Patent ID: 6350283
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: A61F,C10G

Abstract:
An interbody spinal implant for insertion at least in part across a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, the vertebral bodies having an anterior aspect and a posterior aspect, said implant comprising:a leading end for insertion first into the disc space, a trailing end opposite said leading end, and therebetween a length along a mid-longitudinal axis of said implant, said leading end being asymmetrical; opposed portions between said leading and trailing ends adapted to be placed within the disc space to contact and support the adjacent vertebral bodies, said opposed portions being non-arcuate along at least a portion of the length of said implant, said implant being formed of bone; an interior facing side wall, an exterior facing side wall opposite said interior side wall, and a width therebetween, said width of said implant being less than approximately one-half of the maximum width of the adjacent vertebral bodies into which said implant is adapted to be inserted, said interior and exterior side walls connecting said opposed portions and said leading and trailing ends, said interior side wall adapted to be oriented toward another implant when inserted within the disc space; at least one through-hole having a maximum cross-sectional dimension greater than 0.5 mm between said interior facing and said exterior facing side walls passing completely through said implant from opposed portion to opposed portion and adapted to hold bone growth promoting material for permitting for the growth of bone from vertebral body to vertebral body through said implant; a first distance as measured from said leading end to a plane perpendicular to and bisecting the length along the mid-longitudinal axis of said implant that is greater than a second distance as measured from said perpendicular plane to the junction of said leading end and said exterior side wall; and a third distance as measured from the junction of said leading end and said interior side wall to a plane perpendicular to and bisecting the length along the mid-longitudinal axis of said implant that is greater than said second distance.