Patent ID: 6120503
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A spinal fixation apparatus for stabilizing a segment of a human spine, said apparatus comprising:an interbody spinal fusion implant adapted to be surgically implanted at least in part within the disc space between the vertebral bodies of two adjacent vertebrae, said spinal implant having upper and lower surfaces for bearing upon, supporting, aligning, and spacing apart each of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said implant having at least one opening through each of said upper and lower surfaces to allow bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant sufficient to permit spinal fusion; anda spinal fixation device comprising:a top member of sufficient length to span the disc space between the two adjacent vertebral bodies but not greater than the distance along a spinal segment defined by the two adjacent vertebral bodies and the disc space to be fused, said top member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface adapted for placement in close proximity to the spine, said lower surface of said top member having contact portions adapted to be in contact with the vertebral bodies of the two adjacent vertebrae;at least a first projection and a second projection fixedly depending downwardly from said top member, said first projection adapted for insertion by an impaction force into a first of the two adjacent vertebral bodies, said second projection adapted for insertion by an impaction force into a second of the two adjacent vertebral bodies; andmeans for coupling said top member to said spinal implant.