Patent ID: 7303583

Claim:
An intervertebral implant consisting: a first face for engaging a first vertebral endplate and a second face for engaging a second vertebral endplate, outer and inner walls extending between the faces, a central axis, an opening defined by the inner wall, a through-slot extending from the first face through to the second face and from the outer wall through to the inner wall, the through-slot aligned with the central axis; wherein at least 95 percent by volume of the implant is formed of a radiolucent material with a modulus of elasticity between 1 GPa and 20 GPa; wherein the first face and the second face each have a plurality of three-dimensional projections extending therefrom; wherein at least one of the first and second faces is provided with at least one guide notch and the second face contains a perforation, the perforation not aligned with the central axis; and wherein at least a portion of the implant is formed of a metallic, radiopaque material.