Spinal fusion apparatus and method

Claim 1

An end cap for a spinal implant for operative positioning between a pair of vertebrae in a patient; said end cap being sized and shaped to be operatively positioned directly anterior of the implant so as to extend between and be in touching relationship with the vertebrae; said end cap having elongate upper end lower surfaces that extend outwardly on opposite sides of the implant during use so as to operatively support the vertebrae on opposite sides of the implant; said surfaces being sized and shaped to abut directly against facing surfaces of the vertebrae at the anterior end of the vertebrae during use so as to resist subsidence of the vertebrae relative to the implant.

Claim 9

An apparatus for stabilizing between adjacent vertebrae of a spine by promotion of bone fusion between the adjacent vertebrae; said apparatus comprising: a) a pair of fusion implants adapted to be received in spaced side by side relationship between a pair of adjacent vertebrae; each of said implants adapted to promote bone growth between the adjacent vertebrae; and b) a connector extending between and joined to each of said implants, such that said implants are spaced but operably stabilized in use; said connector including first and second end caps; said first and second end caps each being sized and shaped so as to be located adjacent to and anteriorly of respective implants in use; at least one of said end caps having upper and lower surfaces sized, shaped and positioned during usage to directly engage and extend along respective facing surface portions of adjacent vertebrae near anterior ends of the vertebrae and outwardly on either side of a respective implant during usage so as to resist subsidence of the vertebrae relative to the implants.

Claim 10

An apparatus for stabilizing between adjacent vertebrae of a spine by promotion of bone fusion between the adjacent vertebrae; said apparatus comprising: a) a pair of fusion implants adapted to be received in spaced side by side relationship between a pair of adjacent vertebrae; each of said implants adapted to promote bone growth between the adjacent vertebrae; and b) a connector extending between and joined to each of said implants, such that said implants are spaced but operably stabilized in use; said connector including first and second end caps; said first and second end caps each being sized and shaped so as to be located adjacent to and anteriorly of respective implants in use; at least one of said end caps having upper and lower surfaces sized, shaped and positioned during usage to directly engage and extend along respective facing surface portions of adjacent vertebrae near anterior ends of the vertebrae and outwardly on either side of a respective implant during usage so as to resist subsidence of the vertebrae relative to the implants.

Claim 17

An apparatus for stabilizing intervertebrally by promotion of bone fusion between two adjacent vertebrae of a spine; said apparatus comprising: a) a pair of implants adapted to be both received between the pair of adjacent vertebrae; each of said implants having an interior chamber for receiving bone fragments; and each of said implants having a plurality of radially positioned and wall penetrating apertures adapted to allow bore fragments in said bores to join and fuse with bore in the adjacent vertebrae; said implants being operably used in side by side but spaced relationship to one another; b) a connecting member operably extending between and joined to each of said implants said connecting member being joined to an anterior end of each implant; said connecting member including structure that is sized and shaped to be positioned adjacent to and directly anterior to at least one of said implants; said connecting member including an end cap with upper and lower elongate and vertebral engaging surfaces that are sized, shaped and positioned to engage facing portions of the vertebrae on opposed lateral sides of such one implant during use so as to resist subsidence of the vertebrae relative to said one implant; and c) fasteners operably securing said connecting member to each of said implants.

Claim 18

An apparatus for stabilizing intervertebrally by promotion of bone fusion between two adjacent vertebrae of a spine; said apparatus comprising: a) a pair of implants adapted to be both received between the pair of adjacent vertebrae; each of said implants having an interior chamber for receiving bone fragments; and each of said implants having a plurality of radially positioned and wall penetrating apertures adapted to allow bore fragments in said bores to join and fuse with bore in the adjacent vertebrae; said implants being operably used in side by side but spaced relationship to one another; b) a connecting member operably extending between and joined to each of said implants said connecting member being joined to an anterior end of each implant; said connecting member including structure that is sized and shaped to be positioned adjacent to and directly anterior to at least one of said implants; said connecting member including an end cap with upper and lower elongate and vertebral engaging surfaces that are sized, shaped and positioned to engage facing portions of the vertebrae on opposed lateral sides of such one implant during use so as to resist subsidence of the vertebrae relative to said one implant; and c) fasteners operably securing said connecting member to each of said implants.

Claim 19

A method of stabilizing and promoting bone fusion between two adjacent vertebrae comprising the steps of: a) selecting a pair of implants with each implant adapted to promote bone growth; b) forming a pair of implant receiving bores between the two adjacent vertebrae with each of the implant receiving bores sized to snugly receive a respective one of said implants such that both implants are between the same pair of vertebrae; c) placing said implants in side by side but spaced relationship relative to one another in respective bores; d) joining a front end of each implant with a connector such that said implants are spaced, but joined and stabilized by said connector; and e) placing end caps directly anterior of each implant; each of said end caps including structure that is sized and shaped so as to be positioned adjacent to an anterior end of at least one of said implants during use and so as to directly contact and extend along facing surface portions of the vertebrae on opposed sides of said one implant to resist subsidence of said vertebrae relative to said one implant.

Claim 20

A method of stabilizing and promoting bone fusion between two adjacent vertebrae comprising the steps of: a) selecting a pair of implants with each implant adapted to promote bone growth; b) forming a pair of implant receiving bores between the two adjacent vertebrae with each of the implant receiving bores sized to snugly receive a respective one of said implants such that both implants are between the same pair of vertebrae; c) placing said implants in side by side but spaced relationship relative to one another in respective bores; d) joining a front end of each implant with a connector such that said implants are spaced, but joined and stabilized by said connector; and e) placing end caps directly anterior of each implant; each of said end caps including structure that is sized and shaped so as to be positioned adjacent to an anterior end of at least one of said implants during use and so as to directly contact and extend along facing surface portions of the vertebrae on opposed sides of said one implant to resist subsidence of said vertebrae relative to said one implant.

Claim 31

An apparatus for stabilizing between adjacent vertebrae of a spine by promotion of bone fusion between the adjacent vertebrae; said apparatus comprising: a) a pair of implants adapted to be received in side by side relationship between a pair of adjacent vertebrae; each of said implants adapted to promote bone growth between the adjacent vertebrae; b) each of said implants having a recess located at a front end thereof; c) a connector joined to and extending between each of said implants during usage; said connector being a substantially rigid elongate bar; said bar being bent at an angle between 2° and 10°, such that, when said bar is received in said recess, said implants are biased so that the central axes thereof are nonparallel; and d) said bar being received in both of said recesses; and e) a pair of end caps each being operably positioned directly anterior relative to a respective implant during use and having opposed spaced upper and lower surfaces that are sized and shaped to extend along and in direct touching relationship with respect to facing surfaces of opposed vertebrae and so as to provide support to facing surface portions of the vertebrae; said end caps extending outwardly on opposed sides of respective implants along vertebral surfaces during usage.

Claim 32

An apparatus for stabilizing between adjacent vertebrae of a spine by promotion of bone fusion between the adjacent vertebrae; said apparatus comprising: a) a pair of implants adapted to be received in side by side relationship between a pair of adjacent vertebrae; each of said implants adapted to promote bone growth between the adjacent vertebrae; b) each of said implants having a recess located at a front end thereof; c) a connector joined to and extending between each of said implants during usage; said connector being a substantially rigid elongate bar; said bar being bent at an angle between 2° and 10°, such that, when said bar is received in said recess, said implants are biased so that the central axes thereof are nonparallel; and d) said bar being received in both of said recesses; and e) a pair of end caps each being operably positioned directly anterior relative to a respective implant during use and having opposed spaced upper and lower surfaces that are sized and shaped to extend along and in direct touching relationship with respect to facing surfaces of opposed vertebrae and so as to provide support to facing surface portions of the vertebrae; said end caps extending outwardly on opposed sides of respective implants along vertebral surfaces during usage.

Claim 33

An apparatus for stabilizing between adjacent vertebrae of a spine by promotion of bone fusion between the adjacent vertebrae; said apparatus comprising: a) a pair of fusion implants adapted to be received in spaced side by side relationship between a pair of adjacent vertebrae; each of said implants adapted to promote bone growth between the adjacent vertebrae; b) a connector extending between and joined to each of said implants, such that said implants are spaced but operably stabilized in use; said connector being a substantially rigid elongate bar; c) each of said implants has a recess located at a front end thereof; said bar being received in both of said recesses during usage; d) said bar is bent at an angle between 2° and 10°, such that when said bar is received in said recess, said implants are biased so that the central axes thereof are nonparallel; e) fasteners securing said connector to each of said implant; and f) a pair of end caps with each end cap mountable on one end of a respective implant; each of said end caps having a supporting surface that extends along and supports facing opposed vertebral surfaces of adjacent vertebrae; each of said end caps extending outwardly on opposed sides of a respective implant so as to provide support to the vertebrae during usage.

Claim 34

An apparatus for stabilizing between adjacent vertebrae of a spine by promotion of bone fusion between the adjacent vertebrae; said apparatus comprising: a) a pair of fusion implants adapted to be received in spaced side by side relationship between a pair of adjacent vertebrae; each of said implants adapted to promote bone growth between the adjacent vertebrae; b) a connector extending between and joined to each of said implants, such that said implants are spaced but operably stabilized in use; said connector being a substantially rigid elongate bar; c) each of said implants has a recess located at a front end thereof; said bar being received in both of said recesses during usage; d) said bar is bent at an angle between 2° and 10°, such that when said bar is received in said recess, said implants are biased so that the central axes thereof are nonparallel; e) fasteners securing said connector to each of said implant; and f) a pair of end caps with each end cap mountable on one end of a respective implant; each of said end caps having a supporting surface that extends along and supports facing opposed vertebral surfaces of adjacent vertebrae; each of said end caps extending outwardly on opposed sides of a respective implant so as to provide support to the vertebrae during usage.