Interbody fusion device having partial circular section cross-sectional segments

Claim 2

An interbody fusion implant, said implant comprising a tubular shaped body having flat upper and lower exterior surfaces and exterior side walls which are concave.

Claim 3

The interbody fusion implant device set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one through hole formed therein, which through hole extends from an exterior surface to an interior of said tubular shaped body.

Claim 4

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one through hole extending from one of said flat exterior surfaces to one of said concave exterior side walls.

Claim 5

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one inwardly directed protuberance formed on an inner surface of said tubular shaped body.

Claim 6

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said at least one inwardly directed protuberance comprises at least two inwardly directed protuberances formed on the inner surface of said tubular shaped boy, wherein at least one of said protuberances forms a ratchet oriented toward a proximal end of said tubular body, and at least one other protuberance forms a ratchet oriented toward a distal end of said tubular body.

Claim 7

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one ridge formed on at least one of said upper and lower flat exterior surfaces.

Claim 8

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said at least one ridge extends out from said corresponding flat exterior surface perpendicular to the axis of the tubular body.

Claim 9

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said at least one ridge has a curvate outer edge.

Claim 10

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said at least one ridge has a serrated outer edge.

Claim 11

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ridges formed on each of said upper and lower flat exterior surfaces, said plurality of ridges on each flat surface being aligned perpendicular to the elongate axis of the device, and said ridges being spaced apart from one another of said corresponding surface.

Claim 12

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 10, wherein there are at least two of said ridges on each of the upper and lower surfaces and at least one of said ridges on at least one of said upper and lower surfaces comprises a ratchet oriented toward a proximal end of said tubular body, and at least one other of said ridges on said at least one of said upper and lower surfaces comprises a ratchet oriented toward a distal end of said tubular body.

Claim 13

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flat upper and lower exterior surfaces form mutually parallel planes.

Claim 14

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flat upper and lower exterior surfaces are convergently angled such that the device is tapered along its elongate axis.

Claim 15

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one inwardly directed flange formed on an inner surface of said tubular shaped body and extending fully around the interior perimeter of said tubular body.

Claim 16

The interbody fusion implant device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the height of the device as measured along a line perpendicular to both the axis of the tubular body and the planes of the upper and lower flat exterior surfaces is greater than the greatest width of the device as measured along a line perpendicular to the axis of the tubular body and parallel to the planes of the upper and lower flat exterior surfaces.

Claim 17

A hollow tubular interbody fusion implant, comprising: flat upper and lower external surfaces; side walls having inwardly bowed exterior surfaces defining a concave cross-sectional external shaped; a plurality of through holes formed therein, a first set of said through holes being formed in said upper and lower external surfaces and extending through to said interior of said tubular body, a second set of said through holes being formed in said side walls and extending through to said interior of said tubular body, and a third set of said through holes being formed in said upper and lower external surfaces and extending through to said inwardly bowed exterior surfaces of said said walls; a plurality of ridges formed on each of the upper and lower flat external surfaces, said ridges being disposed pendendicular to the axis of the tubular body; and a plurality of ridges formed on an interior surface of said tubular body.

Claim 18

A hollow tubular interbody fusion implant, comprising: flat upper and lower external surfaces; side walls having inwardly bowed exterior surfaces defining a concave cross-sectional external shaped; a plurality of through holes formed therein, a first set of said through holes being formed in said upper and lower external surfaces and extending through to said interior of said tubular body, a second set of said through holes being formed in said side walls and extending through to said interior of said tubular body, and a third set of said through holes being formed in said upper and lower external surfaces and extending through to said inwardly bowed exterior surfaces of said said walls; a plurality of ridges formed on each of the upper and lower flat external surfaces, said ridges being disposed pendendicular to the axis of the tubular body; and a plurality of ridges formed on an interior surface of said tubular body.