Threaded spinal implant for insertion between vertebral bodies

Abstract

An artificial spinal implant is disclosed which when placed between two adjacent vertebrae directly participates and is incorporated in the ensuing fusion. Instrumentation and procedure is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An at least in part hollow artificial interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion at least in part in between the external perimeters of two spaced apart vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising: 
 opposed arcuate portions each having an interior facing surface and an exterior facing surface, said interior facing surfaces being spaced apart to define a hollow interior, each of said opposed arcuate portions having at least one opening therethrough in communication with said hollow interior; and    a thread on at least a portion of said exterior facing surfaces of said opposed arcuate portions.    
     
     
         2 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said implant is at least in part cylindrical.  
     
     
         3 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said implant has a mid-longitudinal axis and has a generally circular cross-section transverse to the mid-longitudinal axis over at least a portion thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said implant has opposite ends between said opposed arcuate portions, at least one of said ends being at least in part open.  
     
     
         5 . The spinal implant of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one end being at least in part open is configured to threadably engage a length extending member.  
     
     
         6 . The spinal implant of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one end being at least in part open is adapted to threadably engage an end cap.  
     
     
         7 . The spinal implant of  claim 6 , wherein said end cap is a length extending member.  
     
     
         8 . The spinal implant of  claim 7 , wherein said length extending member is adapted to contact at least one of the spaced apart vertebral bodies.  
     
     
         9 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said opposed arcuate portions include a plurality of said openings therethrough.  
     
     
         10 . The spinal implant of  claim 4 , wherein said implant has a maximum diameter and a maximum length from one of said opposite ends to the other of said opposite ends, said maximum length being greater than said maximum diameter.  
     
     
         11 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said thread on said exterior facing surfaces is not continuous.  
     
     
         12 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said thread has at least one interruption.  
     
     
         13 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said exterior facing surfaces are not threaded between spaced apart portions of said exterior facing surfaces that are threaded.  
     
     
         14 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , in combination with bone.  
     
     
         15 . The spinal implant of  claim 14 , wherein said bone is loaded in said hollow interior of said implant.  
     
     
         16 . The spinal implant of  claim 14 , wherein said bone is compressively loaded in said implant.  
     
     
         17 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , in combination with a fusion promoting substance other than bone.  
     
     
         18 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said implant comprises at least in part a fusion promoting substance.  
     
     
         19 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said implant is treated with a fusion promoting substance.  
     
     
         20 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , in combination with a source of osteogenesis.  
     
     
         21 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said implant comprises an implantation material that is stronger than bone.  
     
     
         22 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said implant comprises an implantation material that comprises a bone ingrowth material.  
     
     
         23 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said implant is in combination with an implantation material that intrinsically participates in the growth of bone through said implant.  
     
     
         24 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said opposed arcuate portions have a porous surface.  
     
     
         25 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said implant comprises an implantation material that is porous.  
     
     
         26 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein said implant comprises an ASTM implant quality material.  
     
     
         27 . The spinal implant of  claim 26 , wherein said ASTM quality material comprises titanium.  
     
     
         28 . An at least in part hollow artificial interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion at least in part in between the external perimeters of two spaced apart vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising: 
 a body having a generally cylindrical sidewall and a mid-longitudinal axis, said body having opposite ends in a plane generally perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis, said sidewall having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a hollow interior of said implant, said sidewall having a plurality of openings therethrough in communication with said hollow interior;    a thread on at least a portion of said exterior surface of said sidewall; and    an end member for cooperatively engaging at least one of said opposite ends of said body, said end member extending from said body when engaged to said body.    
     
     
         29 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said end member extending from said body comprises a portion of the length of said implant.  
     
     
         30 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said opposite ends is configured to threadably engage said end member.  
     
     
         31 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said opposite ends is at least in part open.  
     
     
         32 . The spinal implant of  claim 31 , wherein said at least one end being at least in part open is adapted to threadably engage said end member.  
     
     
         33 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said end member is adapted to contact at least one of the spaced apart vertebral bodies.  
     
     
         34 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein at least said one of said openings is between at least a portion of said thread.  
     
     
         35 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said body has a maximum diameter and a maximum length from one of said opposite ends to the other of said opposite ends, said maximum length being greater than said maximum diameter.  
     
     
         36 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said thread on said exterior surface is not continuous.  
     
     
         37 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said thread on said exterior surface has at least one interruption.  
     
     
         38 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said exterior surface is not threaded between spaced apart portions of said exterior surface that are threaded.  
     
     
         39 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , in combination with bone.  
     
     
         40 . The spinal implant of  claim 39 , wherein said bone is loaded in said hollow interior of said implant.  
     
     
         41 . The spinal implant of  claim 39 , wherein said bone is compressively loaded in said implant.  
     
     
         42 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , in combination with a fusion promoting substance other than bone.  
     
     
         43 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said implant comprises a fusion promoting substance.  
     
     
         44 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said implant is treated with a fusion promoting substance.  
     
     
         45 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , in combination with a source of osteogenesis.  
     
     
         46 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said implant comprises an implantation material that is stronger than bone.  
     
     
         47 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said implant comprises an implantation material that comprises a bone ingrowth material.  
     
     
         48 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said implant is in combination with an implantation material that intrinsically participates in the growth of bone through said implant.  
     
     
         49 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said exterior surface is at least in part porous.  
     
     
         50 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said implant comprises an implantation material that is porous.  
     
     
         51 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein said implant comprises an ASTM implant quality material.  
     
     
         52 . The spinal implant of  claim 51 , wherein said ASTM quality material comprises titanium.  
     
     
         53 . A spinal fusion system comprising: 
 a first interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion at least in part in between the external perimeters of two spaced apart vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising opposed arcuate portions each having an interior facing surface and an exterior facing surface, said interior facing surfaces being spaced apart to define a hollow interior, each of said opposed arcuate portions having at least one opening therethrough in communication with said hollow interior, and a thread on at least a portion of said exterior facing surfaces of said opposed arcuate portions; and    a second spinal implant adapted to penetrably engage each of the spaced apart vertebral bodies, said second spinal implant comprising an elongated member having a plurality of openings therethrough along at least a portion of the length of said second spinal implant.    
     
     
         54 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said second spinal implant includes a threaded member for penetrably engaging at least one of the spaced apart vertebral bodies.  
     
     
         55 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said first implant is at least in part cylindrical.  
     
     
         56 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said first implant has a mid-longitudinal axis and has a generally circular cross-section transverse to the mid-longitudinal axis over at least a portion thereof.  
     
     
         57 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said first implant has opposite ends between said opposed arcuate portions, at least one of said ends being at least in part open.  
     
     
         58 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 57 , wherein said at least one end being at least in part open is configured to threadably engage a length extending member.  
     
     
         59 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 57 , wherein said at least one end being at least in part open is adapted to threadably engage an end cap.  
     
     
         60 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 59 , wherein said end cap is a length extending member.  
     
     
         61 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 60 , wherein said length extending member is adapted to contact at least one of the spaced apart vertebral bodies.  
     
     
         62 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein each of said opposed arcuate portions includes a plurality of said openings therethrough.  
     
     
         63 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 57 , wherein said first implant has a maximum diameter and a maximum length from one of said opposite ends to the other of said opposite ends, said maximum length being greater than said maximum diameter.  
     
     
         64 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said thread on said exterior facing surfaces is not continuous.  
     
     
         65 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 64 , wherein said thread has at least one interruption.  
     
     
         66 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said exterior facing surfaces are not threaded between spaced apart portions of said exterior facing surfaces that are threaded.  
     
     
         67 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , in combination with bone.  
     
     
         68 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 67 , wherein said bone is loaded in said hollow interior of said first implant.  
     
     
         69 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 67 , wherein said bone is compressively loaded in said first implant.  
     
     
         70 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , in combination with a fusion promoting substance other than bone.  
     
     
         71 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said first implant comprises at least in part a fusion promoting substance.  
     
     
         72 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said first implant is treated with a fusion promoting substance.  
     
     
         73 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , in combination with a source of osteogenesis.  
     
     
         74 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said first implant comprises an implantation material that is stronger than bone.  
     
     
         75 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said first implant comprises an implantation material that comprises a bone ingrowth material.  
     
     
         76 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , in combination with an implantation material that intrinsically participates in the growth of bone through said first implant.  
     
     
         77 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said opposed arcuate portions have a porous surface.  
     
     
         78 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein said first implant comprises an implantation material that is porous.  
     
     
         79 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 53 , wherein at least one of said first implant and said second implant comprises an ASTM implant quality material.  
     
     
         80 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 79 , wherein said ASTM quality material comprises titanium.  
     
     
         81 . A spinal fusion system comprising: 
 an interbody spinal fusion implant having a body for placement in between the external perimeters of spaced apart vertebral bodies, said body having at least in part a generally cylindrical sidewall with an exterior surface, said cylindrical side wall having a plurality of perforations therethrough, said exterior surface of said cylindrical sidewall being at least in part threaded; and    additional orthopedic hardware comprising at least one threaded member for threadably engaging said body at one end.    
     
     
         82 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said body has opposite ends.  
     
     
         83 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 82 , further comprising an end member for cooperatively engaging at least one of said opposite ends of said body, said end member extending from said body when engaged to said body.  
     
     
         84 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 83 , wherein said end member extending from said body comprises a portion of the length of said implant.  
     
     
         85 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 83 , wherein at least one of said opposite ends is configured to threadably engage said end member.  
     
     
         86 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 83 , wherein at least one of said opposite ends is at least in part open.  
     
     
         87 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 86 , wherein said at least one end being at least in part open is adapted to threadably engage said end member.  
     
     
         88 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 83 , wherein said end member is adapted to contact at least one of the spaced apart vertebral bodies.  
     
     
         89 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said sidewall includes a plurality of said openings therethrough.  
     
     
         90 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said body has a maximum diameter and a maximum length from one of said opposite ends to the other of said opposite ends, said maximum length being greater than said maximum diameter.  
     
     
         91 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said thread on said exterior surface is not continuous.  
     
     
         92 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said thread on said exterior surface has at least one interruption.  
     
     
         93 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said exterior surface is not threaded between spaced apart portions of said exterior surface that are threaded.  
     
     
         94 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , in combination with bone.  
     
     
         95 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 94 , wherein said bone is loaded in said hollow interior of said implant.  
     
     
         96 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 94 , wherein said bone is compressively loaded in said implant.  
     
     
         97 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , in combination with a fusion promoting substance other than bone.  
     
     
         98 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said implant comprises a fusion promoting substance.  
     
     
         99 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said implant is treated with a fusion promoting substance.  
     
     
         100 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , in combination with a source of osteogenesis.  
     
     
         101 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said implant comprises an implantation material that is stronger than bone.  
     
     
         102 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said implant comprises an implantation material that comprises a bone ingrowth material.  
     
     
         103 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , in combination with an implantation material that intrinsically participates in the growth of bone through said implant.  
     
     
         104 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said exterior surface is at least in part porous.  
     
     
         105 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said implant comprises an implantation material that is porous.  
     
     
         106 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 81 , wherein said implant comprises an ASTM implant quality material.  
     
     
         107 . The spinal fusion system of  claim 106 , wherein said ASTM quality material comprises titanium.