
- a leading end for insertion into the disc space, an opposite trailing end having an exterior surface, and a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said leading and trailing ends;
- opposed arcuate convex portions adapted for placement toward and into the adjacent vertebral bodies, said implant having a height between said opposed arcuate convex portions defining an implant height greater than the surgically corrected height of the disc space into which said implant is to be implanted, each of said opposed arcuate convex portions having at least one opening, said openings being in communication with one another to permit for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant;
- and
- opposed first and second side walls connecting said opposed arcuate convex portions, said trailing end having a segment with a first radius between the mid-longitudinal axis of said implant and said first side wall that is different from another segment of said trailing end having a second radius between the mid-longitudinal axis of said implant and said second side wall, said trailing end being at least in part curved in a direction from one of said side walls to the other of said side walls.
A method of inserting an artificial implant into a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an implant having a generally non-linear trailing end being configured to generally conform to at least a portion of the natural anatomical curvature of at least one of the anterior and lateral aspects of the vertebral bodies;
- forming an opening across the disc space and into a portion of each of the adjacent vertebral bodies;
- inserting the implant into the opening;
- and
- aligning the trailing end of the implant with the anatomical curvature of the adjacent vertebral bodies so that the trailing end of the implant does not substantially protrude from the spine.
A method of inserting an artificial implant into a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an artificial implant having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper and lower surfaces being at least arcuate in part and adapted to contact an adjacent vertebral body, the implant having a generally non-linear trailing end being configured to generally conform to at least a portion of the natural anatomical curvature of at least one of the anterior and lateral aspects of the vertebral bodies;
- forming an opening across the disc space and into a portion of each of the adjacent vertebral bodies;
- inserting the implant into the opening;
- and
- aligning the trailing end of the implant with the anatomical curvature of the adjacent vertebral bodies so that the trailing end of the implant does not substantially protrude from the spine.
A method of inserting a pair of artificial implants into a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first artificial implant having a width less than one half the width of the disc space and a generally non-linear trailing end being configured to generally conform to at least a portion of the natural anatomical curvature of at least one of the anterior and lateral aspects of the vertebral bodies;
- providing a second artificial implant having a width less than one half the width of the disc space and a generally non-linear trailing end being configured to generally conform to at least a portion of the natural anatomical curvature of at least one of the anterior and lateral aspects of the vertebral bodies;
- forming at least one opening across the disc space and into a portion of each of the adjacent vertebral bodies;
- inserting the first implant into the at least one opening;
- inserting the second implant into the at least one opening;
- and
- aligning the trailing end of each implant with the anatomical curvature of the adjacent vertebral bodies so that the trailing end of each implant does not substantially protrude from the spine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.