# US 9,517,144 B2 · Limited profile intervertebral implant with incorporated fastening mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,144 B2 - Document ID: US9517144B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/260,869 - Filed: 2014-04-24 - Published: 2015-10-29 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-24 - Assignees: Exactech, Inc. - Applicants: Exactech, Inc. - Inventors: Jason A. McAtamney; Larry G. Hickey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517144B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section} - A61F 2/30749: {Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body} - A61F 2/4455: {for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442)} - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - A61B 17/0642: {for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone} - A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract In some embodiments, an intervertebral implant may include a body including a superior and an inferior surface. The implant may include a first channel extending from an anterior end towards the posterior end of the body. The implant may include a first anchor channel The implant may include a first guide member positionable in the first channel The implant may include a first anchor. When the first guide member moves from a first position to a second position the first anchor may be conveyed through the first anchor channel and couple the body to an adjacent vertebra. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An intervertebral implant, comprising: a body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein at least a portion of the superior surface is configured to contact an endplate of an upper adjacent vertebra during use, and wherein the inferior surface is configured to contact an endplate of a lower adjacent vertebra during use; a first channel extending from an anterior end to at least approximate a posterior end of the body; a first anchor channel, wherein a first end of the first anchor channel is coupled to the first channel adjacent the anterior end and a second end of the first anchor channel extends through the superior or the inferior face of the body; a first guide member positionable in the first channel, wherein the first guide member is movable from a first position, a first end of the first guide member extending from the anterior end of the body, to a second position, the first end of the first guide member substantially flush with the anterior end of the body, during use, and wherein a second end, at an opposing end to the first end, of the first guide member is positioned at least approximate the posterior end of the body when the first guide member is at the second position; and a first anchor coupled to the first end of the first guide member, wherein when the first guide member moves from the first position to the second position the first anchor is conveyed through the first anchor channel and couples the body to the upper or lower adjacent vertebra during use. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, further comprising: a second channel extending from the anterior end to at least approximate the posterior end of the body, wherein the first and the second channels are positioned on substantially opposing sides of the body; a second anchor channel, wherein a first end of the second anchor channel is coupled to the second channel adjacent the anterior end and a second end of the second anchor channel extends through the superior or the inferior face of the body; a second guide member positionable in the second channel, wherein the second guide member is movable from a first position, a first end of the second guide member extending from the anterior end of the body, to a second position, the first end of the second guide member substantially flush with the anterior end of the body, during use; and a second anchor coupled to the first end of the second guide member, wherein when the second guide member moves from the first position to the second position the second anchor is conveyed through the second anchor channel and couples the body to the upper or the lower adjacent vertebra during use. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein substantially all of an outer perimeter of the body of the implant is positioned, during use, within the outer perimeter of the upper and lower adjacent vertebrae after installation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the first guide member comprises a coupling member adjacent the first end of the first guide member, and wherein the first anchor comprises an opening into which the coupling member is positionable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the first guide member comprises a coupling member adjacent the first end of the guide member, and wherein the coupling member comprises a post. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the anterior end comprises an opening, and wherein the opening is configurable to couple to an insertion instrument. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, further comprising an extraction stop configured to inhibit extraction of the first guide member from the first channel at the anterior end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The implant of claim 7, wherein the extraction stop comprises a first pin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, further comprising an anterior stop positioned towards the anterior end of the body and configured to inhibit movement of the first guide member in the first channel from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, further comprising a posterior stop positioned towards the posterior end of the body and configured to inhibit movement of the first guide member in the first channel from the second position to the first position. ### Claim 11 An intervertebral implant, comprising: a body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein at least a portion of the superior surface is configured to contact an endplate of an upper adjacent vertebra during use, and wherein the inferior surface is configured to contact an endplate of a lower adjacent vertebra during use; a first channel extending from an anterior end to at least approximate a posterior end of the body; a first anchor channel, wherein a first end of the first anchor channel is coupled to the first channel adjacent the anterior end and a second end of the first anchor channel extends through the superior or the inferior face of the body; a first guide member positionable in the first channel, wherein the first guide member is movable from a first position, a first end of the first guide member extending from the anterior end of the body, to a second position, the first end of the first guide member substantially flush with the anterior end of the body, during use; and a first anchor coupled to the first end of the first guide member, wherein when the first guide member moves from the first position to the second position the first anchor is conveyed through the first anchor channel and couples the body to the upper or lower adjacent vertebra during use, and wherein the first guide member comprises a coupling member adjacent the first end of the first guide member, and wherein the first anchor comprises an opening into which the coupling member is positionable.