Patent ID: 8870956

Claim:
A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, which comprises: an elongate implant member dimensioned for positioning between adjacent vertebrae to support and maintain the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation, the implant member dimensioned to support the adjacent vertebrae on exposed surfaces of the adjacent vertebrae, the implant member defining a longitudinal axis extending along its length and first and second longitudinal ends, and having an outer wall constructed to engage the exposed surfaces of the adjacent vertebrae upon positioning therebetween, the outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances and including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue, the outer wall defining a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the cross-section having a greater convex arc and a lesser concave arc, the entire greater convex arc curving convexly in the lengthwise direction and defining a circular cross-section on a portion of the outer wall and the entire lesser concave arc curving concavely in a radial direction and defining a circular concave cut-out extending along the entire length of another portion of the outer wall, the greater convex arc defining a greater perimeter of the outer wall than the lesser concave arc, and the internal cavity curving convexly in the lengthwise direction along the entire longitudinal axis and around the entire circumference of the internal cavity, wherein the first and second longitudinal ends have equivalent shapes and cross-sectional areas.