Patent ID: 8002832

Claim:
A trapezoidally configured implant for insertion into a vertebral cavity created by surgical removal of a part of a spinal column; said trapezoidally configured implant comprising: a) a first generally horizontal platform capable of engaging an upper vertebra, comprising: i) a shortest side; ii) a longest side outward from and opposite of said shortest side; iii) a first converging side converging from a first corner of said longest side to a first corner of said shortest side; iv) a second converging side converging from a second corner of said longest side to a second corner of said shortest side; and v) a trapezoidal aperture created by inward edges of said shortest side, said longest side, said first converging side and said second converging side; b) a second generally horizontal platform capable of engaging a lower vertebra, comprising: i), a shortest side; ii) a longest side outward from and opposite of said shortest side; iii) a first converging side converging from a first corner of said longest side to a first corner of said shortest side; iv) a second converging side converging from a second corner of said longest side to a second corner of said shortest side; and v) a trapezoidal aperture corresponding to said first generally horizontal platform's trapezoidal aperture; c) a first corner post extending vertically between said first corner of said first generally horizontal platform's shortest side and said first corner of said second generally horizontal platform's shortest side; d) a second corner post extending vertically between said second corner of said first generally horizontal platform's shortest side and said second corner of said second generally horizontal platform's shortest side; f) a third post extending vertically between said first converging side of said first generally horizontal platform and said first converging side of said second generally horizontal platform; g) a fourth post extending vertically between said second converging side of said first generally horizontal platform and said second converging side of said generally horizontal second platform, wherein extension of said posts between said first generally horizontal platform and said second generally horizontal platform creates a plurality of apertures of more than one cross-sectional area about the vertical margin of said trapezoidally configured implant such that, prior to addition of osteogenic substances to said custom fitted implant, a surgeon can see through said plurality of apertures; and h) brakes adjacent either first ends or second ends of said longest sides of said generally horizontal platforms, wherein said brakes extend laterally outward from either said first converging sides or said second converging sides of said generally horizontal platforms.