Patent ID: 8137402

Claim:
A vertebral defect fusion device for insertion into an intervertebral space between a pair of adjacent vertebrae and assisting in fusion between the adjacent vertebrae, the vertebral defect device comprising: a rigid body having a closed distal end, a proximal end, a top, a bottom and a pair of lateral sides, the distal end forming a generally blunt tip, being tapered in a general direction that extends between the top and the bottom of the body to facilitate insertion of the body into the intervertebral space, and having a flat surface for contacting adjacent vertebrae during insertion, the proximal end connecting the lateral sides and having a connecting port for engaging an insertion tool; at least a first arch proximate the top of the body and extending from the proximal end of the body toward the distal end of the body, the first arch being spaced from both lateral sides of the body; at least a second arch proximate the bottom of the body and extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, the second arch being spaced from both lateral sides and generally laterally aligned with the first arch providing a rigid, generally vertical support, the first and second arches being joined to form said vertical support that is at least partially in the shape of a generally planar plate, at least a portion of the space between the support and one of the lateral sides extends entirely from the top of the body to the bottom of the body to provide an open gap between adjacent vertebrae; an aperture extending laterally through each of the lateral sides of the body and through each of the first and second arches to form at least a portion of a central cavity, the central cavity being sufficiently sized to receive material through the aperture for promoting bone growth in the central cavity through spaces between the first and second arches and between the arches and the lateral sides, the aperture being sufficiently large for viewing bone growth within the device; and a length of the device, as measured from the distal end to the proximal end of the rigid body, is greater than both a height of the device, as measured from the top to the bottom of the rigid body, and a width of the device, as measured from one lateral side to the opposing lateral side of the device, a maximum width of the device being different than a maximum height of the device, wherein the vertebral defect device is monolithically formed as a single piece and is generally egg-shaped with rounded or contoured edges on all exposed surfaces during insertion.