Spinal implant construct and method for implantation

Abstract

A spinal construct and method for implantation is provided which utilizes a spinal implant adapted for insertion within an intervertebral space between an adjacent pair of vertebral bodies, and an elongate member adapted for anchoring to the adjacent vertebral bodies. The spinal implant defines a first transverse dimension and a different second transverse dimension, and is initially inserted into the intervertebral space while in a first operational configuration wherein the first transverse dimension extends along the height of the intervertebral space. The elongate member is anchored to the vertebral bodies to establish and maintain a select height of the intervertebral space. The spinal implant is then rotated to a second operational configuration wherein the second transverse dimension extends along the height of the intervertebral space. The elongate member serves to maintain the select height of the intervertebral space to provide a controlled amount of compression onto the spinal implant and/or a bone growth promoting material contained therein. The elongate member also serves to resist tensile loads during extensional movement of the vertebral bodies to maintain the vertebral endplates in intimate contact with the spinal implant.

1 . A spinal construct for engagement with adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
 a spinal implant comprising an interbody implant configured for implantation within an intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said spinal implant extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first transverse dimension sized for insertion into the intervertebral space and a second transverse dimension greater than said first transverse dimension and corresponding to a select height of said intervertebral space; and   an elongate member sized to span the intervertebral space and engaged between the adjacent vertebral bodies to maintain said select height of the intervertebral space; and   wherein said spinal implant is rotatably coupled to said elongate member by a connector member such that said spinal implant is rotatable relative to said elongate member about the longitudinal axis, wherein said connector member selectively interlocks said spinal implant with said elongate member to selectively prevent rotational and lateral movement of said spinal implant relative to said elongate member subsequent to alignment of said second transverse dimension along said select height of the intervertebral space.   
   
   
       2 . The spinal construct of  claim 1 , wherein said spinal implant includes:
 a first pair of side surfaces spaced apart and arranged generally opposite one another to define said first transverse dimension; and   a second pair of side surfaces spaced apart and arranged generally opposite one another to define said second transverse dimension.   
   
   
       3 . The spinal construct of  claim 2 , wherein said second pair of side surfaces are arranged substantially parallel to one another. 
   
   
       4 . The spinal construct of  claim 2 , wherein said second pair of side surfaces are angled relative to one another to define a taper extending along said longitudinal axis corresponding to the natural lordotic angle between the adjacent vertebral bodies. 
   
   
       5 . The spinal construct of  claim 2 , wherein said first pair of side surfaces are angled relative to one another to define a taper extending along said longitudinal axis to facilitate insertion of said spinal implant within the intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bodies. 
   
   
       6 .- 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . The spinal construct of  claim 1 , further comprising an interlock between said spinal implant and said elongate member to selectively prevent at least one of said rotational and lateral movement of said spinal implant relative to said elongate member subsequent to alignment of said second transverse dimension along said select height of the intervertebral space. 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The spinal construct of  claim 10 , wherein said interlock comprises:
 at least one projection portion extending from one of said spinal implant and said elongate member; and   at least one aperture defined by another of said spinal implant and said elongate member; and   wherein said connector member forces said at least one projection into a respective one of said at least one aperture; and   wherein insertion of said at least one projection portion into a said respective one of said at least one aperture prevents said rotational and lateral movement of said spinal implant relative to said elongate member.   
   
   
       13 .- 23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . The spinal construct of  claim 1 , wherein said elongate member comprises a plate having first and second end portions, said plate defining at least one opening adjacent each of said first and second end portions; and
 further comprising a bone screw extending through each of said at least one opening for engaging said plate to the adjacent vertebral bodies.   
   
   
       25 . A spinal implant assembly, comprising:
 an interbody fusion device adapted for insertion into an intervertebral space between an adjacent pair of vertebral bodies, said interbody fusion device extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a primary transverse dimension and a secondary transverse dimension, said secondary transverse dimension sized for insertion into the intervertebral space, said primary transverse dimension sized greater than said secondary transverse dimension and corresponding to a select height of said intervertebral space; and   an elongate member sized to span the intervertebral space and engaged between the adjacent vertebral bodies to maintain said select height of the intervertebral space; and   wherein said interbody fusion device is rotatable coupled to said elongate member by a connector member such that said interbody fusion device is rotatable relative to said elongate member about the longitudinal axis, wherein said connector member selectively interlocks said interbody fusion device with said elongate member to selectively prevent rotational and lateral movement of said interbody fusion device relative to said elongate member subsequent to alignment of said primary transverse dimension along said select height of the intervertebral space.   
   
   
       26 .- 29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising an interlock between said interbody fusion device and said elongate member to selectively prevent said rotational and lateral movement of said interbody fusion device relative to said elongate member subsequent to alignment of said primary transverse dimension along said select height of the intervertebral space. 
   
   
       31 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 30 , wherein said interlock comprises:
 at least one projection portion extending from one of said interbody fusion device and said elongate member; and   at least one aperture defined by another of said interbody fusion device and said elongate member; and   wherein said connector member forces said at least one projection into a respective one of said at least one aperture; and   wherein insertion of said at least one projection portion into said respective one of said at least one aperture prevents said rotational and lateral movement of said interbody fusion device relative to said elongate member.   
   
   
       32 .- 34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . A spinal construct for engagement with adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising:
 a spinal implant comprising an interbody implant configured for implantation within an intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said spinal implant extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first transverse dimension sized for insertion into the intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bodies and a second transverse dimension greater than said first transverse dimension and corresponding to a select height of said intervertebral space;   an elongate member sized to span the intervertebral space and engaged between the adjacent vertebral bodies to maintain said select height of the intervertebral space;   means for rotatably coupling said spinal implant with said elongate member; and   means for interlocking said spinal implant with said elongate member to selectively prevent rotational and lateral movement of said spinal implant relative to said elongate member subsequent to alignment of said second transverse dimension along said select height of the intervertebral space.   
   
   
       36 .- 62 . (canceled) 
   
   
       63 . The spinal construct of  claim 1 , wherein said connector member comprises a fastener extending through a passage in said elongate member and engaged with said spinal implant; and
 wherein displacement of said fastener interlocks said spinal implant with said elongate member to selectively prevent said rotational and lateral movement of said spinal implant relative to said elongate member.   
   
   
       64 . The spinal construct of  claim 63 , wherein said fastener comprises a threaded fastener. 
   
   
       65 . The spinal construct of  claim 64 , wherein said threaded fastener extends through said passage in said elongate member and is threadedly engaged within a threaded opening in said spinal implant, wherein rotation of said threaded fastener threads said threaded fastener into said threaded opening and interlocks said spinal implant with said elongate member to selectively prevent said rotational and lateral movement of said spinal implant relative to said elongate member. 
   
   
       66 . The spinal construct of  claim 12 , wherein said connector member comprises a threaded fastener extending through a passage in said elongate member and threadedly engaged within a threaded opening in said spinal implant; and
 wherein rotation of said fastener threads said fastener into said threaded opening and positions said at least one projection portion within said respective one of said at least one aperture to thereby selectively prevent said rotational and lateral movement of said spinal implant relative to said elongate member.   
   
   
       67 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 25 , wherein said connector member comprises a fastener extending through a passage in said elongate member and engaged with said interbody fusion device; and
 wherein displacement of said fastener interlocks said interbody fusion device with said elongate member to selectively prevent said rotational and lateral movement of said interbody fusion device relative to said elongate member.   
   
   
       68 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 67 , wherein said fastener comprises a threaded fastener. 
   
   
       69 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 68 , wherein said threaded fastener extends through said passage in said elongate member and is threadedly engaged within a threaded opening in said interbody fusion device, wherein rotation of said threaded fastener threads said threaded fastener into said threaded opening and interlocks said interbody fusion device with said elongate member to selectively prevent said rotational and lateral movement of said interbody fusion device relative to said elongate member. 
   
   
       70 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said connector member comprises a threaded fastener extending through a passage in said elongate member and threadedly engaged within a threaded opening in said interbody fusion device; and
 wherein rotation of said fastener threads said fastener into said threaded opening and positions said at least one projection portion within said respective one of said at least one aperture to thereby selectively prevent said rotational and lateral movement of said interbody fusion device relative to said elongate member.