Push-in interbody spinal fusion implants for use with self-locking screws

An apparatus comprising:

• an interbody spinal fusion implant for surgical implantation at least in part within a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies in a segment of a human spine, said implant comprising an interior, a leading end for entry into the spine, a trailing end opposite said leading end, and a length therebetween, and upper and lower portions for contacting each of the adjacent vertebral bodies when positioned therein, said upper and lower portions having a maximum height therebetween, said upper and lower portions being at least in part non-arcuate, each of said upper and lower portions having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings in said upper and lower portions being in communication with one another and adapted to permit for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant, said implant including at least two vertebral body penetrating member receiving holes, each of said vertebral body penetrating member receiving holes having a central longitudinal axis passing through said trailing end and said interior of said implant;
• vertebral body penetrating members adapted for placement through said vertebral body penetrating member receiving holes and into each of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space to be fused;
• and
• a locking element adapted to be engaged to said trailing end of said implant to prevent movement of said vertebral body penetrating members in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion of said vertebral body penetrating members into said vertebral body penetrating member receiving holes, said locking element having an enlarged portion and a threaded shaft extending therefrom to threadably engage a portion of said trailing end of said implant.