Method and apparatus for implant stability
AssigneeDePuy Spine, Inc.
InventorsRobert Fraser, John Hawkins, Christopher Rogers, Andrew Dooris, Mark Lionetto
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Abstract
An method and apparatus is provided for achieving stability of an implant in an intervertebral space of the human body, including an implant having a superior surface and an inferior surface, the surfaces having no significant protrusions extending therefrom and at least one modular projection mateable with one of each superior and inferior surface of the implant to achieve stability within the intervertebral space. The implants can be selected form a group of artificial discs and spinal fusion cages.
Claims8
An apparatus for achieving stability of an implant in an intervertebral space of the human body, comprising:
- (a) an implant having a superior endplate, an inferior endplate, and a flexible core disposed between the endplates, each endplate defining an exterior surface of the apparatus for engaging a respective vertebral endplate and further defining at least one elongated channel, wherein a longitudinal axis of the channel is substantially parallel to a surface of the endplate;
- and
- (b) at least one modular projection in the elongated channel in at least one of each of the superior and inferior endplates of the implant to achieve stability within the intervertebral space.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the elongated channel is defined by at least one member selected from the group consisting of simple slots, tapered slots, dovetail slots, and holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.