Post-Operative Bone Growth Stimulant Introduction Method

Abstract

A method of revising a patient having a fusion cage implanted within a spinal column, involving percutaneously delivering a first end of a tube to the spinal column, fluidly connecting the first end of the tube to the fusion cage, and delivering a bone growth agent into the fusion cage through the tube.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system comprising an intervertebral fusion cage and a tube, the cage having an anterior wall and a posterior wall connected by a pair of side walls, a vertical throughhole, and a plurality of docking ports adapted to receive a tube, wherein each docking port defines a hole, wherein at least one of the docking ports is located on an inner wall and is perpendicular to the vertical throughhole,wherein the tube is received in the docking port located on the inner wall. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each docking port is in fluid communication with the vertical throughhole. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the docking ports is located in a sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  having a distal end of a tube received in one of the docking ports. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  having a bone growth transfer apparatus containing a bone growth agent fluidly connected to a proximal end of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the tube extends through the docking port located on the inner wall.