Spinal fusion implant with curvilinear nail-screws

Abstract

A horizontal-transvertebral curvilinear nail-screw (HTCN) including a body portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is opposed to the second end; and a head at the first end of the body portion, wherein the body portion has a predetermined curvilinear shape and includes a pointed tip at the second end of the body portion, and a method of surgically implanting universal horizontal-transvertebral curvilinear nail-screws (HTCN) into a plurality of adjacent vertebrae.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A spinal fusion implant comprising:
 a first curvilinear spinal fixation device configured for penetration and implantation into a first adjacent vertebral body along a first curved trajectory that avoids penetrating pedicles, wherein the first curvilinear spinal fixation device extends from a first proximal end to a first distal end along the first curved trajectory with a first head at the first proximal end and a first bone penetrating tapered tip at the first distal end, wherein the first curvilinear spinal fixation device comprises a first plurality of laterally extending engagement projections that are configured to engage a first cancellous core of the first adjacent vertebral body positioned along a first distal portion of the first curvilinear spinal fixation device proximate the first distal end, wherein the first curved trajectory is along a first single continuous arc;   a second curvilinear spinal fixation device configured for penetration and implantation into a second adjacent vertebral body along a second curved trajectory that avoids penetrating pedicles, wherein the second curvilinear spinal fixation device extends from a second proximal end to a second distal end along the second curved trajectory with a second head at the second proximal end and a second bone penetrating tapered tip at the second distal end, wherein the second curvilinear spinal fixation device comprises a second plurality of laterally extending engagement projections that are configured to engage a second cancellous core of the second adjacent vertebral body positioned along a second distal portion of the second curvilinear spinal fixation device proximate the second distal end, wherein the second curved trajectory is along a second single continuous arc; and   a connecting support structure defining an upper opening sized and configured for receiving the first curvilinear spinal fixation device and a lower opening sized and configured for receiving the second curvilinear spinal fixation device such that the first curvilinear spinal fixation device is held with respect to the second curvilinear spinal fixation device with the first curvilinear spinal fixation device extending into the first adjacent vertebral body without penetrating pedicles and the second curvilinear spinal fixation device extending into the second adjacent vertebral body without penetrating pedicles, wherein the upper opening is spaced from the lower opening such that material of the connecting support structure surrounds a portion of the first curvilinear spinal fixation device and material of the connecting support structure surrounds a portion of the second curvilinear spinal fixation device, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second heads are sized to be larger than at least portions of the upper opening and the lower opening so as to limit movement of the first and second curvilinear spinal fixation devices in proximal to distal directions, and wherein the first curvilinear spinal fixation device is curved continuously from the first proximal end to the first distal end including a portion of the first curvilinear spinal fixation device connected to the connecting support structure and the second curvilinear spinal fixation device is curved continuously from the second proximal end to the second distal end including a portion of the second curvilinear spinal fixation device connected to the connecting support structure.   
     
     
         22 . The spinal fusion implant of  claim 21 , and further comprising first and second rotatable connectors configured to retain the first and second curvilinear spinal fixation devices to the connecting support structure. 
     
     
         23 . The spinal fusion implant of  claim 21 , wherein the first plurality of laterally extending engagement projections and the second plurality of laterally extending engagement projections are radially arranged fish-hooks. 
     
     
         24 . The spinal fusion implant of  claim 21 , wherein the first plurality of laterally extending engagement projections and the second plurality of laterally extending engagement projections are threads. 
     
     
         25 . The spinal fusion implant of  claim 21 , wherein the first plurality of laterally extending engagement projections and the second plurality of laterally extending engagement projections are ridges. 
     
     
         26 . The spinal fusion implant of  claim 21 , wherein the connecting support structure comprises at least first and second separate components, wherein the first component defines the upper opening for the first curvilinear spinal fixation device, and wherein the first component is connected directly to the second component. 
     
     
         27 . The spinal fusion implant of  claim 26 , wherein the connecting support structure comprises a third component that defines the lower opening for the second curvilinear spinal fixation device, and wherein the third component is connected directly to the second component. 
     
     
         28 . The spinal fusion implant of  claim 21 , wherein the connecting support structure is at least one bar. 
     
     
         29 . The spinal fusion implant of  claim 21 , wherein the first curvilinear spinal fixation device shares a first centerline axis with the upper opening where the first curvilinear spinal fixation device extends through the upper opening and wherein the second curvilinear spinal fixation device shares a second centerline axis with the lower opening where the second curvilinear spinal fixation device extends through the lower opening. 
     
     
         30 . The spinal fusion implant of  claim 21 , wherein the first curvilinear spinal fixation device comprises a first smooth portion between the first head and the first distal portion and wherein the second curvilinear spinal fixation device comprises a second smooth portion between the second head and the second distal portion. 
     
     
         31 . The spinal fusion implant of  claim 21 , wherein the first plurality of laterally extending engagement projections and the second plurality of laterally extending engagement projections are a plurality of retention barbs on opposing sides of the first and second curvilinear spinal fixation devices. 
     
     
         32 . A method for implanting a spinal fusion implant, the method comprising:
 implanting a first curvilinear spinal fixation device into a first adjacent vertebral body along a first curved trajectory that avoids pedicles, wherein the first curvilinear spinal fixation device extends from a first proximal end to a first distal end along the first curved trajectory with a first head at the first proximal end and a first bone penetrating tapered tip at the first distal end, wherein the first curvilinear spinal fixation device comprises a first plurality of laterally extending engagement projections that are configured to engage a first cancellous core of the first adjacent vertebral body positioned along a first distal portion of the first curvilinear spinal fixation device proximate the first distal end, wherein the first head is positioned exterior to the first adjacent vertebral body and the first distal portion is positioned in the first cancellous core when implanted, wherein the first curved trajectory is along a first single continuous arc;   implanting a second curvilinear spinal fixation device into a second adjacent vertebral body along a second curved trajectory that avoids pedicles, wherein the second curvilinear spinal fixation devices extends from a second proximal end to a second distal end along the second curved trajectory with a second head at the second proximal end and a second bone penetrating tapered tip at the second distal end, wherein the second curvilinear spinal fixation device comprises a second plurality of laterally extending engagement projections that are configured to engage a second cancellous core of the second adjacent vertebral body positioned along a second distal portion of the second curvilinear spinal fixation device proximate the second distal end, wherein the second head is positioned exterior to the second adjacent vertebral body and the second distal portion is positioned in the second cancellous core when implanted, wherein the second curved trajectory is along a second single continuous arc; and   connecting, by a connecting support structure, the first curvilinear spinal fixation device and the second curvilinear spinal fixation device such that the first curvilinear spinal fixation device is held with respect to the second curvilinear spinal fixation device with the first curvilinear spinal fixation device extending into the first adjacent vertebral body without penetrating pedicles and the second curvilinear spinal fixation device extending into the second adjacent vertebral body without penetrating pedicles, wherein the first curvilinear spinal fixation device connects to an upper opening of the connecting support structure at a curved portion of the first curvilinear spinal fixation device and the second curvilinear spinal fixation device connects to a lower opening of the connecting support structure at a curved portion of the second curvilinear spinal fixation device.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first curvilinear spinal fixation device penetrates into the first adjacent vertebral body so as to traverse no more than 50% of the first adjacent vertebral body and the second curvilinear spinal fixation device penetrates into the second adjacent vertebral body so as to traverse no more than 50% of the second adjacent vertebral body. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first and second curvilinear spinal fixation devices are implanted laterally into the first and second adjacent vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first and second curvilinear spinal fixation devices are implanted anteriorly into the first and second adjacent vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first and second curvilinear spinal fixation devices are implanted posteriorly into the first and second adjacent vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first plurality of laterally extending engagement projections and the second plurality of laterally extending engagement projections are ridges. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first curvilinear spinal fixation device comprises a first smooth portion between the first head and the first distal portion and wherein the second curvilinear spinal fixation device comprises a second smooth portion between the second head and the second distal portion. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first plurality of laterally extending engagement projections and the second plurality of laterally extending engagement projections are a plurality of retention barbs on opposing sides of the first and second curvilinear spinal fixation devices. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first plurality of laterally extending engagement projections and the second plurality of laterally extending engagement projections are a plurality of retention barbs on opposing sides of the first and second curvilinear spinal fixation devices that engage the first and second cancellous cores once implanted into the first and second adjacent vertebral bodies.