Intervertebral implant for transforaminal posterior lumbar interbody fusion procedure

Abstract

A method for implantation of an intervertebral implant for fusing vertebrae is disclosed. The implant may comprise a body constructed of a radiolucent material and having a thickness between a superior and an inferior face greatest at a middle portion of the body and tapered toward each end, and two vertical through-channels extending through the body from the superior to the inferior face, the channels being spaced from one another in a way to define a wall extending between the channels from the superior to the inferior face; and at least three radiopaque markers extending substantially through the body from the superior to the inferior face and disposed in the body so as to be enclosed in the radiolucent material of the body from the superior to the inferior face to indicate implant location and size in postoperative spinal scans.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for implantation of an intervertebral implant for fusing vertebrae, comprising:
 inserting an intervertebral implant between two vertebrae, the intervertebral implant comprising:
 a body constructed of a radiolucent material and having a first end and a second end, a superior face and an inferior face each with a plurality of teeth to resist migration of the body when the body is implanted between two vertebrae, an anterior face and a posterior face extending from the first end to the second end and between the superior face and the inferior face, wherein a thickness of the body between the superior face and the inferior face is greatest at a middle portion of the body and tapers toward each end, and two vertical through-channels extending through the body from the superior face to the inferior face, the vertical through-channels being spaced from one another in a way to define a wall extending between the vertical through-channels from the superior face to the inferior face; and 
 at least three radiopaque markers extending substantially through the body from the superior face to the inferior face and disposed in the body so as to be enclosed in the radiolucent material of the body from the superior face to the inferior face to indicate implant location and size in postoperative spinal scans, a first of the three radiopaque markers disposed in the body adjacent the first end of the body, a second of the three radiopaque markers disposed in the body adjacent the second end of the body, and a third of the three radiopaque markers disposed in the body adjacent the wall between the vertical through-channels. 
   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the anterior face is convex shaped. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the posterior face is concave shaped. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the anterior and posterior faces are each curved and substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein a length of the body is greater than each of a maximum width and a maximum thickness of the body. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the length of the body is at least two times the maximum width of the body between the posterior face and the anterior face. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the maximum thickness of the body is greater than the maximum width of the body. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the radiopaque markers is proximate the anterior face. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the anterior face is a convex arcuate anterior face, and at least one of the radiopaque markers is proximate the convex arcuate anterior face. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the body comprises a non-threaded recessed portion disposed along a portion of the anterior face. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the body comprises a non-threaded recessed portion disposed along a portion of the posterior face. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first end and the second end of the body comprises a chamfered edge on at least one of the superior face and the inferior face. 
     
     
         42 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 creating a transforaminal window; and   preparing a disc space between the two vertebrae;   wherein inserting the intervertebral implant between two vertebrae is inserting the intervertebral implant in the prepared disc space between the two vertebrae via the transforaminal window with an insertion tool.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein inserting the intervertebral implant is via a posterior approach offset from a midline of a spine of a patient.