Barrel-shaped apparatus for fusing adjacent bone structure
First Claim
1. A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent bone structures, which comprises an elongate implant member for positioning between adjacent opposed bone structures, the implant member defining a longitudinal axis extending along its length and first and second longitudinal ends, and having an outer wall dimensioned to engage the opposed bone structures upon positioning therebetween in supporting relation therewith, the outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances and including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue, the implant member having an intermediate portion between the first and second longitudinal ends with a girth relative to the longitudinal axis which is greater than the girths of the first and second longitudinal ends, the intermediate portion having an arcuate lengthwise shape and a rounded cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent bone structures includes a threadless implant member which is positioned between adjacent opposed bone structures. The implant member defines a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends and has an outer wall which is dimensioned to engage the opposed bone structures upon positioning therebetween in supporting relation therewith. The outer wall defines an internal cavity for the reception of bone growth inducing substances and includes a plurality of apertures which extend therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue. The implant member also includes an intermediate portion which defines a cross-sectional dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis which is greater than the respective cross-sectional dimensions of the first and second longitudinal ends of the implant member.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent bone structures, which comprises
an elongate implant member for positioning between adjacent opposed bone structures, the implant member defining a longitudinal axis extending along its length and first and second longitudinal ends, and having an outer wall dimensioned to engage the opposed bone structures upon positioning therebetween in supporting relation therewith, the outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances and including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue, the implant member having an intermediate portion between the first and second longitudinal ends with a girth relative to the longitudinal axis which is greater than the girths of the first and second longitudinal ends, the intermediate portion having an arcuate lengthwise shape and a rounded cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
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9. A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, which comprises:
an elongate implant member dimensioned for positioning between adjacent vertebrae to support the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation, the implant member defining a longitudinal axis extending along its length and first and second longitudinal ends, and having an outer wall constructed to engage the adjacent vertebrae upon positioning therebetween, the outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances, the implant member having an intermediate portion between the first and second longitudinal ends with a girth relative to the longitudinal axis greater than the girths of the first and second longitudinal ends of the implant member, the intermediate portion having an arcuate lengthwise shape and a rounded cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the outer wall having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for fusing adjacent vertebrae, comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate implant member defining a longitudinal axis extending along its length and first and second longitudinal ends, the implant member having an intermediate portion between the first and second longitudinal ends with a girth relative to the longitudinal axis which is greater than the girths of the first and second longitudinal ends of the implant member, the intermediate portion having an arcuate lengthwise shape and a rounded cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
accessing the intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae;
advancing the implant member within the intervertebral space such that the first and second longitudinal ends are adjacent respective anterior and posterior sections of the adjacent vertebrae; and
permitting bone growth into contacting surfaces of the implant member to facilitate fusion of the adjacent vertebrae. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification