Spinal fusion cage and method of use

• US 7,780,732 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis Lee Abernathie
• Original Assignee: Dennis Lee Abernathie
• Inventors: Abernathie, Dennis Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOODALL, NICHOLAS W
• Application Number:
  US11/081,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623/17.12, 623/17.15, 623/17.16, 606/61
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0009 for adjusting thickness

Abstract

The present invention provides a fusion cage comprising a first housing, a second housing, and an alignment portion adapted to be received between the first and second housings such that the first and second housings are held in place by said alignment portion. The alignment portion can be varied in shape such that the fusion cage is wedge-like in shaped, or slanted to one side. Further, the alignment portion is constructed of a radiolucent material to allow for visualization of a bone fusion within the fusion cage.

Claims

1. A fusion cage comprising:

a first housing portion elongated along a longitudinal axis;

a second housing portion elongated along said longitudinal axis; and

an alignment portion including a pair of opposite sidewalls, each of said sidewalls adapted to be received between said first and second housing portions such that said first and second housing portions are held in place by said alignment portion,

wherein said first housing portion includes a first edge and an opposite second edge extending along the length of said first housing portion, and further wherein said second housing portion includes a first edge and an opposite second edge extending along the length of said second housing portion, and further wherein said each of said sidewalls of said alignment portion includes a top edge and an opposite bottom edge, said edges of said first and second housing portion and said edges of said sidewalls including a complementary flange and channel interface for engaging said sidewalls between said housing portions,

wherein said first and second housing portions are arched such that a cylindrical space is defined along said longitudinal axis between said first and second housing portions; and

further wherein said sidewalls of said alignment portion expand said cylindrical space when said alignment portion is received between said first and second housing portions.

2. The fusion cage of claim 1 wherein said first and second housing portions each include a plurality of openings formed therein.

3. The fusion cage of claim 1 wherein said first and second housing portions are constructed from titanium, bone, carbon fiber, polyetheretherketone, and combinations thereof.

4. The fusion cage of claim 1 wherein said alignment portion is constructed from a radiolucent compound.

5. The fusion cage of claim 4 wherein said radiolucent compound is selected from the group consisting of bone, polyetheretherketone, carbon fiber, nylon, polycarbonate, glass, polyketones, polyaryletherketone, and combinations thereof.