Spinal implant co-insertion system and method

Abstract

A system and method for substantially simultaneous co-insertion of an implant, such as a cage and plate. An inserter is secured to the cage and plate and is used to hold the components while implanting the components during a surgical procedure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spinal implant co-insertion system comprising:
 an inserter having a handle and an inserter fastener;   a cage having at least one coupler adapted to be fastened to said inserter fastener; and   a plate;   said inserter being adapted to simultaneously receive said plate and said cage for simultaneous co-implantation of said plate and cage;   wherein said inserter fastener comprises at least one of threads, a cam, a key, a spread or a clamp, said at least one coupler of said cage being adapted to be fastened or coupled to said inserter fastener;   wherein said plate is not securely coupled or fixed to said cage so that said plate can move, migrate or float with respect to said cage after said plate and said cage are implanted.   
     
     
         2 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said inserter fastener is at an end of said inserter. 
     
     
         3 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said inserter fastener comprises threads, a cam, a key, a spread or a clamp, at least one coupler of said cage being adapted to be fastened or coupled to said inserter fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said inserter comprises a shoulder to facilitate maintaining said plate and said cage in a generally adjacent position during a surgical procedure. 
     
     
         5 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said plate comprises an internal wall that defines a through-hole for receiving said inserter. 
     
     
         6 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 5  wherein said internal wall is threaded and said inserter fastener is threaded. 
     
     
         7 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 3  wherein said plate comprises an internal wall that defines a through-hole to permit said end of said inserter to pass. 
     
     
         8 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 7  wherein said inserter fastener are threads and said internal wall is threaded and adapted to threadably receive said threaded end of said inserter so that said threaded end may be screwed into both said plate and said cage. 
     
     
         9 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said plate comprises a bone-penetrating prong to facilitate stabilizing said plate during or following insertion or when said inserter is removed from said plate and cage. 
     
     
         10 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said cage or plate has an aligner for operatively aligning said cage and said plate together. 
     
     
         11 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 10  wherein said aligner is integrally formed in said plate. 
     
     
         12 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 11  wherein said aligner comprises at least one projection that causes said plate and cage to become aligned when they are received on said inserter. 
     
     
         13 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 10  wherein said aligner comprises a plurality of projections that cause said plate and cage to become aligned when they are received on said inserter. 
     
     
         14 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 13  wherein said cage comprises a plurality of aligning apertures for receiving said plurality of projections in order to align said cage relative to said plate. 
     
     
         15 . The spinal implant co-insertion system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said inserter simultaneously receives said plate and cage so that while said plate and cage are simultaneously co-implanted, said plate and cage are coupled together by said inserter and after said plate and cage are implanted and said inserter is removed from said plate and cage, said cage and plate are independent, uncoupled and separate components. 
     
     
         16 . A plate for use in a spinal implant co-insertion system, comprising:
 a body;   said body having an internal wall that defines a through-hole for receiving an inserter having an inserter end that is screwed into a cage so that said inserter can simultaneously receive said cage and said plate so that they can be simultaneously implanted during a surgical procedure.   
     
     
         17 . A method for co-inserting a cage and a plate during a surgical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:
 coupling an inserter to the cage and the plate so that said inserter simultaneously receives and supports said cage and plate;   simultaneously implanting the cage and plate using the inserter during a surgical procedure;   removing said inserter from said cage; and   removing said inserter from said plate.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said first removing step is performed before said second removing step. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
 passing inserter through said plate; 
 screwing an end of said inserter into a threaded opening in said cage so that said plate becomes mounted on said inserter with said cage securing it to said inserter. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said plate and said cage each have a threaded opening; said method further comprising the step of:
 screwing an end of said inserter into said threaded opening in said plate and then into a threaded opening in said cage. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said method further comprising the step of:
 aligning said plate to said cage before said inserter is secured to said cage and plate. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said method further comprising the step of:
 aligning said plate to said cage before said inserter is secured to said cage and plate. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 packing said cage with graft material before said coupling step. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 packing said cage with graft material after said coupling step and before said implanting step.