Patent ID: 7041135
Filing Date: 2006-05-09
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: an interbody spinal fusion implant for surgical implantation at least in part within a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies in a segment of a human spine, said implant comprising a leading end for entry into the spine, a trailing end opposite said leading end, and a length therebetween; and upper and lower portions for contacting each of the adjacent vertebral bodies when positioned therein, each of said upper and lower portions having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower portions being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant, each of said upper and lower portions having at least one screw hole passing therethrough proximate said trailing end, each of said screw holes having a longitudinal axis; bone screws adapted for placement through said screw holes of said upper and lower portions and into each of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space to be fused and into which said implant is adapted to be positioned, said trailing end of said implant being adapted to receive said bone screws and to transmit at least a portion of said bone screws through said upper and lower portions so as to engage at least one each into each of the vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space, each of said bone screws having a longitudinal axis; and a lock having a central longitudinal axis that is coaxial with at least one of the longitudinal axis of one of said screw holes and the longitudinal axis of one of said bone screws when engaged to said implant for preventing backing out of only a single one of said bone screws from said implant, said lock being adapted to prevent said single one of said bone screws from backing out of said implant without penetrating said single one of said bone screws.