Apparatus for implantation into bone

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one anchor for implantation into a bone, said at least one anchor having a longitudinal axis and, when implanted, being resistant to toggling in the bone and to being pulled from the bone;
• and
• a spinal fixation implant for extending between and connecting a plurality of bones;
• said at least one anchor including a platform having a first surface for facing the bone, said first surface being solid and extending generally transverse to said longitudinal axis, said platform further having structure for connection with said spinal fixation implant;
• said at least one anchor further including at least two helical spikes for embedding into the bone upon rotation of said platform, said at least two helical spikes projecting tangentially from said first surface on said platform and extending around said longitudinal axis, each of said at least two helical spikes having a tip portion at a distal end which penetrates into the bone as said platform is rotated;
• said at least two helical spikes, when implanted, having a conical shape that increases in diameter as said at least two helical spikes extend away from said platform.

An apparatus for implantation into a bone in a patient's spine or pelvis, said apparatus, when implanted, being resistant to toggling in the bone and to being pulled from the bone, said apparatus comprising:

• a platform for facing a bone in a patient's spine or pelvis, said platform having a first surface that is solid and that extends generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus, said platform including structure for connection to a spinal fixation implant;
• and
• at least one helical spike for embedding into the bone upon rotation of said platform, said at least one helical spike projecting tangentially from said first surface of said platform and extending around said longitudinal axis, said at least one helical spike having a tip portion at a distal end which penetrates into the bone as said platform is rotated;
• said at least one helical spike having a first condition in which said at least one helical spike has a first maximum diameter and a second condition in which at least a portion of said at least one helical spike expands to a second maximum diameter that is larger than said first maximum diameter.

An apparatus for implanting into a bone in a patient's spine or pelvis, said apparatus comprising:

• an anchor having a longitudinal axis, said anchor comprising a platform for facing the bone and at least one helical spike for embedding into the bone upon rotation of said platform;
• said platform having a first surface that is solid and that extends generally transverse to said longitudinal axis of said anchor, said platform including structure for connection to a spinal fixation implant;
• said at least one helical spike projecting tangentially from said first surface of said platform and extending around said longitudinal axis, said at least one helical spike having a tip portion at a distal end which penetrates into the bone as said platform is rotated;
• said at least one helical spike having a first condition in which said at least one helical spike has a first maximum diameter and a second condition in which at least a portion of said at least one helical spike expands to a second maximum diameter that is larger than said first maximum diameter;
• said anchor, when implanted, being resistant to toggling in the bone and to being pulled from the bone.

An apparatus for implantation into a bone in a patient's spine or pelvis, said apparatus, when implanted, being resistant to toggling in the bone and to being pulled from the bone, said apparatus comprising:

• a platform for facing a bone in a patient's spine or pelvis, said platform having a first surface that is solid and that extends generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus, said platform including structure for connection to a spinal fixation implant;
• and
• at least one helical spike for embedding into the bone upon rotation of said platform, said at least one helical spike projecting tangentially from said first surface of said platform and extending around said longitudinal axis, said at least one helical spike having a tip portion at a distal end which penetrates into the bone as said platform is rotated;
• said at least one helical spike having a first condition in which said at least one helical spike has a first axial length and a second condition in which said at least one helical spike has a second axial length that is smaller than said first axial length.

An apparatus for implantation into a bone in a patient's spine or pelvis, said apparatus, when implanted, being resistant to toggling in the bone and to being pulled from the bone, said apparatus comprising:

• a platform having a first surface for facing a bone in a patient's spine or pelvis, said platform having a first surface that is solid and that extends generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus, said platform including structure for connection to a spinal fixation implant;
• and
• at least one helical spike for embedding into the bone upon rotation of said platform, said at least one helical spike projecting tangentially from said first surface of said platform and extending around said longitudinal axis, said at least one helical spike having a tip portion at a distal end which penetrates into the bone as said platform is rotated;
• at least a portion of said at least one helical spike being made of a shape memory alloy that is responsive to changes in temperature above and below a predetermined temperature transition range, said at least one helical spike having a first shape when the temperature of said at least one helical spike is below said predetermined temperature transition range, said at least one helical spike having a second shape when heated above said predetermined temperature transition range, said at least one helical spike being implanted into the bone in said second shape.

An apparatus for implantation into an adjacent pair of vertebral bodies having first and second surfaces that oppose each other, said apparatus, when implanted, being attached to each of the vertebral bodies and stabilizing the vertebral bodies while the vertebral bodies fuse together, said apparatus comprising:

• a platform having a third surface extending generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus;
• and
• at least one helical spike for embedding into each of the adjacent pair of vertebral bodies upon rotation of said platform to attach said at least one helical spike to each of the vertebral bodies and thus fasten the vertebral bodies together, said at least one helical spike projecting tangentially from said third surface of said platform and extending around said longitudinal axis, said at least one helical spike having a tip portion at a distal end for penetrating the first and second surfaces and for screwing into the adjacent pair of vertebral bodies as said platform is rotated;
• said at least one helical spike at least partially defining an internal cavity for receiving material that promotes fusion of the vertebral bodies;
• said at least one helical spike, when implanted, having a conical shape that increases in diameter as said at least one helical spike extends away from said platform.

An apparatus for implantation into an adjacent pair of vertebral bodies having first and second surfaces that oppose each other, said apparatus, when implanted, being attached to each of the vertebral bodies and stabilizing the vertebral bodies while the vertebral bodies fuse together, said apparatus comprising:

• a platform having a third surface extending generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus;
• and
• at least one helical spike for embedding into each of the adjacent pair of vertebral bodies upon rotation of said platform to attach said at least one helical spike to each of the vertebral bodies and thus fasten the vertebral bodies together, said at least one helical spike projecting tangentially from said third surface of said platform and extending around said longitudinal axis, said at least one helical spike having a tip portion at a distal end for penetrating the first and second surfaces and for screwing into the adjacent pair of vertebral bodies as said platform is rotated;
• said at least one helical spike at least partially defining an internal cavity for receiving material that promotes fusion of the vertebral bodies;
• said at least one helical spike having a first condition in which said at least one helical spike has a first maximum diameter and a second condition in which at least a portion of said at least one helical spike expands to a second maximum diameter that is larger than said first maximum diameter.

An apparatus for implanting an interbody stabilizer into an adjacent pair of vertebral bodies having first and second surfaces that oppose each other, said apparatus comprising:

• an interbody stabilizer having a longitudinal axis, said interbody stabilizer comprising a platform and at least one helical spike for embedding into each of the vertebral bodies upon rotation of said platform to attach said at least one helical spike to each of the vertebral bodies and thus fasten the vertebral bodies together;
• a platform having a third surface extending generally transverse to said longitudinal axis;
• said at least one helical spike projecting tangentially from said third surface of said platform and extending around said longitudinal axis, said at least one helical spike having a tip portion at a distal end for penetrating the first and second surfaces and for screwing into the adjacent pair of vertebral bodies as said platform is rotated;
• said at least one helical spike at least partially defining an internal cavity for receiving material that promotes fusion of the vertebral bodies;
• said at least one helical spike having a first condition in which said at least one helical spike has a first maximum diameter and a second condition in which at least a portion of said at least one helical spike expands to a second maximum diameter that is larger than said first maximum diameter;
• said interbody stabilizer, when implanted, being attached to each of the vertebral bodies and stabilizing the vertebral bodies while the vertebral bodies fuse together.

An apparatus for implantation into an adjacent pair of vertebral bodies having first and second surfaces that oppose each other, said apparatus, when implanted, being attached to each of the vertebral bodies and stabilizing the vertebral bodies while the vertebral bodies fuse together, said apparatus comprising:

• a platform having a third surface extending generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus;
• and
• at least one helical spike for embedding into each of the adjacent pair of vertebral bodies upon rotation of said platform to attach said at least one helical spike to each of the vertebral bodies and thus fasten the vertebral bodies together, said at least one helical spike projecting tangentially from said third surface of said platform and extending around said longitudinal axis, said at least one helical spike having a tip portion at a distal end for penetrating the first and second surfaces and for screwing into the adjacent pair of vertebral bodies as said platform is rotated;
• said at least one helical spike at least partially defining an internal cavity for receiving material that promotes fusion of the vertebral bodies;
• said at least one helical spike having a first condition in which said at least one helical spike has a first axial length and a second condition in which said at least one helical spike has a second axial length that is smaller than said first axial length.

An apparatus for implantation into an adjacent pair of vertebral bodies having first and second surfaces that oppose each other, said apparatus, when implanted, being attached to each of the vertebral bodies and stabilizing the vertebral bodies while the vertebral bodies fuse together, said apparatus comprising:

• a platform having a third surface extending generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said apparatus;
• and
• at least one helical spike for embedding into each of the adjacent pair of vertebral bodies upon rotation of said platform to attach said at least one helical spike to each of the vertebral bodies and thus fasten the vertebral bodies together, said at least one helical spike projecting tangentially from said third surface of said platform and extending around said longitudinal axis, said at least one helical spike having a tip portion at a distal end for penetrating the first and second surfaces and for screwing into the adjacent pair of vertebral bodies as said platform is rotated;
• said at least one helical spike at least partially defining an internal cavity for receiving material that promotes fusion of the vertebral bodies;
• at least a portion of said at least one helical spike being made of a shape memory alloy that is responsive to changes in temperature above and below a predetermined temperature transition range, said at least one helical spike having a first shape when the temperature of said at least one helical spike is below said predetermined temperature transition range, said at least one helical spike having a second shape when heated above said predetermined temperature transition range, said at least one helical spike being implanted into the bone in said second shape.