Spinal interbody implant with bone screw retention

Abstract

A spinal interbody implant has a bone screw retention mechanism that prohibits bone screws from backing out after the bone screws are installed. A bone screw retention plate is received in a plate retention area of the implant to provide a barrier that keeps the installed bone screws from backing out of their bone screw pocket. The bone screw retention mechanism consists of a retention plate and a configured plate retention area in a face of the implant body. Retention plate fasteners may be used to retain the configured plate. In one form, the bone screw retention mechanism consists of a retention plate, a configured plate retention area in a face of the implant body, and a retention plate bolt. In another form, the bone screw retention mechanism consists of a retention plate, a configured plate retention area in a face of the implant body, and a retention plate bolt.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of using an implant, the method comprising:
 inserting an implant body into an implanted position, the implant body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a front face;   securing first and second bone screws into adjacent bodies of bone, wherein the first and second bone screws extend through bone screw bores in the front face of the body; and   securing a plate within a cutout formed in the front face and at least partially surrounding the first and second bone screw bores, the plate extending over the first and second bone screw bores to prevent the first and second bone screws from backing out of the bone screw bores;   wherein the plate includes at least one bore extending therethrough and configured to enable access to the first and second bone screws while the plate is positioned within the cutout.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plate includes a substantially straight and elongated first side portion, an opposite second side portion, and first and second curved end portions extending between the first side portion and the second side portion. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising adjusting at least one of the first and second bone screws while the plate is received within the cutout. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein securing the plate within the cutout includes positioning the plate to be flush with or below the front face of the implant body. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the implant body forms a general D-shape including a central cavity extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the implant body is a single integral piece. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the front face is curved and the plate is flush or below the front face when received within the cutout. 
     
     
         28 . An implant comprising:
 an implant body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a front face including a recess;   a first bone screw bore extending through the front face;   a second bone screw bore extending through the front face, the second bone screw bore laterally adjacent the first bone screw bore; and   a plate configured for reception in the recess after first and second bone screws are received in the first and second bone screw bores;   wherein the plate extends at least partially over the first and second bone screw bores to prevent the first and second bone screws from backing out of the first and second bone screw bores; and   wherein the plate includes first and second apertures at least partially aligned with the first and second bone screw bores when the plate is secured within the recess.   
     
     
         29 . The implant of  claim 28 , wherein the plate is flexible, and the recess is configured to receive the plate when the plate is flexed and to retain the plate after the plate is un-flexed. 
     
     
         30 . The implant of  claim 28 , wherein the plate includes a substantially straight and elongated first side portion, an opposite second side portion, and first and second curved end portions extending between the first side portion and the second side portion. 
     
     
         31 . The implant of  claim 28 , wherein the plate is flush with or below the front face of the implant body when the plate is received within the recess. 
     
     
         32 . The implant of  claim 28 , wherein the implant body forms a general D-shape including a central cavity extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         33 . The implant of  claim 28 , wherein the front face is curved and the plate is flush or below the front face when received within the recess. 
     
     
         34 . The implant of  claim 28 , wherein the implant body is a single integral piece. 
     
     
         35 . A method of using an implant, the method comprising:
 inserting an implant body into an implanted position, the implant body being a single integral piece and having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a front face, the implant body forming a general D-shape and having a central cavity extending from the top surface to the bottom surface;   securing first and second bone screws into adjacent bodies of bone, wherein the first and second bone screws extend through bone screw bores in the implant body; and   securing a plate within a recess formed in the front face to at least partially extend over the first and second bone screw bores to prevent the bone screws from backing out of the bone screw bores;   wherein the recess in the front face is sized to receive first and second opposite ends of the plate.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the plate includes a substantially straight and elongated first side portion, an opposite second side portion, and wherein the first and second ends are first and second curved end portions extending between the first side portion and the second side portion. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising adjusting at least one of the first and second bone screws while the plate is received within the recess. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the plate includes first and second apertures providing access to the first and second bone screws when the plate is secured within the recess 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein securing the plate within the recess includes positioning the plate to be flush with or below the front face of the implant body. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein securing the plate within the recess includes rotating a fastener extending through the plate.