Patent ID: 6149686
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
An implant for insertion into a bore formed between opposing vertebrae of a spine where said vertebrae are separated by a spacing, said implant comprising:a rigid body having a leading end and a trailing end spaced apart by a longitudinal axis of said body;said body including a generally continuous helical thread pattern having exposed threads disposed substantially entirely throughout an axial length of said body between said leading end and said trailing end, said threads selected to engage vertebra material and draw said body along a direction of said axis upon rotation of said body about said axis;said body having means defining a chamber disposed within said body;a plurality of openings formed through said body in communication with said chamber and with said openings extending generally radially to said axis;said body sized to have a dimension generally transverse to said longitudinal axis selected to be greater than said spacing between said vertebrae for said body to be received within said bore between said vertebrae with a portion of said body opposing a first of said opposing vertebrae and with an opposite side of said body opposing a second of said opposing vertebrae;a plurality of said threads having a cross-sectional profile taken along a plane parallel to said longitudinal axis, said profile of said threads having substantially radial leading and trailing faces each connected by an annular surface with said leading and trailing faces and said annular surface defining said profile, a distance between said leading and trailing faces at a radially outer end of said faces being substantially equal to a distance between said leading and trailing faces at a radially inner end of said faces.