Patent ID: 8057475

Claim:
An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion within an implantation space formed across the height of a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising: a body having a leading end for insertion first into the disc space, a trailing end opposite said leading end, a mid-longitudinal axis through said leading and trailing ends, and opposed arcuate portions between said leading and trailing ends adapted to be placed within the implantation space oriented toward the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, one of said opposed arcuate portions adapted to contact one of said adjacent vertebral bodies, and the other of said opposed arcuate portions adapted to contact the other said adjacent vertebral bodies, said opposed arcuate portions maintaining a spaced relationship between the adjacent vertebral bodies in the implantation space; and a thread extending from at least adjacent said leading end to at least adjacent said trailing end, said thread adapted to engage said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies and to facilitate rotation of said implant from a first position to a second position during insertion thereof into the implantation space, said body having a plurality of openings between one complete turn of said thread, each of said openings having a maximum cross sectional dimension, the maximum cross sectional dimension of at least two of said openings being different, at least two of said openings being in communication with one another to permit for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.