Patent ID: 7244275
Filing Date: 2007-07-17
Classification: A61F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An orthopedic implant for contact with bone, including adjacent bones and adjacent bone portions, of a human skeleton, said implant comprising: a leading end for introduction of said orthopedic implant into the bone, an opposite trailing end, spaced apart sides therebetween, and a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said leading and trailing ends; an exterior surface between said leading and trailing ends and said spaced apart sides, said exterior surface adapted for placement in engagement with the bone; and a plurality of surface projections formed on said exterior surface of said implant, at least a first and a second of said surface projections each having at least one forward facing facet directed at least in part toward said leading end and at least one rearward facet directed at least in part toward said trailing end, each of said forward facet and rearward facet having a length and a slope, the length of said forward facet being longer than the length of said rearward facet, the slope of said rearward facet being steeper than the slope of said forward facet, the slope of said forward facets of said at least said first and said second of said surface projections being the same, at least a portion of said rearward facet of said first surface projection overlying a portion of said forward facet of said second surface projection, said first and second surface projections each having opposed side facets directed generally toward said spaced apart sides of said implant, respectively, said side facets being located between said forward facet and said rearward facet of each of said first and second surface projections.