Bone implant and method

Abstract

A bone joining implant includes a tubular body. The tubular body has an axially extending outer surface defining an outer dimension of substantially uniform cross-section and including a smooth leading insertion portion and a bone engaging trailing portion.

In the claims:  
     
         25 . (New) A bone implant, comprising a body with a smooth leading portion, a bone-engaging trailing portion, and opposed lateral portions, each portion adapted for placement toward adjacent bone bodies, and the bone-engaging trailing portion including a plurality of retaining tabs.  
     
     
         26 . (New) The bone implant of claim  25  wherein the smooth leading portion is configured to align the body between adjacent bone bodies during insertion between a pair of adjacent bone bodies.  
     
     
         27 . (New) The bone implant of claim  25  wherein a first retaining tab is provided in a first opposed lateral portion and a second retaining tab is provided in a second opposed lateral portion.  
     
     
         28 . (New) The bone implant of claim  25  wherein the body has a rectangular cross-section.  
     
     
         29 . (New) The bone implant of claim  28  wherein the body comprises a tubular body having a rectangular cross-section.  
     
     
         30 . (New) The bone implant of claim  25  wherein the at least one retaining tab comprises a plurality of retaining tabs raised from an outer surface of the trailing portion.  
     
     
         31 . (New) The bone implant of  claim 30  wherein the retaining tabs are forcibly urged into engagement with bone beds of adjacent vertebra upon implantation of the bone implant therebetween so as to prevent movement of the bone implant.  
     
     
         32 . (New) The bone implant of claim  25  wherein the smooth leading portion aligns the body between adjacent bone bodies and the bone-engaging trailing portion interlocks the bone implant between the adjacent bone bodies.  
     
     
         33 . (New) A method for implanting a bone implant between adjacent bone bodies, comprising: 
 providing a body having a smooth leading portion, a bone-engaging trailing portion, and opposed lateral portions adapted for placement toward adjacent bone bodies;    excavating a pair of adjacent bone bodies to receive the body therebetween    axially inserting the smooth leading portion of the body between the prepared adjacent bone bodies to axially align the body therebetween; and    forcibly axially urging the bone-engaging trailing portion of the body between the adjacent bone bodies to retain the body therebetween.