Patent ID: 7163561

Claim:
A flanged interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion at least in part between adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent a disc space to be fused and in part along the anterior aspects of the vertebral bodies adjacent that disc space, said implant comprising: opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, from within the disc space, said opposed upper and lower surfaces each having at least one opening, said openings being adapted to permit bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant; a leading end for insertion between the adjacent vertebral bodies: a trailing end opposite said leading end, said trailing end including a flanged portion sized to not fit within the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said flanged portion adapted to overlie at least a portion of the anterior aspects of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space, said flanged portion having a maximum height greater than the maximum height of the remainder of said implant as measured from said upper surface to said lower surface when used within the disc space; at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said flanged portion, each of said bone screw receiving holes being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging said flanged portion to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, at least one of each of said bone screw receiving holes being oriented in said flanged portion to overlie the anterior aspect of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, adjacent the disc space to be fused; and at least one locking element for locking at least one of the at least two bone screws adapted to be inserted in said at least two bone screw receiving holes, respectively, said at least one locking element being slideable along said trailing end from an initial position that permits the insertion of a bone screw into a respective one of said bone screw receiving holes to a final position that is adapted to retain at least one bone screw to said implant, said at least one locking element having a maximum dimension not exceeding the maximum height of said flanged portion when said locking element is in any position relative to said flange.