Intervertebral body fusion device

Claim 2

An intervertebral body fusion device comprising: a cage component including a rigid upper member defining a bearing surface, an opposing interior surface and a through passage confined by said upper member; a rigid lower member defining a bearing surface, an opposing interior surface, and a through passage confined by said lower member; a resilient web bridging said upper member and said lower member and defining a living hinge, said web spacing said members from one another thereby defining a gap of a predetermined distance for receiving a wedge body between said members; a first spine having a free end and a depending end, said first spine having a tooth, said depending end depending from said upper member and disposing said tooth below said bearing surface, and said first spine further positioning said tooth in registry with said through passage of said upper member; a wedge body dimensioned and configured to be received and substantially housed in said gap, said wedge body having a predetermined diameter greater than the predetermined distance of said gap, whereby said upper and lower members become urged apart when said wedge body is inserted into said gap; and a contraction means for drawing said wedge body into said gap so as to nest within said cage component.

Claim 3

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 1 wherein said wedge body defines a first inclined surface and an opposing second inclined surface defining a predetermined fixed angle relative to each other.

Claim 4

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 2 wherein said upper member further defines a second through passage confined by said upper member; and further includes a second spine having a free end and a depending end, said second spine having a tooth, said depending end depending from said upper member and disposing said tooth in said gap proximate said interior surface of said upper member, and said second spine further positioning said tooth in registry with said second through passage of said upper member; and wherein further said wedge body defines a recessed ramp in said first inclined surface, said ramp aligning with said second spine when said wedge body is housed in said gap.

Claim 5

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 3, wherein said first and second spines are substantially perpendicular to said flexible web, and, said depending end of each of said first and second spines are proximately opposed to each said free end.

Claim 6

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 3, wherein said lower member further defines a through passage confined by said lower member; and further includes a spine having a free end and a depending end, said spine having a tooth, said depending end depending from said lower member and disposing said tooth in said gap proximate said interior surface of said lower member, and said spine further positioning said tooth in registry with said through passage of said lower member; and wherein further said wedge body defines a recessed ramp in said second inclined surface, said ramp aligning with said spine of said lower member when said wedge body is housed in said gap.

Claim 7

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 1, wherein said upper member and said lower member each define a plate.

Claim 8

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 6, wherein said spine is integrally formed in said plate and substantially residing in said through passage when formed, said spine and plate being constructed of a flexible material permitting bending of said spine into said gap and tempering of said material to create resilience of said spine.

Claim 9

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 1, wherein said cage component, wedge body and contraction means are manufactured from a surgical grade material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.

Claim 10

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 1, wherein the contraction means is an assembly further comprising a lobe depending from one of said upper or lower members, said lobe having a threaded aperture; and a shaft passing through said wedge body and said lobe, said shaft having threaded portion received by said threaded aperture and a head portion rotatably seated in said wedge body, said wedge body including a threadless seat for receiving said head portion and permitting free rotation of said head portion within said wedge body, and, said threaded portion having a predetermined length between said wedge body and said lobe when said threaded portion is engaged.

Claim 11

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 9, wherein said head portion includes a socket adapted to receive a driver tool for turning said shaft.

Claim 12

An intervertebral body fusion device comprising: a cage component including a rigid upper member defining a bearing surface, an opposing interior surface and a through passage confined by said upper member; a rigid lower member defining a bearing surface, an opposing interior surface, and a through passage confined by said lower member, said lower member attached to said upper member and disposed apart to define a gap of a predetermined distance for receiving a wedge body between said members; a first spine having a tooth, said first spine depending from said upper member and disposing said tooth within said gap proximate said interior surface of said upper member, and further positioning said tooth in registry with said through passage of said upper member; a wedge body defining a first inclined surface and an opposing second inclined surface defining a predetermined fixed angle relative to each other, said wedge body dimensioned and configured to be received and substantially housed in said gap, said wedge body having a predetermined diameter greater than the predetermined distance of said gap such that said upper and lower members become urged apart when said first and second inclined surfaces wedge against respective interior surfaces of said upper and lower members; and a contraction means for drawing said wedge body into said gap so as to nest within said cage component; whereby, when said wedge body engages said spine upon insertion into said gap, said wedge body deploys said spine and said tooth by driving said tooth through said through passage.

Claim 13

An intervertebral body fusion device comprising: a cage component including a rigid upper member defining a bearing surface, an opposing interior surface and a through passage confined by said upper member; a rigid lower member defining a bearing surface, an opposing interior surface, and a through passage confined by said lower member, said lower member attached to said upper member and disposed apart to define a gap of a predetermined distance for receiving a wedge body between said members; a first spine having a tooth, said first spine depending from said upper member and disposing said tooth within said gap proximate said interior surface of said upper member, and further positioning said tooth in registry with said through passage of said upper member; a wedge body defining a first inclined surface and an opposing second inclined surface defining a predetermined fixed angle relative to each other, said wedge body dimensioned and configured to be received and substantially housed in said gap, said wedge body having a predetermined diameter greater than the predetermined distance of said gap such that said upper and lower members become urged apart when said first and second inclined surfaces wedge against respective interior surfaces of said upper and lower members; and a contraction means for drawing said wedge body into said gap so as to nest within said cage component; whereby, when said wedge body engages said spine upon insertion into said gap, said wedge body deploys said spine and said tooth by driving said tooth through said through passage.

Claim 14

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 11, further comprising a resilient web bridging said upper member and said lower member and defining a living hinge, said web spacing said members from one another thereby defining said gap.

Claim 15

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 11 wherein said upper member further defines a second through passage confined by said upper member; and further includes a second spine having a free end and a depending end, said second spine having a tooth, said depending end depending from said upper member and disposing said tooth in said gap proximate said interior surface of said upper member, and said second spine further positioning said tooth in registry with said second through passage of said upper member; and wherein further said wedge body defines a recessed ramp in said first inclined surface, said ramp aligning with said second spine when said wedge body is housed in said gap.

Claim 16

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 13, wherein said first and second spines are substantially perpendicular to said flexible web, and, said depending end of each of said first and second spines are proximately opposed to each said free end.

Claim 17

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 13, wherein said lower member further defines a through passage confined by said lower member; and further includes a spine having a free end and a depending end, said spine having a tooth, said depending end depending from said lower member and disposing said tooth in said gap proximate said interior surface of said lower member, and said spine further positioning said tooth in registry with said through passage of said lower member; and wherein further said wedge body defines a recessed ramp in said second inclined surface, said ramp aligning with said spine of said lower member when said wedge body is housed in said gap.

Claim 18

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 11, wherein said upper member and said lower member each defines a plate.

Claim 19

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 16, wherein said spine is integrally formed in said plate and substantially residing in said through passage when formed, said spine and plate being constructed of a flexible material permitting bending of said spine into said gap and tempering of said material to create resilience of said spine.

Claim 20

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 11, wherein said cage component, wedge body and contraction means are manufactured from a surgical grade material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.

Claim 21

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 11, wherein the contraction means is an assembly further comprising a lobe depending from one of said upper or lower members, said lobe having a threaded aperture; and a shaft passing through said wedge body and said lobe, said shaft having threaded portion received by said threaded aperture and a head portion rotatably seated in said wedge body, said wedge body including a threadless seat for receiving said head portion and permitting free rotation of said head portion within said wedge body, and, said threaded portion having a predetermined length between said wedge body and said lobe when said threaded portion is engaged.

Claim 22

The intervertebral body fusion device according to claim 19, wherein said head portion includes a socket adapted to receive a driver tool for turning said shaft.