Highly lordosed fusion cage

Abstract

A fusion cage has a first component that defines an outside surface that is configured to engage a vertebral endplate, and an interior surface. The fusion cage has a second component that defines first and second opposed surfaces. One of the first and second opposed surfaces can mate with the interior surface of the first component. The fusion cage can include vertical and lateral throughholes adapted to enhance fusion.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
 a polymeric component defining i) an upper outside surface configured to grip an upper endplate, ii) a lower outside surface that is opposite the upper outside surface and is configured to grip a lower endplate, and iii) a throughhole that extends from the upper outside surface to the lower outside surface,   wherein each of the upper outside surface and the lower outside surface is coated with a porous titanium coating.   
     
     
         3 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the upper and lower outside surfaces comprise teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 3 , wherein the polymeric component comprises PAEK. 
     
     
         5 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 4 , wherein the PAEK is selected from the group consisting of polyetherether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone ketone (PEKK) and polyether ketone (PEK). 
     
     
         6 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 4 , wherein the PAEK is PEEK. 
     
     
         7 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 6 , wherein the porous titanium coating is designed to promote bony affixation thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 7 , wherein the porous titanium coating has an average pore size of 250 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 6 , wherein the porous titanium coating has a coefficient of friction of 0.8. 
     
     
         10 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 3 , further comprising a bone graft disposed in the polymeric component. 
     
     
         11 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 3 , further comprising a tapered front end configured for insertion into an intervertebral space. 
     
     
         12 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 3 , wherein each of the upper and lower outside surfaces are perforated to promote bony ingrowth. 
     
     
         13 . The intervertebral fusion device of  claim 3 , wherein each of the upper and lower outside surfaces are convex. 
     
     
         14 . A method of fabricating an intervertebral fusion device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a polymeric structure having an upper toothed outside surface and a lower toothed outside surface opposite the upper toothed outside surface; and   coating each of the upper and lower toothed outside surfaces with a porous titanium coating.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the providing step comprises defining an opening that extends from the upper toothed outside surface to the lower toothed outside surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of inserting bone graft material into the polymeric structure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polymeric structure comprises PAEK. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein The PAEK comprises PEEK. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the providing step comprises providing the polymeric structure with a tapered leading end. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the coating step comprises coating each of the upper and lower toothed outside surfaces with the porous titanium coating having an average pore size of 250 microns. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the coating step comprises coating each of the upper and lower toothed outside surfaces with the porous titanium coating having a coefficient of friction of 0.8. 
     
     
         22 . A method of restoring a disc height of an intervertebral disc space defined between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting a polymeric intervertebral fusion device into the intervertebral disc space, wherein the inserting step comprises gripping the upper vertebra with a toothed upper outside surface of the fusion device that is coated with a porous titanium coating, and gripping the lower vertebra with a toothed lower outside surface of the fusion device that is coated with a porous titanium coating.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the inserting step promotes vertebral affixation to the porous titanium coating of each of the upper and lower outside surfaces. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the polymeric intervertebral fusion device comprises PAEK. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the PAEK is selected from the group consisting of polyetherether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone ketone (PEKK) and polyether ketone (PEK). 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the PAEK is PEEK. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the porous titanium coating has an average pore size of 250 microns. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the porous titanium coating has a coefficient of friction of 0.8. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of inserting bone graft in the polymeric component. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the polymeric intervertebral fusion device defines a throughhole that extends from the upper outside surface to the lower outside surface. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the inserting step comprises inserting a tapered leading end of the polymeric intervertebral fusion device into the intervertebral disc space.