Intervertebral implant with compressible shaped hollow element

An intervertebral implant comprising a flattened shaped hollow element defining an interior space within an outer surface that includes a generally flattened upper bone-contact face, a generally flattened lower bone-contact face spaced by a maximum distance H from the upper bone-contact face, two lateral faces, an engagement lip provided within the interior space of the hollow element, and an interlock means provided within the interior space of the hollow element, wherein the upper and lower bone-contact face are elastically compressible towards the interior space of the hollow element such that the maximum distance H between the upper and lower bone-contact face is reducible by 0.5 to 5.0 mm, and wherein said interlock means and engagement lip are configured and dimensioned such that the engagement of the engagement lip with the interlock means prevents the compression of the upper and lower bone-contact faces.

An intervertebral implant comprising a hollow support member that defines an interior space within an outer surface that includes a generally flattened first bone-contact face, a generally flattened second bone-contact face, and a pair of lateral faces having an arcuate shape and connecting the first and second bone-contact faces at a maximum distance H therebetween, wherein the support member is made of a biocompatible material which is sufficiently resilient to allow the first and second bone-contact faces to be elastically compressible towards each other in the interior space upon the application of force thereto to reduce the maximum distance H, with the bone-contact faces attempting to return to their original configuration when the force is removed and wherein the interior space is open at anterior and posterior ends.

An intervertebral implant comprising a hollow support member that defines an interior space within an outer surface that includes a generally flattened first bone-contact face, a generally flattened second bone-contact face, a pair of lateral faces having an arcuate shape and connecting the first and second bone-contact faces at a maximum distance H therebetween, an interior wall extending from the first bone-contact face toward the second bone-contact face through the interior space, and interlock means associated with the second bone-contact face for receiving the wall, wherein the support member is made of a biocompatible material which is sufficiently resilient to allow the first and second bone-contact faces to be elastically compressible towards each other in the interior space upon the application of force thereto to reduce the maximum distance H, with the bone-contact faces attempting to return to their original configuration when the force is removed and wherein engagement of the wall and the interlock means after the bone contact faces return to their original configuration prevents further compression of the first and second bone-contact faces.