Interbody implants and graft delivery systems

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a method for promoting spinal fusion using a spinal implant comprises providing a spinal implant, wherein the spinal implant comprises at least one internal chamber being is adapted to receive at least one graft and/or other fill material. In some arrangements, one or more walls of the spinal implant comprise at least one opening or hole that places the internal chamber in fluid communication with an exterior area or portion of the spinal implant. The method additionally includes positioning the spinal implant between two adjacent vertebrae of a patient and directing at least one graft and/or other fill material into the internal chamber of the spinal implant through the access port.

1 . A spinal implant configured for placement within an intervertebral space of a subject, comprising:
 a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being configured to be placed within the intervertebral space using a TLIF approach;   a medial wall and a lateral wall generally opposite of the medial wall, wherein the medial and lateral walls extend from the distal end to the proximal end of the implant, wherein at least one of the medial wall and the lateral wall comprises at least one opening;   at least one chamber defined by the distal and proximal walls and the medial and lateral walls, the at least one chamber being in fluid communication with the at least one opening of the medial wall or the lateral wall;   an access port along the proximal end of the implant, wherein the access port is configured to secure to a insertion tool, the access port being in fluid communication with the at least one chamber of the implant;   wherein the at least one opening along the medial or lateral wall is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the spinal implant by an angle θ, wherein θ is approximately 10-45 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein excess graft material delivered into the at least one chamber through the at least one access port is configured to exit the implant through the at least one opening. 
     
     
         3 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the access port is threaded, so that a delivery tool comprising a corresponding thread pattern can be selectively attached to and detached from the spinal implant. 
     
     
         4 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of teeth along the top and bottom surfaces of the implant. 
     
     
         5 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is a TLIF implant. 
     
     
         6 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is an oblique TLIF implant. 
     
     
         7 . A method for promoting spinal fusion in a subject, the method comprising:
 implanting a spinal implant within a targeted intervertebral space of the subject;   at least partially filling an internal chamber of the spinal implant by delivering a volume of grafting material through an opening of the spinal implant; and   delivering an additional volume of grafting materials that at least partially contacts and surrounds the implanted spinal implant.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the implant comprises at least one of a lateral implant and a TLIF implant (e.g., banana TLIF, oblique TLIF, etc.). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein grafting material delivered into the internal chamber through at least one access port of the spinal implant, and wherein a volume of excess grafting material is configured to exit the implant through an opening of the spinal implant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the opening of the spinal implant is located along a medial or a lateral wall of the spinal implant. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the opening of the spinal impalnt is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the spinal implant by an angle θ, wherein θ is approximately 10 to 45 degrees 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising removably attaching the spinal implant to a delivery tool in order to advance the spinal implant to a target intervertebral location of the subject. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the delivery port is configured to removably attach to an access port of the spinal implant. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the access port of the spinal implant is threaded so that a delivery tool comprising a corresponding thread pattern can selectively attach to and detach from the spinal implant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the spinal implant comprises a plurality of teeth along the top and bottom surfaces of the spinal implant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the implant comprises a TLIF implant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the implant comprises an oblique TLIF implant.