Skeletal Stabilization Implant

Abstract

A spinal implant is described in this disclosure. The implant includes first and second pieces separated by a controlled break location. Spinal implant kits having multiple spinal implant pieces derived from a common source also are disclosed.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . A method of manufacturing a skeletal implant, the method comprising: 
 isolating a segment of bone; and    forming a controlled break location in the segment of bone.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the bone is from an allograft bone source.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the controlled break location is formed by forming a notch in the segment of bone.  
     
     
         29 . A method of manufacturing a skeletal implant, the method comprising: 
 isolating a segment of bone having first and second opposite pieces; and    forming a controlled break location in the segment of bone positioned between the first and second pieces.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein isolating the segment of bone involves forming a convex outer boundary and a concave inner boundary, wherein forming the controlled break location involves forming a first notch at the outer boundary.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein forming the controlled break location further involves forming a second notch at the inner boundary.  
     
     
         32 . A skeletal implant kit comprising: 
 a first implant derived from a bone source;    a second implant derived from the same bone source as the first implant; and    a package containing the first and second implants.    
     
     
         33 . The implant kit of  claim 32 , wherein the bone source is a cadaveric femur bone.  
     
     
         34 . The implant kit of  claim 32 , wherein the first and second implants are substantially the same size and shape.  
     
     
         35 . A skeletal implant kit comprising: 
 a unitary implant breakable into a plurality of pieces, the implant being derived from a bone source;    a package containing the unitary implant.    
     
     
         36 . The skeletal implant kit of  claim 35 , wherein the unitary implant is manually breakable.  
     
     
         37 . The skeletal implant kit of  claim 35 , wherein the unitary implant is breakable into first and second pieces.  
     
     
         38 . The skeletal implant kit of  claim 35 , wherein the pieces are substantially the same size and shape.  
     
     
         39 . The skeletal implant kit of  claim 35 , wherein the bone source is a cadaveric femur bone.  
     
     
         40 . A method for stabilizing bone surfaces, the method comprising: 
 inserting a first implant between the bone surfaces, the first implant comprising a first portion of a bone source; and    inserting a second implant between the bone surfaces, the second implant comprising a second portion from the bone source.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the bone source is from a human donor.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the bone source is a femur bone.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the bone source includes an allograft bone source.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the first and second implants are inserted from a posterior approach.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the first and second implants are derived from a unitary implant.  
     
     
         46 . A method for stabilizing two vertebrae, the method comprising: 
 separating a one-piece implant into at least two implant pieces;    inserting a first one of the implant pieces between the two vertebrae; and    inserting a second one of the implant pieces between the two vertebrae.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the first and second implant pieces are inserted from a posterior approach.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising obtaining the one-piece implant from a sterile package before separating the one-piece implant into the first and second implant pieces.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the one-piece implant is separated into the first and second pieces by manually breaking the one-piece implant.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the one-piece implant is broken at a predefined break location.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the one-piece implant is separated into the first and second pieces by cutting the one-piece implant with a tool.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the one-piece implant is from an allograft bone source.  
     
     
         53 . A skeletal implant comprising: 
 a first implant portion;    a second implant portion; and    a third portion joining, and integral with, the first and second implant portions and having a breakable location,    the first and second implant portions being adapted to be independently implantable into a patient after the third portion is broken at the breakable location, each of the first and second implant portions comprising a mounting structure adapted to engage an insertion tool for implanting the portion, wherein the mounting structure comprises a force-application surface and an opening defined through the surface, the opening adapted to receive a protrusion on the insertion tool.    
     
     
         54 . The implant of  claim 53 , wherein each of the first and second implant portions has an upper surface adapted to engage a first vertebra in the patient and a lower surface adapted to engage a second vertebra in the patient.  
     
     
         55 . The implant of  claim 54 , wherein the opening is an elongated channel along a longitudinal axis, and the force-application surface is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         56 . A skeletal implant comprising: 
 first and second implant members, each comprising: 
 a top surface adapted to engage and support an upper vertebra, and  
 a bottom surface adapted to engage and support a lower vertebra; and  
   a single controlled break location positioned between the first and second implant members, the controlled break location including a region of reduced cross-sectional area, the region of reduced cross-sectional area being smaller than nominal cross-sectional areas of each of the first and second implant members, wherein the first and second implant members are symmetrically disposed with respect an axis of symmetry passing through the controlled break location.    
     
     
         57 . A skeletal implant comprising: 
 first and second implant members, each comprising: 
 a top surface adapted to engage and support an upper vertebra, and  
 a bottom surface adapted to engage and support a lower vertebra; and  
   a single controlled break location positioned between the first and second implant members, the controlled break location including a region of reduced cross-sectional area, the region of reduced cross-sectional area being smaller than nominal cross-sectional areas of each of the first and second implant members, wherein the skeletal implant member is C-shaped.