Spinal implant

A spinal fusion implant for insertion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra adjacent the first vertebra, the first vertebra having a generally vertically extending first peripheral wall and a first endplate and the second vertebra having a generally vertically extending second peripheral wall and a second endplate, wherein the implant comprises:

• a first terminal part defining a trailing face, a first bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the first endplate, and an opposite second bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the second endplate, said trailing face extending between said first bearing surface and said second bearing surface, said trailing face having a recessed portion and a threaded opening configured to receive an insertion instrument for inserting said implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra;
• a second terminal part opposite said first terminal part, said second terminal part having an insertion face extending between a third bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the first endplate and a fourth bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the second endplate, said implant having a longitudinal axis extending through said trailing face of said first terminal part and said insertion face of said second terminal part, and having a cross section in a first plane extending through said first bearing surface and said second bearing surface, and along the longitudinal axis, said implant having a length between said trailing face of said first terminal part and said insertion face of said second terminal part and parallel to the longitudinal axis, said implant having a width and a height each perpendicular to the length of said implant;
• a first side and an opposite second side, said first side and said second side extending from said first terminal part to said second terminal part, portions of said first side and said second side being substantially flat, said substantially flat portions intersecting a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and extends through said insertion face and said trailing face, wherein said substantially flat portions of said first side and said second side are symmetrical about the first plane;
• an opening between said trailing face and said insertion face and between said first and second sides to permit for the growth of bone through said implant from the first vertebra to the second vertebra;
• upper and lower bearing surfaces each having a length measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of said implant, said upper bearing surface being adapted to bear against a portion of the first endplate, said lower bearing surface being adapted to bear against a portion of the second endplate, said upper and lower bearing surfaces having portions proximate each of said first and second sides and being convex along the entire length of said upper and lower bearing surfaces relative to the second plane and in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, said convex portions of said upper and lower bearing surfaces having a convex curvature generally conforming to the first and second endplates, respectively, the width of said implant being greater than the height measured between said upper and lower bearing surfaces proximate one of said first and second sides of said implant;
• a top including said first bearing surface, said third bearing surface, and said upper bearing surface, a bottom including said second bearing surface, said fourth bearing surface, and said lower bearing surface, said top and said bottom each having portions proximate each of said first and second sides and being convex relative to the second plane and in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, said convex portions of said top and said bottom having a convex curvature generally conforming to the first and second endplates, respectively, along a majority of the length of said implant, said convex portions of said top and said bottom including said convex portions of said upper and lower bearing surfaces, said opening extending through said implant from said top to said bottom;
• ratchetings on each of said upper and lower bearing surfaces adapted to engage the first vertebra and the second vertebra, respectively, each of said ratchetings having a ridge oriented in a direction generally parallel to the width of said implant, said ratchetings on each of said upper and lower bearing surfaces having a forward facing facet facing an insertion direction and angled to afford forward movement of said implant and a rearward facing facet angled to prevent said implant from backing out in a direction opposite to the insertion direction;
• and
• said opening of said implant being adapted to hold bone fusion promoting materials.

A lordotic spinal fusion implant for insertion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra adjacent the first vertebra, the first vertebra having a generally vertically extending first peripheral wall and a first endplate and the second vertebra having a generally vertically extending second peripheral wall and a second endplate, wherein the implant comprises:

• a first terminal part defining a trailing face, a first bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the first endplate, and an opposite second bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the second endplate, said trailing face extending between said first bearing surface and said second bearing surface;
• a second terminal part opposite said first terminal part, said second terminal part having an insertion face extending between a third bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the first endplate and a fourth bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the second endplate, said implant having a longitudinal axis extending through said trailing face of said first terminal part and said insertion face of said second terminal part, and having a cross section in a first plane extending through said first bearing surface and said second bearing surface, and along the longitudinal axis, said implant having a length between said trailing face of said first terminal part and said insertion face of said second terminal part and parallel to the longitudinal axis, said implant having a width and a height each perpendicular to the length of said implant;
• a first side and an opposite second side, said first side and said second side extending from said first terminal part to said second terminal part, portions of said first side and said second side being substantially flat, said substantially flat portions intersecting a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and extends through said insertion face and said trailing face, wherein said substantially flat portions of said first side and said second side are symmetrical about the first plane, said implant being adapted to be inserted between the first vertebra and the second vertebra with said first side and said second side of said implant being oriented toward the first endplate and the second endplate, respectively, and then rotated ninety degrees into an upright position, said trailing face having a recessed portion intersecting each of said first and second sides and being configured to receive an insertion instrument for inserting said implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra;
• an opening between said trailing face and said insertion face and between said first and second sides to permit for the growth of bone through said implant from the first vertebra to the second vertebra;
• upper and lower bearing surfaces each having a length measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of said implant, said upper bearing surface being adapted to bear against a portion of the first endplate, said lower bearing surface being adapted to bear against a portion of the second endplate, said upper and lower bearing surfaces having portions proximate each of said first and second sides and being convex along the entire length of said upper and lower bearing surfaces relative to the second plane and in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, said convex portions of said upper and lower bearing surfaces having a convex curvature generally conforming to the first and second endplates, respectively, said trailing face having a height less than and measured parallel to a maximum height measured between said upper and lower bearing surfaces proximate one of said first and second sides, said upper and lower bearing surfaces being disposed in a converging angular relationship toward each other such that said implant appears wedge-shaped from a side view, the converging angular relationship of said upper and lower bearing surfaces maintaining the first vertebra and the second vertebra adjacent to said upper and lower bearing surfaces in an angular relationship to maintain the desired lordosis between the first vertebra and the second vertebra;
• a top including said first bearing surface, said third bearing surface, and said upper bearing surface, a bottom including said second bearing surface, said fourth bearing surface, and said lower bearing surface, said top and said bottom each having portions proximate each of said first and second sides and being convex relative to the second plane and in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, said convex portions of said top and said bottom having a convex curvature generally conforming to the first and second endplates, respectively, along a majority of the length of said implant, said convex portions of said top and said bottom including said convex portions of said upper and lower bearing surfaces, said opening extending through said implant from said top to said bottom;
• ratchetings on each of said upper and lower bearing surfaces adapted to engage the first vertebra and the second vertebra, respectively, each of said ratchetings having a ridge oriented in a direction generally parallel to the width of said implant, said ratchetings on each of said upper and lower bearing surfaces having a forward facing facet facing an insertion direction and angled to afford forward movement of said implant and a rearward facing facet angled to prevent said implant from backing out in a direction opposite to the insertion direction;
• and
• said opening of said implant being adapted to hold bone fusion promoting materials.

A spinal fusion implant for insertion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra adjacent the first vertebra, the first vertebra having a generally vertically extending first peripheral wall and a first endplate and the second vertebra having a generally vertically extending second peripheral wall and a second endplate, wherein the implant comprises:

• a first terminal part defining a trailing face, a first bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the first endplate, and an opposite second bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the second endplate, said trailing face extending between said first bearing surface and said second bearing surface;
• a second terminal part opposite said first terminal part, said second terminal part having an insertion face extending between a third bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the first endplate and a fourth bearing surface adapted to bear against a portion of the second endplate, said implant having a longitudinal axis extending through said trailing face of said first terminal part and said insertion face of said second terminal part, and having a cross section in a first plane extending through said first bearing surface and said second bearing surface, and along the longitudinal axis, said implant having a length between said trailing face of said first terminal part and said insertion face of said second terminal part and parallel to the longitudinal axis, said implant having a width and a height each perpendicular to the length of said implant;
• a first side and an opposite second side, said first side and said second side extending from said first terminal part to said second terminal part, portions of said first side and said second side being substantially flat, said substantially flat portions intersecting a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and extends through said insertion face and said trailing face, wherein said substantially flat portions of said first side and said second side are symmetrical about the first plane, said implant being adapted to be inserted between the first vertebra and the second vertebra with said first side and said second side of said implant being oriented toward the first endplate and the second endplate, respectively, and then rotated ninety degrees into an upright position, said trailing face having a recessed portion intersecting each of said first and second sides and being configured to receive an insertion instrument for inserting said implant between the first vertebra and the second vertebra;
• an opening between said trailing face and said insertion face and between said first and second sides to permit for the growth of bone through said implant from the first vertebra to the second vertebra;
• upper and lower bearing surfaces each having a length measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of said implant, said upper bearing surface being adapted to bear against a portion of the first endplate, said lower bearing surface being adapted to bear against a portion of the second endplate, said upper and lower bearing surfaces having portions proximate each of said first and second sides and being convex along the entire length of said upper and lower bearing surfaces relative to the second plane and in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, said convex portions of said upper and lower bearing surfaces having a convex curvature generally conforming to the first and second endplates, respectively, said trailing face having a height less than and measured parallel to a maximum height measured between said upper and lower bearing surfaces proximate one of said first and second sides;
• a top including said first bearing surface, said third bearing surface, and said upper bearing surface, a bottom including said second bearing surface, said fourth bearing surface, and said lower bearing surface, said top and said bottom each having portions proximate each of said first and second sides and being convex relative to the second plane and in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, said convex portions of said top and said bottom having a convex curvature generally conforming to the first and second endplates, respectively, along a majority of the length of said implant, said convex portions of said top and said bottom including said convex portions of said upper and lower bearing surfaces, said opening extending through said implant from said top to said bottom;
• ratchetings on each of said upper and lower bearing surfaces adapted to engage the first vertebra and the second vertebra, respectively, each of said ratchetings having a ridge oriented in a direction generally parallel to the width of said implant, said ratchetings on each of said upper and lower bearing surfaces having a forward facing facet facing an insertion direction and angled to afford forward movement of said implant and a rearward facing facet angled to prevent said implant from backing out in a direction opposite to the insertion direction;
• and
• said opening of said implant being adapted to hold bone fusion promoting materials.