Intervertebral Implants and Related Methods of Use

Abstract

A method of implanting an intervertebral spacer may include positioning the intervertebral spacer within an intervertebral space defined by adjacent vertebral bodies. The intervertebral spacer may include a plurality of bores, and each of the plurality of bores may be configured to receive either a linear fastening element or a curvilinear fastening element. The method also may include selecting a first fastening element from a group including linear fastening elements and curvilinear fastening elements, and inserting the first fastening element into a first bore of the plurality of bores such that the first fastening element is inserted into one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to secure the intervertebral spacer within the intervertebral space.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for inserting a vertebral anchor into a vertebral body, the system comprising:
 a trailing housing defining one or more elongate channels;   an anchor housing defining one or more anchor channels, a first anchor channel being configured to urge a vertebral body out of a distal face of the anchor housing along a first trajectory; and   a guide member configured to extend through a first elongate channel and the first anchor channel, the guide member configured to move along a first longitudinal axis when disposed within the first elongate channel and the first anchor channel and abut a vertebral anchor disposed within the first anchor channel, wherein the first longitudinal axis and the first trajectory intersect one another.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first anchor channel has a variable cross-section over the length of the first anchor channel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a concave surface at least partially defines the first anchor channel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further including an alignment shaft configured to align each of the one or more elongate channels with a corresponding anchor channel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further including one or more positioning members, each positioning member at least partially defining an associated anchor channel, wherein each positioning member includes an extension configured to secure a vertebral anchor within the associated anchor channel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each positioning member is coupled to the anchor housing at a leading end portion of the anchor housing. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each positioning member includes a ramp configured to be engaged by a distal end of the guide member. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the distal end of the guide member is configured to slide across the ramp of the positioning member to cause the extension of the positioning member to disengage a vertebral anchor secured to the extension. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a distal face of the anchor housing has one or more features configured to releasably engage an intervertebral spacer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more features includes a snap-fit connection piece. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a second anchor channel configured to urge a vertebral anchor along a second trajectory that is different than the first trajectory. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further including a third anchor channel configured to urge a vertebral anchor along a third trajectory that is different than the second trajectory. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and third trajectories are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         14 . A system for inserting a vertebral anchor into a patient, the system comprising:
 a trailing housing defining a first elongate channel and a second elongate channel;   an anchor housing defining a first anchor channel and a second anchor channel, the first anchor channel being aligned with the first elongate channel such that a guide member may extend through the first elongate channel and first anchor channel along a first longitudinal axis, the second elongate channel being aligned with the second anchor channel such that a guide member may extend through the second elongate channel and second anchor channel along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are parallel to one another; and   the first anchor channel is configured to urge a first vertebral anchor into a first vertebral body defining an intervertebral space and the second anchor channel is configured to urge a second vertebral anchor into a second vertebral body defining the intervertebral space.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further including a third elongate channel and a third anchor channel, the third anchor channel being aligned with the third elongate channel such that a guide member may extend through the third elongate channel and third anchor channel along a third longitudinal axis that is parallel to the first and second longitudinal axes, wherein the third anchor channel is configured to urge a third vertebral anchor into the first vertebral body. 
     
     
         16 . A method of implanting an intervertebral spacer, the method comprising:
 positioning the intervertebral spacer coupled to a plate into an intervertebral space defined between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body, wherein the intervertebral spacer comprises a plurality of bores, each of the plurality of bores being configured to receive either a linear fastening element or a curvilinear fastening element;   aligning a leading end of a first guide member with a first vertebral anchor;   applying a force to the first guide member along a first longitudinal axis to impact the first vertebral anchor through the plate and into the first vertebral body along a trajectory that intersects the first longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including aligning the first guide member or a second guide member with a second vertebral anchor and applying a force to the first or second guide members along a second longitudinal axis to impact the second vertebral anchor through the plate and into the second vertebral body along a second trajectory that intersects the second longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including aligning the first guide member or a third guide member with a third vertebral anchor and applying a force to the first or third guide members along a third longitudinal axis to impact the third vertebral anchor through the plate and into the first vertebral body along a third trajectory that intersects the third longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first and third trajectories are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first, second, and third longitudinal axes are parallel to one another.