Bone joining implant with retaining tabs

Abstract

A bone joining implant, comprising a tubular body having an open leading end and a central aperture, the central aperture similarly sized to the open leading end, the open leading end communicating with the central aperture and configured to entrap a bone projection from each of a pair of adjacent bone bodies being joined together. A method is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bone joining implant, comprising; 
 a tubular body having an open leading end and a central aperture, the central aperture similarly sized to the open leading end;    the open leading end communicating with the central aperture and configured to entrap a bone projection from each of a pair of adjacent bone bodies being joined together.    
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the tubular body has an oblique outer surface, a cylindrical inner surface, a cylindrical leading edge, and a tapered leading end portion, the tapered leading end portion extending from the cylindrical leading edge to the oblique outer surface.  
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of retaining tabs provided on an outer surface of the tubular body and configured to retain the implant between the pair of adjacent bone bodies.  
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of fenestrations provided in the tubular body, extending from the central aperture to an outer surface.  
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the tubular body has an open trailing end, the open leading end, the open trailing end and the central aperture have a common, substantially uniform inner diameter configured to facilitate axial x-ray analysis of arthrodesis.  
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein the tubular body has an open trailing end, the central aperture communicating with the open trailing end.  
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 6  further comprising a pair of tool fenestrations provided adjacent the open trailing end and configured to enable mating of the implant with a tool during insertion.  
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 6  wherein the tubular body includes at least one guide slot provided within the open trailing end, the guide slot operative to facilitate visual placement of the tubular body between a pair of adjacent bone bodies.  
     
     
         9 . A vertebral interbody implant, comprising; 
 a tubular body having an oblique outer surface, a cylindrical inner surface, and a tapered portion extending from a cylindrical leading end between the inner surface and the outer surface;    the cylindrical leading end sized to be received within bone beds of adjacent vertebrae being joined, and the tapered portion operative to self-distract the vertebrae during insertion of the oblique outer surface therebetween.    
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 9  wherein an open leading end is formed within the cylindrical leading end.  
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 9  wherein the body includes an open leading end and an open trailing end, a cylindrical aperture further being provided therebetween.  
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of fenestrations provided in the body, extending from the hollow portion to the oblique outer surface.  
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 9  further comprising at least one tab carried by the oblique outer surface and configured for forcible engagement with a bone bed of an adjacent vertebra, the tab operative to retain the tubular body in securement with the bone bed.  
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 9  further comprising at least one guide slot provided along a trailing end.  
     
     
         15 . The implant of  claim 9  wherein the implant comprises a vertebral interbody fusing device.  
     
     
         16 . The implant of  claim 9  further comprising a hollow portion provided in the body, the hollow portion configured to receive bone graft material therein, and a plurality of fenestrations provided in the body, extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.  
     
     
         17 . The implant of  claim 9  further comprising a hollow portion provided in the tubular body, the hollow portion configured to receive bone graft material therein, and a plurality of fenestrations provided in the body, extending from the hollow portion to the outer surface, the fenestrations configured to promote physiological implant fixation.  
     
     
         18 . A vertebral interbody implant, comprising: 
 a tubular body having an open leading end, an open trailing end, and a central aperture, the central aperture sized similarly to the open leading end and the open trailing end;    the open leading end and the central aperture configured to entrap an integrally formed bone projection from each of a pair of adjacent bone bodies being joined together, the open leading end, open trailing end, and central aperture further cooperating to facilitate axial x-ray analysis of arthrodesis following implantation.    
     
     
         19 . The implant of  claim 18  wherein the tubular body has an oblique outer surface.  
     
     
         20 . The implant of  claim 19  wherein the tubular body has a cylindrical inner surface.  
     
     
         21 . The implant of  claim 20  wherein the tubular body has a tapered portion extending from the cylindrical leading end between the inner surface and the outer surface.  
     
     
         22 . A method for joining together vertebral bodies, comprising: 
 providing a tubular intervertebral implant having an open leading end communicating with a central aperture;    preparing a receiving bed in each of a pair of adjacent vertebral bodies separated by an intervertebral disk, the vertebral bodies cooperating to form a cylindrical kerf, the kerf forming a bone projection from each vertebral body;    instantly fixing the vertebral bodies together by receiving the tubular implant within the kerf such that adjacent bone projections of associated vertebral bodies are received within the open leading end and into the central aperture.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein over time, the instantly fixed vertebral bodies fuse together via arthrodesis.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22  wherein the tubular body has an oblique outer surface, the oblique outer surface operative to impart distraction when receiving the tubular implant within the cylindrical kerf.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the tubular body includes a plurality of tabs carried on an outer surface, each tab operable to engage with one of the receiving beds such that the implant is immovably received within the cylindrical kerf.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 22  wherein the tubular intervertebral implant has an open leading end, an open trailing end, and a central aperture, the open trailing end, the open leading end and the central aperture having a substantially uniform inner diameter operative to facilitate axial x-ray analysis of arthrodesis, wherein the implant is received within the kerf so as to facilitate x-ray analysis of arthrodesis.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the tubular implant is positioned in a generally anterior/posterior direction.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22  wherein each bone projection comprises intact bone formed integrally from one of the vertebral bodies and configured to enhance osteogenesis.