Vertebral Fusion Implants and Methods of Use

Abstract

A vertebral implant for use in vertebral fusion surgeries includes a body with an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface defines an interior cavity into which bone growth promoting materials such as bone graft are insertable. The body also includes a plurality of apertures that extend from the exterior surface to the interior surface. Further, the vertebral implant includes a cutting feature to decorticate bone that protrudes outward from the exterior surface at each aperture. The cutting feature is shaped so that as a cutting force is applied to move the implant in a cutting direction, the removed bone matter is directed through the apertures and into the interior cavity.

1 . An implant for insertion into a patient between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:
 a hollow body with an enclosed interior cavity, the body including a first side configured to contact against the first vertebral member and a second side configured to contact against the second vertebral member after the implant has been inserted into the patient;   a plurality of apertures and cutting features positioned about the first and second sides, each of the apertures extending through one of the first and second sides, and each of the cutting features extending outward from the body at one of the plurality of apertures, each of the cutting features including a tapered shape that terminates at a pointed tip that cuts into one of the first and second vertebral members;   the enclosed interior cavity configured to capture and maintain portions of the first and second vertebral members that are cut by the cutting features and enter the enclosed interior cavity through the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein each of the cutting features includes a leading surface relative to a cutting direction that extends at least partly around the corresponding aperture and is concave relative to the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second cutting features that each extend outward from one of the first and second sides and are spaced away from each of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cutting features positioned on the first side include different heights. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting features in proximity to a leading end of the body include a smaller height than the cutting features in proximity to an opposing trailing end of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a leading end and a trailing end that are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cutting features on the first side are equidistant from a common point on the first side. 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes an exterior geometry that is different than an interior geometry with the body having different thicknesses at various sections around the interior cavity. 
     
     
         9 . An implant for insertion into a patient between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:
 a hollow body with an enclosed interior cavity, the body including a first section configured to contact against the first vertebral member and a second section configured to contact against the second vertebral member after the implant has been inserted into the patient;   a plurality of apertures and cutting features positioned about the first section, each of the apertures extending through the first section and into the interior cavity, and each of the cutting features extending outward from the first section at one of the plurality of apertures;   a first one of the cutting features includes a first leading surface facing a first direction and a second one of the cutting features includes a second leading surface facing a different second direction;   the enclosed interior cavity configured to capture and maintain portions of the first and second vertebral members that are cut by the cutting features and enter the enclosed interior cavity through the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 9 , wherein the first leading surface and the second leading surface face in opposing directions. 
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 9 , wherein the body further includes a leading end and a trailing end each extending between the first and second sections, the first leading surface facing towards the leading end and the second leading surface facing towards the trailing end. 
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 9 , further including a second plurality of apertures and cutting features positioned about the second section, each of the apertures extending through the second section and into the interior cavity and each of the cutting features extending outward from the second section at one of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 9 , wherein each of the cutting features includes a tapered shape that terminates at a pointed tip and is configured to cut into the first vertebral member. 
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 9 , wherein a height of the plurality of cutting features increases from a leading end of the body to a trailing end of the body. 
     
     
         15 . An implant for insertion into a patient between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:
 a hollow body with an enclosed interior cavity, the body including a first side configured to contact against the first vertebral member and a second side configured to contact against the second vertebral member after the implant has been inserted into the patient, the first side including an inner surface that faces into the interior cavity and an opposing outer surface;   a plurality of paired cutting features positioned about the first side, each of the paired cutting features including an aperture that extends through the first side and into the interior cavity and a tooth at the aperture that extends outward from the outer surface;   the body having different thickness over the first side with the inner surface of the first side having a different geometry than the outer surface of the first side;   the enclosed interior cavity configured to capture and maintain portions of the first vertebral member that are cut by the plurality of paired cutting features and enter the enclosed interior cavity through the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         16 . The implant of  claim 15 , wherein the body includes a cylindrical shape with the plurality of paired cutting features extending around an exterior surface that includes the first and second sides. 
     
     
         17 . The implant of  claim 15 , wherein the body includes a tapered shape that changes in height between a leading end and a trailing end. 
     
     
         18 . The implant of  claim 15 , wherein a first portion of the plurality of paired cutting features are oriented in a first direction and a second portion of the plurality of paired cutting features are oriented in a different second direction. 
     
     
         19 . The implant of  claim 15 , further comprising a second plurality of paired cutting features positioned about the second side, each of the second plurality of paired cutting features includes an aperture that extends through the second side and into the interior cavity and a tooth at the aperture that extends outward. 
     
     
         20 . The implant of  claim 15 , wherein the body includes a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape.