Implant with an interference fit fastener

A medical device for treating a patient comprising:

• an implant comprising opposite superior and inferior surfaces that are each configured to engage vertebral tissue, the superior and inferior surfaces each extending between opposite side walls;
• a passage that extends through one of the sidewalls and the inferior surface of the implant without extending through the superior surface, the passage including an interference section with solid non-threaded sidewalls, the interference section includes a first diameter, the interference section extending along an entire length of the passage, the first diameter being a constant diameter along the entire length of the passage;
• a fastener with an elongated shape and a distal end and a proximal end, the fastener includes a modifying section located between the ends that includes a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter;
• the fastener constructed from a harder material than the implant with the modifying section modifying the interference section during insertion of the fastener into the passage and creating an interference fit between the implant and the fastener.

A medical device for treating a patient comprising:

• an implant comprising opposite superior and inferior surfaces that are each configured to engage vertebral tissue, the superior and inferior surfaces each extending between opposite side walls;
• a fastener with a head positioned at an end of a shank, the fastener includes a modifying section located along the shank with a modifying section diameter larger than a remainder of the shank and smaller than the head;
• a passage that extends through one of the sidewalls and the inferior surface of the implant without extending through the superior surface, the passage including an interference section with solid non-threaded sidewalls, an interference section diameter being smaller than the modifying section diameter, the interference section extending along an entire length of the passage, the interference diameter being a constant diameter along the entire length of the passage;
• the fastener being constructed of a harder material than the passage;
• a first distance measured along a longitudinal axis of the fastener between a distal edge of the head and a proximal edge of the modifying section being greater than a second distance measured along a longitudinal axis of the passage between a contact surface that receives the head.