Patent ID: 7967847

Claim:
A fusion rod, comprising: a rod portion extending at least partially along and lying on a longitudinal axis from a first end to an intermediate portion wherein said intermediate portion is located on said longitudinal axis; a fusion portion extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis from said intermediate portion to a second end opposite said first end, said fusion portion including a body defining a cavity for bone growth material, wherein said cavity extends from said longitudinal axis to said second end and said fusion portion includes a number of wall openings about said body in communication with said cavity, wherein said number of wall openings define a mesh cage-like structure on at least a portion of said fusion portion that is located on the longitudinal axis, wherein: said fusion portion is curved in a direction along said longitudinal axis so that a center of said fusion portion defines a first between said intermediate portion and said second end, wherein said longitudinal axis lies in said first plane; said second end of said fusion portion defines an opening into said cavity that lies in a second plane that is parallel to said longitudinal axis and orthogonal to said first plane; and when viewed in a direction looking along said first plane and toward said second end of said fusion portion, said rod portion includes a bend forming an angled rod portion that extends at an angle with said longitudinal axis from said bend to said first end of said rod portion so that said first end of said rod portion is offset from said longitudinal axis with said angled rod portion and said longitudinal axis defining third plane that is orthogonal to said first plane and parallel to said second plane.