Patent ID: 6471724
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
An interbody fusion apparatus for implantation in the disc space between adjacent vertebrae to be fused, comprising:a hollow body having at least an upper substantially cylindrical portion and a lower substantially cylindrical portion defining an outer diameter greater than the height of the disc space between the adjacent vertebrae, said substantially cylindrical portions each configured to contact a portion of one of the adjacent vertebrae, said body having a first end and an opposite second end and including an end wall at said first end, said end wall defining an upper portion and a lower portion; a first screw bore defined through said end wall upper portion, said first screw bore defining a first longitudinal axis oriented such that said first longitudinal axis intersects said upper substantially cylindrical portion and a second screw bore defined through said end wall lower portion, said second screw bore defining a second longitudinal axis oriented such that said second longitudinal axis intersects said lower substantially cylindrical portion, the longitudinal axis of said first and second screw bores diverging from each other toward said second end; and a first bone screw sized to extend through said first screw bore and project outward from said upper substantially cylindrical portion through a first aperture and a second bone screw sized to extend through said second screw bore and project outward from said lower substantially cylindrical portion through a second aperture disposed generally opposite said first aperture, said bone screws configured to threadedly engage the adjacent vertebrae to retain said hollow body within the disc space.