Intervertebral implant

An intervertebral implant configured to be inserted into an intervertebral space, the intervertebral implant comprising:

• (a) a body defining a front body surface, a rear body surface opposite the front body surface, an upper body surface, a lower body surface spaced from the upper body surface by a first vertical distance with respect to a vertical direction, and opposed side surfaces that are spaced from each other along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction, the body further defining at least one recess that extends from the upper body surface to the lower body surface at a location between the side surfaces, the body further defining a first portion of the upper body surface that is continuous along the lateral direction from one of the opposed side surfaces to the other of the opposed side surfaces,
• wherein the body is configured such that when the intervertebral implant is inserted into the intervertebral space, each of the upper body surface and the lower body surface is disposed within the intervertebral space, at least a second portion of the upper body surface contacts an endplate of a first vertebral body, and at least a portion of the lower body surface contacts an endplate of a second vertebral body;
• (b) a plate defining an upper plate surface, a lower plate surface opposite the upper plate surface, a front plate surface, a rear plate surface opposite the front plate surface, the plate configured to be mounted to the body such that the rear plate surface faces the front body surface, the plate further defining a plate hole that extends from a first opening to a second opening along a central hole axis that does not pass through the at least one recess when the plate is mounted to the body,
• wherein the plate hole is configured to receive a bone fixation element that is driven into the plate hole and into the endplate of one of the first and second vertebral bodies in a first direction, the first opening is disposed in the front plate surface and is positioned between the opposed side surfaces with respect to the lateral direction, the first opening further includes a center that:
• 1) is spaced from the upper body surface by a second vertical distance with respect to the vertical direction, and 2) is spaced from the lower body surface by third vertical distance with respect to the vertical direction, and both the second vertical distance and the third vertical distances are less than the first vertical distance;
• and
• (c) a securing element configured to be secured to the plate, such that the securing element at least partially covers the first opening to prevent the bone fixation element from exiting the plate hole along a second direction opposite the first direction once the bone fixation element has been driven into the plate hole.

An intervertebral implant configured to be inserted into an intervertebral space, the intervertebral implant comprising:

• (a) a one-piece body defining a front body surface, a rear body surface opposite the front body surface along a rearward direction, an upper body surface, a lower body surface spaced from the upper body surface in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the rearward direction, and opposed side surfaces spaced from each other along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to both the rearward direction and the vertical direction,
• wherein the body is configured such that when the intervertebral implant is inserted into the intervertebral space, 1) each of the upper body surface and the lower body surface is disposed within the intervertebral space from the front body surface to the rear body surface, 2)a majority of the upper body surface contacts an endplate of a first vertebral body, and 3) a majority of the lower body surface contacts an endplate of a second vertebral body, the majority of the lower body surface spaced from the majority of the upper body surface a first vertical distance with respect to the vertical direction;
• (b) a plate comprising a biocompatible non-bone material, the plate defining a front plate surface, a rear plate surface opposite the front plate surface, an upper plate surface, a lower plate surface opposite the upper plate surface, a first plate hole having a first opening in the front plate surface, a second plate hole having a second opening in the front plate surface, a recess having a third opening in the front plate surface, the third opening is open to both the first and second openings, wherein the plate is configured such that when the intervertebral implant is inserted into the intervertebral space, each of the upper plate surface and the lower plate surface is disposed within the intervertebral space from the front plate surface to the rear plate surface,
• wherein the plate is configured to be mounted to the body such that the rear plate surface faces the front body surface, the first opening is positioned between the opposed side surfaces with respect to the lateral direction and aligned with the body with respect to the rearward direction, the second opening is positioned between the opposed side surfaces with respect to the lateral direction and aligned with respect to the body with respect to the rearward direction, the second opening positioned laterally offset with respect to the first opening along the lateral direction, and the plate is devoid of any screw holes with an opening that has a center that is spaced from the either the upper body surface or the lower body surface by a vertical distance greater than the first vertical distance with respect to the vertical direction, the opening disposed at the front plate surface;
• (c) a first bone fixation element configured to be inserted through the first plate hole and into the endplate of the first vertebral body in a first direction, a second bone fixation element configured to be inserted through the second plate hole and into the endplate of the second vertebral body in a second direction;
• and
• (d) a securing element configured to be inserted into the recess, such that the securing element 1) at least partially covers the first opening to prevent the first bone fixation element from exiting the first plate hole along a direction opposite the first direction, and 2) at least partially covers the second opening to prevent the second bone fixation element from exiting the second plate hole along a direction opposite the second direction.