Intervertebral spacers and related methods and instruments

Abstract

Disclosed are biomedical implants made of disparate materials, such as intervertebral implants and related methods and instruments. In some embodiments, the implant may comprise a first material and a second material having distinct physical properties relative to the first material. The first material may optionally be intermixed with other materials.

1 . An intervertebral spinal implant, comprising:
 a first portion of the spinal implant comprising a silicon nitride material, and   a secondary portion of the spinal implant comprising titanium.   
     
     
         2 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the intervertebral implant is manufactured using a powdered silicon nitride. 
     
     
         3 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary portion is inserted into the first portion. 
     
     
         4 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 1  wherein the secondary portion is attached to the first portion. 
     
     
         5 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary portion comprises an interbody spacer and the first portion comprises a bony ingrowth surface. 
     
     
         6 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 5 , wherein the bony ingrowth surface is positioned on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the interbody spacer. 
     
     
         7 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary portion comprises a fixation plate and the first portion comprises an interbody spacer. 
     
     
         8 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 1 , further comprising a third portion of the spinal implant comprising polyether ether ketone (PEEK). 
     
     
         9 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 2 , wherein the powdered silicon nitride includes at least one additive from the group consisting of alumina, yttria, magnesium oxide and strontium oxide. 
     
     
         10 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the PEEK is positioned between at least a portion of the silicon nitride and the titanium. 
     
     
         11 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the intervertebral implant comprises a fusion implant. 
     
     
         12 . An intervertebral spinal implant, comprising:
 a first portion of the spinal implant comprising a silicon nitride material, and   a secondary portion of the spinal implant comprising PEEK.   
     
     
         13 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 12 , wherein the intervertebral implant is manufactured using a powdered silicon nitride. 
     
     
         14 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 12 , wherein the secondary portion is attached to the first portion. 
     
     
         15 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 12 , wherein the first and secondary portions form a single implant. 
     
     
         16 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 15 , wherein the first and secondary portion are assembled into a single implant. 
     
     
         17 . The intervertebral spinal implant of  claim 12 , further comprising a third portion of the spinal implant comprising titanium.