Spinal implants

Abstract

A spinal implant includes upper and lower faces arranged in opposition to one another and configured to contact and space apart adjacent vertebral bodies, and first and second lateral sides connecting the upper and lower faces. A maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the first lateral side is greater than a maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the second lateral side. The implant also includes proximal and distal end walls connecting the upper and lower faces, a maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the proximal end wall being greater than a maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the distal end wall. An anchoring member may also be inserted into the implant.

1 . A spinal implant comprising:
 upper and lower bone-contacting surfaces arranged in opposition to one another and configured to contact and space apart adjacent vertebral bodies, the upper and lower bone-contacting surfaces defining first, second, third, and fourth distances therebetween;   proximal and distal end walls and first and second lateral sides connecting the upper and lower bone-contacting surfaces; and   a first axis extending between the proximal and distal end walls, and a second axis extending transverse to the first axis and between the first and second lateral sides,   wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, the second is greater than the third distance, and the third distance is greater than the fourth distance, and wherein a maximum distance between the upper and lower bone-contacting surfaces along the first lateral side is greater than a maximum distance between the upper and lower bone-contacting surfaces along the second lateral side.   
     
     
         2 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower bone-contacting surfaces are inclined with respect to each other in two directions. 
     
     
         3 . The spinal implant of  claim 2 , wherein the upper and lower bone-contacting surfaces are inclined with respect to each other between the proximal and distal end walls and between the first and second lateral sides. 
     
     
         4 . The spinal implant of  claim 3 , wherein the upper and lower bone-contacting surfaces are sloped downwardly in a direction extending from the proximal end wall towards the distal end wall, and in a direction extending from the first lateral side towards the second lateral side. 
     
     
         5 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the upper and lower bone-contacting surfaces continuously decreases over at least a certain length of the bone-contacting surfaces, both in a direction extending from the proximal end wall towards the distal end wall along the first axis, and in a direction extending from the first lateral side towards the second lateral side along the second axis. 
     
     
         6 . The spinal implant of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the lateral sides includes an opening for permitting bone growth through the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The spinal implant of  claim 6 , wherein the implant includes an internal cavity and an opening separates some of the upper and lower bone-contacting surfaces, the opening being in communication with the internal cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant includes a hollow body, and an anchoring member is insertable into the hollow body. 
     
     
         9 . A spinal implant comprising:
 upper and lower faces arranged in opposition to one another and being configured to contact and space apart adjacent vertebral bodies;   first and second lateral sides connecting the upper and lower faces, a maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the first lateral side being greater than a maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the second lateral side; and   proximal and distal end walls connecting the upper and lower faces, a maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the proximal end wall being greater than a maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the distal end wall.   
     
     
         10 . The spinal implant of  claim 9 , wherein the upper and lower faces are inclined with respect to each other in two directions. 
     
     
         11 . The spinal implant of  claim 10 , wherein the upper and lower faces are inclined with respect to each other between the proximal and distal end walls and between the first and second lateral sides. 
     
     
         12 . The spinal implant of  claim 11 , wherein the upper and lower faces are sloped downwardly in a direction extending from the proximal end wall towards the distal end wall, and in a direction extending from the first lateral side towards the second lateral side. 
     
     
         13 . The spinal implant of  claim 9 , wherein a distance between the upper and lower faces continuously decreases over at least a certain length of the faces, both in a direction extending from the proximal end wall towards the distal end wall, and in a direction extending from the first lateral side towards the second lateral side. 
     
     
         14 . The spinal implant of  claim 9 , wherein a minimum distance between the upper and lower faces along the first lateral side is greater than a minimum distance between the upper and lower faces along the second lateral side. 
     
     
         15 . The spinal implant of  claim 14 , wherein a first point is located at the maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the first lateral side, a second point is located at the maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the second lateral side, a third point is located at the minimum distance between the upper and lower faces along the first lateral side, and a fourth point is located at the minimum distance between the upper and lower faces along the second lateral side, and wherein a first line connects the first point to the fourth point, and a second line connects the second point to the third point, a slope of the first line being steeper than a slope of the second line. 
     
     
         16 . The spinal implant of  claim 9 , further comprising a fitting adapted to mate with an instrument for inserting the implant into an intervertebral space. 
     
     
         17 . The spinal implant of  claim 9 , wherein the implant includes a hollow body, and an anchoring member is insertable into the hollow body. 
     
     
         18 . A spinal implant comprising:
 upper and lower faces arranged in opposition to one another, the upper and lower faces being configured to contact and space apart adjacent vertebral bodies;   proximal and distal end walls and first and second lateral sides connecting the upper and lower faces; and   a first point located adjacent a first junction between the upper face and the proximal end wall, a second point spaced apart from the first point and being located adjacent a second junction between the upper face and the proximal end wall, a third point located adjacent a first junction between the upper face and the distal end wall, and a fourth point spaced apart from the third point and being located adjacent a second junction between the upper face and the distal end wall, wherein a first line connecting the first point to the fourth point has a greater slope than a second line connecting the second point to the third point.   
     
     
         19 . The spinal implant of  claim 18 , wherein a distance between the upper and lower faces continuously decreases over at least a certain length of the faces, both in a direction extending from the proximal end wall towards the distal end wall, and in a direction extending from the first lateral side towards the second lateral side. 
     
     
         20 . The spinal implant of  claim 18 , wherein a maximum height of the first lateral side is greater than a maximum height of the second lateral side. 
     
     
         21 . The spinal implant of  claim 18 , wherein a maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the first lateral side is greater than a maximum distance between the upper and lower faces along the second lateral side, and a minimum distance between the upper and lower faces along the first lateral side is greater than a minimum distance between the upper and lower faces along the second lateral side. 
     
     
         22 . The spinal implant of  claim 18 , wherein the upper and lower faces are inclined with respect to each other in two directions. 
     
     
         23 . The spinal implant of  claim 22 , wherein the upper and lower faces are inclined with respect to each other between the proximal and distal end walls and between the first and second lateral sides. 
     
     
         24 . The spinal implant of  claim 23 , wherein the upper and lower faces are sloped downwardly in a direction extending from the proximal end wall towards the distal end wall, and in a direction extending from the first lateral side towards the second lateral side. 
     
     
         25 . The spinal implant of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first and second lines are sloped downwardly in a direction extending from the proximal end wall towards the distal end wall. 
     
     
         26 . The spinal implant of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the lateral sides includes an opening for permitting bone growth through the opening. 
     
     
         27 . The spinal implant of  claim 18 , wherein the implant includes a hollow body, and an anchoring member is insertable into the hollow body. 
     
     
         28 . The spinal implant of  claim 18 , wherein implant includes bone-anchoring projections on its upper and lower faces adapted to engage with the vertebral bodies.