Intervertebral implant

An intervertebral implant, comprising:

• an first endplate defining a rear end, a front end spaced forward from the rear end, and laterally opposed sides that extend between the front and rear ends, the first endplate defining an outer transverse bone facing surface configured to engage a respective adjacent upper vertebral surface, an inner surface opposite the outer transverse bone facing surface in a transverse direction, and a longitudinal axis that extends centrally between the laterally opposed sides from the rear end to the front end;
• a second endplate defining a rear end, a front end spaced forward from the rear end, and laterally opposed sides that extend between the front and rear ends, the second endplate defining an outer transverse bone facing surface configured to engage a respective adjacent lower vertebral surface, an inner surface opposite the outer transverse bone facing surface in a transverse direction, and a longitudinal axis that extends centrally between the laterally opposed sides from the rear end to the front end;
• an articulating joint disposed between the first endplate and the second endplate, the joint configured to provide pivoting movement between the first endplate and the second endplate;
• a first bone fixation spike and a second bone fixation spike disposed on the first endplate, the first and second bone fixation spikes each extend from the outer transverse bone facing surface and are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, wherein
• 1) the first endplate defines a recess that extends from a first end having a first portion that extends into the first bone fixation spike in the transverse direction and a second portion that extends into the outer transverse bone facing surface in the transverse direction, such that the recess terminates within the first endplate at a second end that is disposed between the inner surface and the outer transverse bone facing surface, and
• 2) the first bone fixation spike and the outer transverse bone facing surface combine so as to define an enclosed perimeter of the first end of the recess.

An implant comprising:

• an upper endplate defining a first bone facing surface configured to engage an adjacent first vertebral surface, and an inner surface opposite the first bone facing surface in a transverse direction, the first bone facing surface defining a rear section, and a front section spaced forward from the rear section in a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to the transverse direction;
• a lower endplate defining a second bone facing surface configured to engage an adjacent second vertebral surface, wherein the second bone facing surface is substantially planar and spaced from the first bone facing surface along the transverse direction, and each of the endplates defines a rear end and a front end spaced forward from the rear end along the longitudinal direction such that the front end is spaced from the rear end along a direction of insertion into an intervertebral space, the upper and lower endplates each further defining respective laterally opposed sides extending between the respective front and rear ends, the respective laterally opposed sides spaced from each other along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction;
• a first joint member configured to be carried by the upper endplate, the first joint member defining a rounded surface;
• and
• a second joint member configured carried by the lower endplate, the second joint member defining a rounded surface that is configured to provide an articulating joint with the rounded surface of the first joint member so as to allow for universal movement between the upper and lower endplates;
• and
• a plurality of bone fixation spikes spaced along the longitudinal direction, the bone fixation spikes projecting out from the first bone facing surface, wherein
• 1) each of the plurality of bone fixation spikes defines a footprint at the first bone facing surface from a view in the transverse direction,
• 2) each of the plurality of bone fixation spikes individually combines with the upper endplate to define a respective single cylindrical recess, such that each cylindrical recess is associated with only an individual one of the plurality of bone fixation spikes, each recess having a circular perimeter that is defined only by the respective individual one of the plurality of bone fixation spikes and the first bone facing surface, and
• 3) the circular perimeter has a center that is positioned at the first bone facing surface outside the footprint of the respective individual one of the plurality of bone fixation spikes.

An implant comprising:

• an upper endplate defining a first bone facing surface configured to engage an adjacent first vertebral surface, and an inner surface opposite the first bone facing surface in a transverse direction, the first bone facing surface defining a rear section, and a front section spaced forward from the rear section in a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to the transverse direction and sides facing in a generally lateral direction which is perpendicular to the transverse and longitudinal directions;
• a lower endplate defining a second bone facing surface configured to engage an adjacent second vertebral surface, and an inner surface opposite the second bone facing surface in a transverse direction, the second bone facing surface defining a rear section, and a front section spaced forward from the rear section in a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to the transverse direction and sides facing in a generally lateral direction which is perpendicular to the transverse and longitudinal directions;
• an articulating joint disposed between the upper endplate and the lower endplate, the joint configured to provide pivoting movement between the upper endplate and the lower endplate;
• a plurality of bone fixation spikes spaced along the longitudinal direction of the upper endplate, the bone fixation spikes projecting out from the first bone facing surface,
• 1) wherein each of the plurality of bone fixation spikes defines a generally triangular footprint, wherein a point of the generally triangular footprint points towards the front section and an opposing face of the generally triangular footprint faces towards the rear section, and wherein a longitudinal axis is defined from the point of the generally triangular footprint to the medial portion of the opposing face of the generally triangular footprint;
• 2) wherein each of the plurality of bone fixation spikes comprises:
• a first surface facing generally at an angle between front and lateral;
• a second surface on an opposing side of the longitudinal axis of the bone fixation spike facing generally at an angle between front and lateral and
• a third surface facing generally to the rear;
• 3) whereby the first surface and the second surface of each bone fixation spike are angled and configured to create a track in the adjacent first vertebral surface upon insertion;
• 4) whereby the rear facing surface of each bone fixation spike is oriented and configured to resist expulsion forces acting on the implant;
• and
• 5) wherein at least one of the first, second, and third surfaces of each of the bone fixation spikes defines a recess to reduce the cross sectional area of the bone fixation spike viewed from the transverse direction to facilitate engaging into the adjacent first vertebral surface.