Stand Alone Intervertebral Fusion Device

Abstract

An angled fixation device, such as an angled screw. This angled fixation device may be used by the surgeon to secure a spacer to a spinal disc space. The proximal end portion of the angled fixation device is driven perpendicular to the anterior wall of the spacer, and so is parallel to the vertebral endplates and in-line with the inserter. The distal end portion of the angled fixation device is oriented at about a 45 degree angle (plus or minus 30 degrees) to the vertebral endplate it enters.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An intervertebral implant comprising:
 a faceplate configured to be coupled to a bone cage such that a faceplate surface of the faceplate faces the bone cage when the faceplate is coupled to the bone cage, the faceplate including:   a first arm that extends from the faceplate surface and terminates at a first distal end that is offset from the faceplate surface in a first direction, the first arm including a first inner sidewall configured to face the bone cage when the faceplate is coupled to the bone cage,   a second arm that extends from the faceplate surface and terminates at a second distal end that is offset from the faceplate surface in the first direction, such that the second arm is offset from the first arm with respect to a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction so as to define a gap between the first and second arms that is configured to receive the bone cage when the faceplate is coupled to the bone cage, the second arm including a second inner sidewall configured to face the bone cage when the faceplate is coupled to the bone cage,   wherein the first arm defines a first projection that extends from the first inner sidewall toward the second arm so as to terminate at a first tapered tip that is offset from the first distal end in a direction opposite the first direction, and the second arm defines a second projection that extends from the second inner sidewall toward the first arm so as to terminate at a second tapered tip that is offset from the second distal end in a direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         3 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 2 , further comprising the bone cage, the faceplate coupled to the bone cage such that each of the faceplate surface, the first inner sidewall, and the second inner sidewall face the bone cage. 
     
     
         4 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 3 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are aligned with each other along the second direction. 
     
     
         5 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 3 , wherein the first tapered tip is offset from the first distal end in a direction toward the second arm. 
     
     
         6 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 5 , wherein the second tapered tip is offset from the second distal end in a direction toward the first arm. 
     
     
         7 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 3 , wherein the faceplate is coupled to the bone cage such that the faceplate wraps around a portion of the bone cage. 
     
     
         8 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 3 , wherein the faceplate is press-fit to the bone cage so as to couple the faceplate to the bone cage. 
     
     
         9 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 3 , wherein the intervertebral implant is configured to be inserted in an intervertebral disc space that separates a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the bone cage includes a bone cage top and a bone cage bottom offset from the bone cage top with respect to a third direction that is perpendicular to both the first and second directions, the first projection includes a first projection top and a first projection bottom offset from the first projection top in the third direction, both the bone cage top and the first projection top configured to face the first vertebra when the intervertebral implant is inserted in the intervertebral disc space, both the bone cage bottom and the first projection bottom configured to face the second vertebra when the intervertebral implant is inserted in the intervertebral disc space, the bone cage defines a maximum height of the bone cage measured from the bone cage top to the bone cage bottom in the second direction, the first projection defines a minimum height of the first projection measured from the first projection top to the first projection bottom in the second direction, and the maximum height is greater than the minimum height. 
     
     
         10 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 9 , wherein the second projection includes a second projection top and a second projection bottom offset from the second projection top in the third direction, the second projection top configured to face the first vertebra when the intervertebral implant is inserted in the intervertebral disc space, the second projection bottom configured to face the second vertebra when the intervertebral implant is inserted in the intervertebral disc space, the second projection defines a minimum height of the second projection measured from the second projection top to the second projection bottom in the second direction, and the maximum height is greater than the minimum height of the second projection. 
     
     
         11 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 3 , wherein the first arm includes a first inner sidewall that faces the second arm, and the first arm includes a first outer sidewall opposite the first inner sidewall, the first arm defining a thickness measured along a direction perpendicular to the first outer sidewall, the first arm defining a maximum thickness measured: 1) along the direction perpendicular to the first outer sidewall, and 2) through the first tapered tip. 
     
     
         12 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 11 , wherein the second arm includes a second inner sidewall that faces the first arm, and the second arm includes a second outer sidewall opposite the second inner sidewall, the second arm defining a second thickness measured along a direction perpendicular to the second outer sidewall, the second arm defining a maximum thickness measured: 1) along the direction perpendicular to the second outer sidewall, and 2) through the second tapered tip. 
     
     
         13 . An intervertebral implant configured to be inserted in an intervertebral disc space that separates a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the intervertebral implant comprising:
 a bone cage including a first surface, a second surface offset from the first surface in a first direction, a bone cage top configured to face the first vertebra when the intervertebral implant is inserted in the intervertebral disc space, and a bone cage bottom offset from the bone cage top in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the bone cage bottom configured to face the second vertebra when the intervertebral implant is inserted in the intervertebral disc space; and   a faceplate configured to be coupled to the bone cage such that: 1) a first surface of the faceplate faces the second surface of the bone cage, and 2) a second surface of the faceplate is offset from the first surface of the bone cage in the first direction, the faceplate including a first arm and a second arm offset from the first arm with respect to a third direction by a gap configured to receive the bone cage when the faceplate is coupled to the bone cage, the first arm including a projection that extends toward the second arm so as to terminate at a tapered tip, the tapered tip defining a tip top and a tip bottom offset from the tip top in the second direction, wherein the third direction is perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction;   wherein the bone cage defines a maximum height measured from the bone cage top to the bone cage bottom in the second direction, the first tapered tip defines a minimum height measured from the tip top to the tip bottom in the second direction, the maximum height is greater than the minimum height, and the faceplate is configured to be coupled to the bone cage such that the tapered tip abuts the bone cage at a location between the first surface of the bone cage and the second surface of the bone cage with respect to the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 13 , wherein the projection is a first projection, the tapered tip is a first tapered tip, the tip top is a first tip top, the tip bottom is a first tip bottom, and the second arm includes a second projection that extends toward the first arm and terminates at a second tapered tip, the second tapered tip defining a second tip top and a second tip bottom offset from the second tip top in the second direction. 
     
     
         15 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 14 , wherein the minimum height is a first minimum height, the second tapered tip defines a second minimum height measured from the second tip top to the second tip bottom in the second direction, and the maximum height is greater than the second minimum height. 
     
     
         16 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 15 , wherein the faceplate is configured to be coupled to the bone cage such that the second tapered tip abuts the bone cage at a location between the first surface of the bone cage and the second surface of the bone cage with respect to the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 15 , wherein the first minimum height is equal to the second minimum height. 
     
     
         18 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 15 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are aligned with each other along the second direction. 
     
     
         19 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 15 , wherein the first arm extends from the first surface of the faceplate and terminates at a first distal end that is offset from the faceplate surface in the first direction, and the second arm extends from the first surface of the faceplate and terminates at a second distal end that is offset from the faceplate in the first direction. 
     
     
         20 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 19 , wherein the first tapered tip is offset from the first distal end in a direction toward the second arm, and the second tapered tip is offset from the second distal end in a direction toward the first arm. 
     
     
         21 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 15 , wherein the faceplate is coupled to the bone cage such that the faceplate wraps around a portion of the bone cage.