Patent ID: 7267687

Claim:
A spinal implant having first and second axially spaced end portions and an intermediate portion between the first and second end portions, the first and second end portions defining first and second surfaces defining upper and lower flat surfaces, the implant composed of shape memory material further having a first shape memorized expanded configuration, a first shaped memorized curved non-linear placement configuration wherein it is C-shaped in configuration when implanted wherein the first and second end portions are angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the intermediate portion and extend towards each other, a second radially compressed configuration, and a second delivery configuration wherein the first and second end portions face away from each other and the end portions lie along a longitudinal axis of the implant which passes through the intermediate portion, the implant further having a C-shaped transverse cross-section smaller in transverse cross-sectional dimension in the radially compressed configuration than in the first expanded configuration and having a more linear configuration in the second delivery configuration than in the first curved configuration, the implant assuming the second radially compressed configuration and second delivery configuration during delivery to the disc space and assuming the first curved configuration and first expanded configuration upon placement within the disc space, the implant further moving towards the radially compressed configuration once implanted in response to a load placed on the implant by the vertebral bodies, in the delivery configuration the first and second end portions are spaced apart a first distance and in the first curved C-shaped placement configuration the first and second end portions are spaced apart a second distance less than the first distance and the implant is adapted to extend circumferentially along the periphery of the disc space in the C-shaped configuration wherein the implant has both a transverse C-shaped configuration and a C-shape defined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the implant when implanted.