Patent ID: 8177848

Claim:
A spinal implant for insertion into a space between adjacent vertebrae, comprising: an elongated central element extending along a longitudinal axis wherein said elongated central element comprises a solid rod; opposite first and second pieces including opposing inwardly facing surfaces, said central element extending axially between and attached to central portions of said inwardly facing surfaces, at least one of said first and second end pieces including an outer perimeter extending about said longitudinal axis, said outer perimeter defining a circular region and a recessed region; wherein each of said first and second end pieces includes a plurality of radially extending spokes extending radially outward from said central portion and defining triangular-shaped apertures therebetween to facilitate bone growth into said annular pocket; and wherein said central element defines a first outer dimension transverse to said longitudinal axis, said first and second end pieces defining a second outer dimension transverse to said longitudinal axis, said first outer dimension of said central element being less than said second outer dimension of said first and second end pieces to define an annular pocket surrounding and extending continuously about said central element and extending between said inwardly facing surfaces of said first and second end pieces.