Flanged interbody spinal fusion implants

Claim 2

A flanged interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion at least in part between adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent a disc space to be fused and in part along the anterior aspects of the vertebral bodies adjacent that disc space, said implant comprising: opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, from within the disc space, said opposed upper and lower surfaces each having at least one opening, said openings being adapted to permit bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant; a leading end for insertion between the adjacent vertebral bodies: a trailing end opposite said leading end, said trailing end including a flanged portion sized to not fit within the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said flanged portion adapted to overlie at least a portion of the anterior aspects of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space, said flanged portion having a maximum height greater than the maximum height of the remainder of said implant as measured from said upper surface to said lower surface when used within the disc space; at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said flanged portion, each of said bone screw receiving holes being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging said flanged portion to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, at least one of each of said bone screw receiving holes being oriented in said flanged portion to overlie the anterior aspect of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, adjacent the disc space to be fused; and at least one locking element for locking at least one of the at least two bone screws adapted to be inserted in said at least two bone screw receiving holes, respectively, said at least one locking element being slideable along said trailing end from an initial position that permits the insertion of a bone screw into a respective one of said bone screw receiving holes to a final position that is adapted to retain at least one bone screw to said implant, said at least one locking element having a maximum dimension not exceeding the maximum height of said flanged portion when said locking element is in any position relative to said flange.

Claim 3

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said trailing end is curved at least in part.

Claim 4

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said locking element is adapted to be coupled to said implant prior to the insertion of the bone screws into said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 5

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said locking element in said final position is adapted to retain at least two bone screws to said implant.

Claim 6

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said locking element is adapted to slide over at least a portion of at least two of the bone screws in said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 7

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said locking element is removably coupled to said implant.

Claim 8

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said locking element comprises at least one of a screw, a rivet, a cap, and a cover for contacting at least in part a portion of a trailing end of one of the screws inserted into one of said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 9

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said locking element is configured to lock only a single one of the bone screws inserted in one of said at least two bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 10

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said at least two bone screw receiving holes are adapted to position bone screws in a convergent relationship to one another.

Claim 11

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said at least two bone screw receiving holes are adapted to position bone screws in a divergent relationship to one another.

Claim 12

The implant of claim 1 , further comprising at least one bone screw having a leading end for placement in the vertebral body and a trailing end opposite said leading end adapted to cooperatively engage said implant so as to prevent the further advancement of the screw into the bone and to be retained within one of said bone screw receiving holes of said implant.

Claim 13

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said implant comprises at least one of the following materials: metal, titanium, plastic, and ceramic.

Claim 14

The implant of claim 1 , wherein said implant has an interior surface and a hollow defined therein.

Claim 15

The implant of claim 1 , in combination with a chemical substance to inhibit scar formation.

Claim 16

The implant of claim 1 , in combination with an antimicrobial material.

Claim 17

The implant of claim 1 , in combination with a bone growth promoting material.

Claim 18

The implant of claim 16 , wherein said bone growth promoting material is at least one of bone, bone morphogenetic protein, hydroxyapatite, and genes coding for the production of bone.

Claim 19

The implant of claim 1 , in combination with an insertion instrument adapted to cooperatively engage at least a portion of said implant.

Claim 20

The implant of claim 1 , in combination with a guide having a passage for guiding a bone hole forming device therethrough, said guide having an end adapted to cooperatively engage at least one of said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 21

The implant and guide combination of claim 19 , further in combination with a bone hole forming device.

Claim 22

The implant and guide combination of claim 20 , wherein said bone hole forming device includes one of a drill, a reamer, and a hole punch.

Claim 23

A flanged interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion at least in part between adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent a disc space to be fused and in part along the anterior aspects of the vertebral bodies adjacent that disc space, said implant comprising: opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, from within the disc space; a leading end for insertion between the adjacent vertebral bodies; a trailing end opposite said leading end, said trailing end including a flanged portion sized to not fit within the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said flanged portion adapted to overlie at least a portion of the anterior aspects of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space, said flanged portion having a maximum height greater than the maximum height of the remainder of said implant as measured from said upper surface to said lower surface when used within the disc space; said implant having a maximum width that is greater than one-half of the width of the adjacent vertebral bodies into which said implant is adapted to be inserted, said leading end forming at least a portion of a first circle along the width of said implant, said trailing end forming at least a portion of a second circle along the width of said implant, the second circle having a radius greater than the radius of the first circle; and at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said flanged portion, each of said bone screw receiving holes being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging said flanged portion to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, at least one of each of said bone screw receiving holes being oriented in said flanged portion to overlie the anterior aspect of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, adjacent the disc space to be fused.

Claim 24

A flanged interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion at least in part between adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent a disc space to be fused and in part along the anterior aspects of the vertebral bodies adjacent that disc space, said implant comprising: opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, from within the disc space; a leading end for insertion between the adjacent vertebral bodies; a trailing end opposite said leading end, said trailing end including a flanged portion sized to not fit within the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said flanged portion adapted to overlie at least a portion of the anterior aspects of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space, said flanged portion having a maximum height greater than the maximum height of the remainder of said implant as measured from said upper surface to said lower surface when used within the disc space; said implant having a maximum width that is greater than one-half of the width of the adjacent vertebral bodies into which said implant is adapted to be inserted, said leading end forming at least a portion of a first circle along the width of said implant, said trailing end forming at least a portion of a second circle along the width of said implant, the second circle having a radius greater than the radius of the first circle; and at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said flanged portion, each of said bone screw receiving holes being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging said flanged portion to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, at least one of each of said bone screw receiving holes being oriented in said flanged portion to overlie the anterior aspect of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, adjacent the disc space to be fused.

Claim 25

The implant of claim 22 , further comprising at least one locking element for locking at least one of at least two bone screws adapted to be inserted in said at least two bone screw receiving holes, respectively, said at least one locking element being moveable from an initial position that permits the insertion of one of the bone screws into a respective one of said bone screw receiving holes to a final position that is adapted to retain at least one of the bone screws to said implant.

Claim 26

The implant of claim 23 , wherein said locking element is adapted to be coupled to said implant prior to the insertion of the bone screws into said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 27

The implant of claim 23 , wherein said locking element in said final position is adapted to retain at least two bone screws to said implant.

Claim 28

The implant of claim 23 , wherein said locking element is adapted to slide over at least a portion of at least two of the bone screws in said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 29

The implant of claim 23 , wherein said locking element is removably coupled to said implant.

Claim 30

The implant of claim 23 , wherein said locking element comprises at least one of a screw, a rivet, a cap, and a cover for contacting at least in part a portion of a trailing end of one of the screws inserted into one of said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 31

The implant of claim 23 , wherein said locking element is configured to lock only a single one of the bone screws inserted in one of said at least two bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 32

The implant of claim 22 , wherein said at least two bone screw receiving holes are adapted to position bone screws in a convergent relationship to one another.

Claim 33

The implant of claim 22 , wherein said at least two bone screw receiving holes are adapted to position bone screws in a divergent relationship to one another.

Claim 34

The implant of claim 22 , further comprising at least one bone screw having a leading end for placement in the vertebral body and a trailing end opposite said leading end adapted to cooperatively engage said implant so as to prevent the further advancement of the screw into the bone and to be retained within one of said bone screw receiving holes of said implant.

Claim 35

The implant of claim 22 , wherein said implant comprises at least one of the following materials: metal, titanium, plastic, and ceramic.

Claim 36

The implant of claim 22 , wherein said implant has an interior surface and a hollow defined therein.

Claim 37

The implant of claim 22 , in combination with a chemical substance to inhibit scar formation.

Claim 38

The implant of claim 22 , in combination with an antimicrobial material.

Claim 39

The implant of claim 22 , in combination with a bone growth promoting material.

Claim 40

The implant of claim 37 , wherein said bone growth promoting material is at least one of bone, bone morphogenetic protein, hydroxyapatite, and genes coding for the production of bone.

Claim 41

The implant of claim 22 , in combination with an insertion instrument adapted to cooperatively engage at least a portion of said implant.

Claim 42

The implant of claim 22 , in combination with a guide having a passage for guiding a bone hole forming device therethrough, said guide having an end adapted to cooperatively engage at least one of said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 43

The implant and guide combination of claim 40 , further in combination with a bone hole forming device.

Claim 44

The implant and guide combination of claim 41 , wherein said bone hole forming device includes one of a drill, a reamer, and a hole punch.

Claim 45

A flanged interbody spinal implant for insertion at least in part between adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent a disc space to be fused and in part along the anterior aspects of the vertebral bodies adjacent that disc space, said implant comprising: a maximum width that is greater than one-half of the width of the adjacent vertebral bodies into which said implant is adapted to be inserted; opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, from within the disc space, each of said upper and lower surfaces including an opening having a maximum width greater than one-half the maximum width of said implant; a leading end for insertion between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said leading end forming at least a portion of a circle; a trailing end opposite said leading end and a mid-longitudinal axis through said leading and trailing ends, said trailing end including a flanged portion sized to not fit within the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said flanged portion adapted to overlie at least a portion of the anterior aspects of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space, said flanged portion having a height greater than the maximum height of the remainder of said implant as measured from said upper surface to said lower surface when used within the disc space; opposite sides between said trailing and leading ends, said sides being substantially parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis along a substantial portion of the length of said implant, each of said opposite sides including an exterior surface having a non-curved portion in a plane parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis of said implant; at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said flanged portion, each of said bone screw receiving holes being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging said flanged portion to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, at least one of each of said bone screw receiving holes being oriented in said flanged portion to overlie the anterior aspect of the vertebral bodies, respectively, adjacent the disc space to be and at least one locking element for locking at least one of at least two bone screws adapted to be inserted in said at least two bone screw receiving holes, respectively, said at least one locking element being moveable from an initial position that permits the insertion of one of the bone screws into a respective one of said bone screw receiving holes to a final position that is adapted to retain at least one of the bone screws to said implant, said locking element being adapted to be coupled to said implant prior to the insertion of the bone screws into said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 46

A flanged interbody spinal implant for insertion at least in part between adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent a disc space to be fused and in part along the anterior aspects of the vertebral bodies adjacent that disc space, said implant comprising: a maximum width that is greater than one-half of the width of the adjacent vertebral bodies into which said implant is adapted to be inserted; opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, from within the disc space, each of said upper and lower surfaces including an opening having a maximum width greater than one-half the maximum width of said implant; a leading end for insertion between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said leading end forming at least a portion of a circle; a trailing end opposite said leading end and a mid-longitudinal axis through said leading and trailing ends, said trailing end including a flanged portion sized to not fit within the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said flanged portion adapted to overlie at least a portion of the anterior aspects of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space, said flanged portion having a height greater than the maximum height of the remainder of said implant as measured from said upper surface to said lower surface when used within the disc space; opposite sides between said trailing and leading ends, said sides being substantially parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis along a substantial portion of the length of said implant, each of said opposite sides including an exterior surface having a non-curved portion in a plane parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis of said implant; at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said flanged portion, each of said bone screw receiving holes being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging said flanged portion to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, at least one of each of said bone screw receiving holes being oriented in said flanged portion to overlie the anterior aspect of the vertebral bodies, respectively, adjacent the disc space to be and at least one locking element for locking at least one of at least two bone screws adapted to be inserted in said at least two bone screw receiving holes, respectively, said at least one locking element being moveable from an initial position that permits the insertion of one of the bone screws into a respective one of said bone screw receiving holes to a final position that is adapted to retain at least one of the bone screws to said implant, said locking element being adapted to be coupled to said implant prior to the insertion of the bone screws into said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 47

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said openings of said upper and lower surfaces are in communication with one another to define a generally open interior of said implant.

Claim 48

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said locking element in said final position is adapted to retain at least two bone screws to said implant.

Claim 49

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said locking element is adapted to slide over at least a portion of at least two of the bone screws in said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 50

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said locking element is removably coupled to said implant.

Claim 51

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said locking element comprises at least one of a screw, a rivet, a cap, and a cover for contacting at least in part a portion of a trailing end of one of the screws inserted into one of said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 52

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said locking element is configured to lock only a single one of the bone screws inserted in one of said at least two bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 53

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said at least two bone screw receiving holes are adapted to position bone screws in a convergent relationship to one another.

Claim 54

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said at least two bone screw receiving holes are adapted to position bone screws in a divergent relationship to one another.

Claim 55

The implant of claim 43 , further comprising at least one bone screw having a leading end for placement in the vertebral body and a trailing end opposite said leading end adapted to cooperatively engage said implant so as to prevent the further advancement of the screw into the bone and to be retained within one of said bone screw receiving holes of said implant.

Claim 56

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said implant comprises at least one of the following materials: metal, titanium, plastic, and ceramic.

Claim 57

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said implant has an interior surface and a hollow defined therein.

Claim 58

The implant of claim 43 , in combination with a chemical substance to inhibit scar formation.

Claim 59

The implant of claim 43 , in combination with an antimicrobial material.

Claim 60

The implant of claim 43 , in combination with a bone growth promoting material.

Claim 61

The implant of claim 57 , wherein said bone growth promoting material is at least one of bone, bone morphogenetic protein, hydroxyapatite, and genes coding for the production of bone.

Claim 62

The implant of claim 43 , in combination with an insertion instrument adapted to cooperatively engage at least a portion of said implant.

Claim 63

The implant of claim 43 , in combination with a guide having a passage for guiding a bone hole forming device therethrough, said guide having an end adapted to cooperatively engage at least one of said bone screw receiving holes.

Claim 64

The implant and guide combination of claim 60 , further in combination with a bone hole forming device.

Claim 65

The implant and guide combination of claim 61 , wherein said bane hole forming device includes one of a drill, a reamer, and a hole punch.

Claim 66

The implant of claim 13 , wherein at least one of said bone screw receiving holes is configured to permit at least a portion of a bone screw to pass through said hollow of said implant.

Claim 67

The implant of claim 34 , wherein at least one of said bone screw receiving holes is configured to permit at least a portion of a bone screw to pass through said hollow of said implant.

Claim 68

The implant of claim 44 , wherein at least one of said bone screw receiving holes is configured to permit at least a portion of a bone screw to pass through said interior of said implant.

Claim 69

The implant of claim 22 , wherein said flanged portion of said trailing end has a maximum width generally the same as the maximum width of said implant.

Claim 70

The implant of claim 43 , wherein said flanged portion of said trailing end has a maximum width generally the same as the maximum width of said implant.