Methods and Systems for Interbody Implant and Bone Graft Delivery

A system for positioning and fixing an implant between adjacent vertebrae, the system including:

• a spacer including
• a distal end and a proximal end;
• top and bottom surfaces spaced by sides, the top and bottom surfaces defining a height, and the sides defining a width;
• wherein each of the sides comprises a depressed region sunk into the side including a sloped surface at least toward the proximal end of the spacer, the distance between the sloped surfaces of the sides decreasing proximally to form a wedge having a leading edge proximate to the proximal end of the spacer, the wedge sized and configured to aid distribution of bone graft material to either side of the wedge, wherein bone graft material supplied to a site of interest is distributed to at least one side of the wedge;
• a feed reservoir defining a passageway through which bone graft material may be delivered to the spacer when the spacer is positioned as desired between adjacent vertebrae, the feed reservoir including an alignment feature configured to align the feed reservoir with the spacer so that bone graft material delivered to the spacer through the feed reservoir is distributed to at least one side of the wedge of the spacer;
• and
• a plunger configured to be accepted by the passageway of the feed reservoir, the plunger configured to help advance bone graft material along a length of the feed reservoir.

A method of maintaining adjacent vertebrae in a desired position, the method including:

• providing a spacer having
• a distal end and a proximal end;
• top and bottom surfaces spaced by sides, the top and bottom surfaces defining a height, and the sides defining a width;
• wherein each of the sides comprises a depressed region sunk into the side including a sloped surface at least toward the proximal end of the spacer, the distance between the sloped surfaces of the sides decreasing proximally to form a wedge having a leading edge proximate to the proximal end of the spacer, the wedge sized and configured to aid distribution of bone graft material to either side of the wedge, wherein bone graft material supplied to a site of interest is distributed to at least one side of the wedge;
• positioning the spacer between the adjacent vertebrae;
• positioning a feed reservoir so that a passageway of the feed reservoir is proximate to the wedge of the spacer;
• introducing bone graft material through the feed reservoir to a site of interest proximate to the spacer, wherein the bone graft material is directed by the wedge to be distributed to a site proximate to at least one side of the wedge.